Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal

As part of the Homecoming festivities held on the Truman State University campus each fall, the grand marshal has the special honor of leading the parade as it travels from downtown Kirksville through the campus.

Brad Boyer and Hank Janssen

Brad Boyer, the “Voice of the Bulldogs”, has been broadcasting Truman football and men’s and women’s basketball for more than three decades. He spent 38 years on the broadcast team at KWIX-KIRK-KTCM radio stations in Moberly. For more than 15 years, he led the programming team and served as the Operations Manager. For the past 3 years, he has managed nemopressbox.com. The site broadcasts athletic events and feature interviews for 26 high schools and two colleges.

Brad has earned numerous awards for his broadcasts from the Missouri Broadcasters Association and was inducted into the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2015. He has a Distinguished Service Award from the Missouri State High School Activities Association, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Moberly Area Community College, and was enshrined in the Truman State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.

Brad is married to Kristi and they have three children and six grandchildren. Their son, Brett, is a 2013 Truman Exercise Science alumnus and former Bulldog football player.

Hank Janssen came to Truman as a student in 1972 and completely changed his career plans when he got involved with Bulldog Football in 1975. He started working with The Index as sports editor and quickly switched to mass media. He worked as the sports editor for the Kirksville Daily Express for 15 years, starting in the late seventies. His broadcast career started when he would substitute for regular commentators, but the work became more frequent and by 1982, he was calling games more formally. In the early 1990s, Hank did the first Truman women’s basketball broadcast game in Rolla, Missouri, and was happy the administration prioritized airing women’s games.

“Mr. Bulldog”, as Hank is known, has been broadcasting games with Brad Boyer since 1995. He was inducted into the Truman State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016. He has also spent decades involved with the Kirksville Baseball Softball Association.

Hank has been married to his wife, Marlene, since 1988. They have one son, Henry, who is a 2016 Truman graduate and Kirksville journalist and podcaster.

Previous Truman Homecoming Parade Grand Marshals:

2025: The Honorable Mary Rhodes Russell (’80)
2024: Pat Williams (’80, ’84, ’90)
2023: Dr. Jack Magruder (’57)
2022: Dr. R. Keith Beeman (’79) & Lu Ann Beeman (’80)
2021: John Garlock (’90)
2019: Russ Sloan
2018: Ray “Ricky” Armstead (’84)
2017: Louis “Lou” Coco (’67, ’70)
2016: Clifton “Dickie” Ray (’69, ’76)
2015: Victor Childers (’55)
2014: Robert A. Dager & Jane Dager
2013: Darrel Gourley (’50)
2012: Edwin C. Carpenter & Nettie (Brown) Carpenter (’76)
2011:  Ray Klinginsmith & Judie Klinginsmith
2010: Marietta (Jonas) Jayne (’41)
2009: Larry Moore (’67) & Ruth Ann (Winter) Moore (’68)
2008: Stan Bohon & Doris (Pickens) Bohon (’43)
2007: Dean Rosebery (’41) & Amy (Ayres)  Rosebery (’43)
2006: Gerald “Shag” Grossnickle (’42) & Sarah Grossnickle
2005: Judge James Reinhard & Shari (Powell) Reinhard (’58)
2004: Richard “Dick” Erzen (’49) & Edith “Edie” (Ford) Erzen (’49)
2003: Delbert Maddox (’37)
2002: Harry Gallatin (’49) & Beverly (Hull) Gallatin (’49)
2001: Bob Holden & Lori Holden
2000: Dwain Horn (’50)
1999: Charles McClain
1998: Dick Franklin (’56)
1997: Larry Lunsford (’81, ’83)
1996: Steve Gaw (’78) & Fannie (Bowdish) Gaw (’84)
1995: B.D. “Bud” Hunter
1994: Mary Alice Bunney (’38)
1993: Frederick “Fritz” Lauer (’50)
1992: Ruth Warner Towne (’39)
1991: Larry Moore (’67)
1990: Marshal E. L. McNeely (’40)
1989: Martha Decker Blair (’40)