Larry the Cable Guy

Courtesy photo

Comedian, actor and former radio personality Larry the Cable Guy will be the star of the July 3-4 Cody Stampede Parades this year.

Nebraska native Daniel Lawrence Whitney, who has long gone by Larry the Cable Guy, his professional moniker first popularized as part of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, was announced as this year’s parade grand marshal by the Cody Stampede Parade Committee along with the Cody Stampede Board.

Parade committee President Debbie Herman credited Ed Bednarz, general manager of the Cody Stampede Board, with roping in Whitney to come back to Cody.

“He’s been here in Cody before and he loves Cody,” Herman said, adding that when Whitney last came, he attended a rodeo and struck up a friendship with Bednarz.

“He was excited to come and be the grand marshal,” she said.

In fitting fashion, this year’s Stampede Parade theme is “Git – R – Done, in Western Style.” The theme for the Kiddies Parade on July 2 is “Hitchin Up Fun and Gitten R Done.” Herman said while Larry the Cable Guy will ride in a wagon from Paradise Carriages pulled by draft horses, committee members are working on finding a vehicle like the tow truck from Whitney’s character Tow Mater in the “Cars” movies for the Kiddie Parade.

Last year’s grand marshal was Cody native and longtime rodeo cowboy and producer Bill Smith.

The parades run during the five-day rodeo extravaganza at the Cody rodeo grounds that is the annual Xtreme Bulls June 30 and then the Cody Stampede Rodeo July 1-4.

“Whenever you have a name, a personality, that brings people to the parade, the area,” Herman said, noting the high turnout for Yellowstone actor Cole Hauser’s appearance. “It’s good for the economy and the town. We’re fortunate that we can capitalize on that again this year.”