Madera names Desmonds as Grand Marshals
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune
Madera High School 2022 Homecoming Grand Marshals, Ryan, left, and Gerry Desmond.
Madera High is pleased to announce 2022 Grand Marshals, father and son, Gerry and Ryan Desmond.
The father and son duo are life-long Madera residents and have roots that date back to the 1906 Madera Coyotes football team.
Co-Grand Marshal Gerry was born and raised in Madera and is proud to call himself a Coyote Alum from the Class of 1968. While at MHS, he was a three-sport athlete excelling in football, basketball, and swimming which earned him multiple varsity letters as a member of Block M.
Additionally, Gerry laid the seeds of his servant-leadership motto by joining FFA where he raised steers and cleaned stalls.
After high school, Gerry served his country by enlisting in the Navy. Gerry was be stationed aboard the U.S.S. Sumter LST1181 before heading to Vietnam.
Upon completing his contract, Gerry returned to Madera to raise a family. He has two children, Ryan (46) and Morgan (34), both of whom are proud graduates of Madera High.
Our co-Grand Marshal, Ryan Desmond, Class of 1994, attended John Adams Elementary School and Thomas Jefferson Middle School, and was involved in FFA like his father. In addition, Ryan served his campus community by joining Interact and Block M while playing football all four years for the Coyotes. Ryan’s hard work and dedication shined in the weight room as he became an “Iron Man” and set a power clean record lifting 265 pounds while only weighing 170 pounds himself.
After high school Ryan went to work as a sales rep and driver for Valley Wide Beverage and Sisco Foods until 2017, during which he served his community, like his father before him, in various capacities such as Active 20-30 President and the Madera Foundation of Athletic Needs (F.A.N.). The “FAN” as we know it today started in 2006 as an unbiased non-profit entity to support sports and grow athletics programs in Madera.
Ryan also shared his knowledge and passion for sports by coaching football at Martin Luther King Middle School (five years), and Madera High (three years).
However, that all changed on Feb. 10, 2017 when Ryan was struck with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). For the first time in his life, Ryan would be sidelined with a foe he did not know. Ryan continued his battle for 620 days until he was released from the hospital on Oct. 23, 2018.
Shortly after, Madera FAN founder Bill Dawson asked Ryan and Gerry to take over the reins of the non-profit. Gerry had been an active FAN contributor while having served as president of the Active 20-30 club and Evening Lions member so he didn’t hesitate to step up at another service opportunity.
Ryan, on the other hand, while rehabilitating, had a teenage daughter, Abigail (Class of 2021) who played varsity golf for the Coyotes and he did whatever it took to support our athletes.
The rest they say is “History” as the Desmond’s passion for athletics and education is seen yearly as they support all three high schools on behalf of Madera FAN through donations and scholarships. The Desmond’s are quiet, humble servants who Madera High is grateful to call Coyote family for the years of contributions and support.
