Marble Falls, Granite Shoals to honor Olympian Leo Manzano with parade, music, fireworks
MARBLE FALLS — The Highland Lakes will welcome home Olympian Leonel “Leo” Manzano on Sept. 30 with festivities, music and a parade from Marble Falls High School to Granite Shoals City Hall.
The former Granite Shoals resident and Marble Falls High School graduate won a silver medal in the men’s 1,500-meter race at the London 2012 Summer Olympics in August. Since then, he has been traveling the world competing and attending ceremonies including Sept. 14 at the White House, where President Barack Obama congratulated him and the other 2012 Olympians. At his homecoming Sept. 30, coaches and city, county and state officials will be on hand to congratulate Manzano. Clubs and civic organizations are making decorative signs to line the route to Marble Falls High School, 2101 Mustang Drive, where festivities will begin.
The public should arrive at the high school 2-2:45 p.m. to participate in the event to be held in the auditorium. Parking is in the main parking lot of the high school. Manzano will arrive at the high school at 3 p.m.
The Marble Falls High School track team will play a special role in the celebration along with local singer/songwriter john Arthur martinez, who will perform a song he’s written for Manzano called “Dare to Dream Out Loud.”
Manzano will talk about his life as an Olympic runner and sign autographs at the ceremony.
At 5 p.m., a motorcade will travel from the high school to the Granite Shoals Municipal Complex on Phillips Ranch Road in Granite Shoals for a groundbreaking at the Leo Manzano Hike, Bike and Run Trail.
A ceremony in front of Granite Shoals City Hall, 2221 N. Phillips Ranch Road, will follow at 6 p.m. with photo and autograph opportunities and refreshments. Grammy-award winners Joel Guzman and Sara Fox will honor Manzano with music. The ceremony will end at sunset with a five-minute fireworks display.
For more, contact Debbie Brown at (512) 968-3973 or dab@zeecon.com. Signs may be taken to the Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce Administrative office, 916 Second St., and to the Granite Shoals Municipal Complex, 2221 N. Phillips Ranch Road, during regular business hours.