Baldwin City ? For the 50th anniversary of the Maple Leaf Festival, members of the organizing committee hope to have as many former parade marshals and others on hand as possible.

“The Maple Leaf Festival Committee is looking for all the past grand marshals, queens and Boyd scholars from the past 50 years so that we can honor them in this ’50 Years of Celebration’ parade,” said Donna Curran, committee president. “This is just a great way of celebrating their achievements once again.”

The festival’s grand parade wasn’t started until 1970. Since then, 72 grand marshals have been named. In 2000, the grand marshals were veterans, and firefighters were chosen in 2001, in the wake of the 9/11 tragedies.

From 1959 to 1991, a Maple Leaf Queen was crowned every year. The practice was discontinued after it came in conflict with the Miss Kansas Pageant. Two Boyd Scholarship winners have been named each year since.

Any past marshals, queens and scholarship winners who want to participate in the 50th parade are asked to call Curran, (785) 594-2381.