The Bangs Business Association has named Kenneth Fitzgerald Grand Marshal of the 2014 Mayfest Parade. Ken was the original “idea man” for the first Mayfest that has been held annually for the past 20 years. Ken is a Bangs native, graduating in 1967 from Bangs High School. He graduated from Texas State University in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science. Then he graduated in 1974 from The University of Texas College of Pharmacy with a Bachelor of Science degree. In 1977 Ken returned to his home town of Bangs and established, Bangs Drug Mart Pharmacy in downtown Bangs and has remained a thriving business for over 37 years.
With great family ties to Bangs, he is a descendent of T.C. Fitzgerald, who was one of the founders of the original township of Bangs, with one of the main streets in town bearing his name. His parents, Kathleen and the late Jeff Fitzgerald were longtime residents of Bangs. In November, 1970 he married Gayle Reed Fitzgerald and from their union came two sons, Keith and Eric who were raised up and educated in Bangs.
Twenty years ago, with the help of many volunteers, he turned a live radio broadcast for Bangs Drug Mart into a parade, car show and enough booths to cover all of downtown Bangs in less than a month and served on the Mayfest committees for each of the remaining Mayfests, including this year. Ken has always had a heart for Bangs serving as a past president for the Bangs Lions Club, is a member in good standing and Past Worshipful Master of Bangs Masonic Lodge # 926, past president of Central Texas Pharmacy Association, past president of Bangs Ex Student Association and was awarded Ex-Student of the year for Bangs High School in 2002. Ken remains an active member of Texas Pharmacy Association and has served both as a delegate and on the board of directors for the association. He is a member and supporter of the Bangs Sons of the American Legion, member of the Farm Bureau and currently involved in a Beefmaster cow-calf operation on family ranches in Brown County, served as president of the board of directors for Bangs Regional Museum for three years, currently serving on the board of directors for Bangs Cemetery Association and proud member of Bangs United Methodist Church enjoying serving on different church committees and singing tenor in the choir.
Ken states: “It is an honor to be selected as Grand Marshal for Bangs Mayfest 20th annual parade. Having lived in or close to Bangs for most of my life has been most rewarding. I am proud to be a Bangs ISD graduate as both my parents and our sons. Bangs has been good to me and my family, and I hope to be able to continue contributing to our fine community for years to come.”
