This year’s honorees are Patriot of the Year David Connell, Citizens of the Year Korey Jorgensen and Thomas Bent, junior Citizens of 2010 Hannah Glass and Austin Giangeruso, patriotic essay contest winner Lorenzo Gomez and parade program cover artist Devin Altieri.
Pageant of the Masters Director Diane Challis Davy will lead the parade as grand marshal. Known locally as Dee Dee or just Dee, she is the daughter of ceramist Carlene Clark and Richard Challis, who opened the town’s first commercial art gallery. Their daughter grew up surrounded by the art and artists.
Challis Davy attended local schools and was active in the Laguna Beach High School performing arts programs as well as acting in Laguna Playhouse productions. She began volunteering as a cast member of the Pageant of the Masters in 1976, but found her true niche behind the scenes, designing costumes and scenes and painting the backgrounds for the live models in the living pictures — working her way up to director, a position she has held for 13 years.
She married violin maker Steve Davy in 1987. Their son, Tommy, is a jazz guitarist, who attended his mother’s alma mater.
Challis Davy is no stranger to the parade. Under her guidance, the pageant has an entry most years, but this year will be special.
Patriot of the Year
Arthur David Connell is a familiar sight, patrolling the streets of Laguna in the uniform of a police department volunteer. But it is the time he spent in U.S. Navy blues and wearing the hat of Commander of Laguna Beach American Legion Post 222 for which the parade committee honors him this year.
“I can’t say enough about he has done for the veterans in Laguna Beach and around Southern California,” Quilter said.
