The balloons are coming to town!  Step outside Friday morning and you will see the beginning of the Great Texas Balloon Race (GTBR) as giant, colorful, airborne creatures glide across the Longview skies.  The GTBR will continue through the weekend at the East Texas Regional Airport with balloon glows, live concerts, Kids Land, and arts and crafts and food vendors.  A new attraction to the GTBR this year will be flight demonstrations by Major Paul Brown from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Phoenix, Arizona, with his A-10 Thunderbolt Ground Attack Aircraft, also known as the Warthog.

     Deborah Parrott has served on the GTBR Board of Directors for eight years, as secretary for the board for seven years, and this year is serving as the volunteer coordinator. 

     “I know I’m a little partial to GTBR volunteers.  As far as I’m concerned, the event wouldn’t be the success it is each year without our volunteers.  They are awesome,” Ms. Parrott said.

     Ms. Parrott is an active member of the Longview Rotary.  A Paul Harris Fellow, Mrs. Parrott has the distinction of achieving 13 years of perfect attendance with Rotary.  She also serves on the East Texas Boat, RV, and Camping Expo Advisory Board, serves as volunteer coordinator for Christmas at the Gregg County Courthouse, and has been an AlleyFest volunteer for the past 24 years.

     “Volunteering has been a life-long passion of mine,” Ms. Parrott said. “I believe each of us is born with a spark of the volunteering spirit within us.  Our parents, teachers, and leaders play major roles fanning that spark – THANK YOU!”

     Ms. Parrott was born in Tyler, but as the daughter of a preacher, she moved around Texas before settling in Longview.  She has lived here for the past 30 years.  Ms. Parrott graduated from Clear Creek High School in League City, Texas, received her associate’s degree in music from San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas, and her bachelor’s degree in business management from LeTourneau University.   Ms. Parrott has one grown daughter and two grandchildren.  She is a member of First United Methodist Church where she sings in the Chancel Choir, is a soloist for church events, and serves on the Fine Arts Council.

     “I love Longview’s size and quality of life.  I suppose it was this love for Longview that I began volunteering for different events.  I wanted to give my time and talents to Longview as an expression of my appreciation.  And, I have found East Texas volunteers are the BEST!” Ms. Parrott said.