A prominent Jim Thorpe businessman and banker, and former county commissioner, has been selected to be the grand marshal of the 2017 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Carbon County, an event that attracts more than 10,000 visitors to Jim Thorpe in celebration of Irish heritage.

Charles E. Wildoner, 91, will lead the line of march onMarch 12, stepping off at 1 p.m. on Upper Broadway and proceeding downtown.The parade is being organized by the Carbon County St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, a spinoff of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Alec Campbell Division 1, Carbon County, and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Mollie Maguire Division 1, Carbon County.Wildoner remains active in the operation of the Wildoner Insurance Agency and is also currently serving as the longtime chairman of the board of directors of the Mauch Chunk Trust Company."Myself and all of the parade committee members are very happy to have selected Charlie as our grand marshal," said Hugh Dugan, who co-chairs the parade committee with his sidekick, Noel Behan."Charlie is a native Chunker who is well-known for his many accomplishments in Jim Thorpe and Carbon County," Dugan said."The parade committee has been working hard since November and promises another great parade. We all look forward to Charlie leading us down Broadway for our 20th annual parade.""I'm honored," Wildoner said. "My dear wife, Joan, was pure Irish and very proud of it. She'll be riding along with me on parade day in my heart."He took the time to commend the parade committee for two decades of promoting the event, commenting, "The parade organizers deserve our community's thanks and applause for all the hard work they do, year after year. Everyone is Irish on parade day in Jim Thorpe, and I am looking forward to enjoying the marchers with all my good friends and neighbors."In addition to honoring St. Patrick, the parade, which will be held rain or shine, has become a huge draw for the residents of Carbon County to celebrate their Irish heritage and reunite with loved ones and old friends.The parade will follow the same route as in past years, starting at the upper end of West Broadway and ending at the county parking lot, a downhill route that showcases the natural and scenic beauty and unique history of Carbon County.Grand marshalBorn in East Mauch Chunk on Oct. 7, 1925, Wildoner is the eldest son of the late Lucy and Edward Wildoner. A lifelong resident of Jim Thorpe, following graduation from East Mauch Chunk High School in 1943, he enlisted in the Coast Guard and served until the end of World War II.After his discharge from the service, Wildoner returned to Jim Thorpe and joined his aunt, Oliva Wildoner, in the operation of an insurance agency in the town. He also engaged in a variety of local business ventures, including operation of the movie theater in the Mauch Chunk Opera House, and established an active real estate brokerage.In 1950, Wildoner married Joan O'Donnell from Coaldale, and they had three children, Cathryn Porambo, Carole Walbert and Charlene Grant. They remained a devoted couple until Joan's passing in 2014.Wildoner has always been active in community affairs. He served as commander of the Jim Thorpe American Legion Post 304 in 1946 and 1947. He was the youngest commander in Pennsylvania at that time. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the U.S. Navy Club.The grand marshal served as Jim Thorpe's first borough secretary and business manager for several years, and was chairman of the Carbon County Planning Commission from 1960 to 1970. In 1971, he was elected as a Carbon County Commissioner, a position he held for 17 years until retiring.He is a devoted member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Jim Thorpe.Parade informationThe 2017 parade program will be dedicated to those serving in law enforcement.The Grand Marshal's Dinner is scheduled forMarch 10 at Dean Anthony's in Jim Thorpe, beginning with a social hour at 6 p.m. and the dinner and program at 7 and entertainment and dancing until 11 p.m.For tickets, contact Noel Behan, 570-325-4563; Ron Sheehan, 570-778-0161; or Hugh Dugan, 570-325-3359.The St. Patrick's Mass will be celebrated at 4:30

p.m.March 11 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jim Thorpe.The deadline for parade participant registration is March 1. Groups can register by contacting parade organizers listed above.To advertise or place a congratulatory message in the dinner program, contact Bernadette Behan at 570-325-8056.The members remind spectators and those attending private parties along the parade route to respect the parade by not interfering with the parade or any of its participants.