Former University of Cincinnati Bearcat Basketball Star Players.

Damon Flint: UC 1994-97; 2x Elite Eight; OHSBCA Mr. Basketball; Cincinnati Stuff (IBL); Kentucky Pro Cats

Corie Blount: UC 1992-93, 1992 Final 4; 11 Seasons in the NBA, primarily with Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers & Phoenix Suns

Melvin Levett: UC 1996-99; UC single-game record for three-pointers (10) vs E. KY; Cincinnati Stuff (IBL); Harlem Globetrotters; Kentucky Pro Cats

Cincinnati Beverage Company produces well know Cincinnati beer brands, such as Little Kings, Hudepohl, Christian Moerlein and Burger

Michael Millay & Kenny Walker will appear with FC Cincinnati entry (Position #60)
Michael Millay (Defender), originally from Orlando, Fla., played NCAA D1 soccer for The Cincinnati Bearcats from 2010 to 2013, where he was named captain for 2012 year. Millay played with FC Cincinnati in 2016. The highlight of Millay's season was an appearance in Cincinnati's friendly match against the English Premier League's Crystal Palace FC. After his playing career concluded, he coached at the Kings Hammer Soccer Club. Local soccer fans also might have seen Millay on the field again in 2019 when he had short run of appearances with the Cincinnati Dutch Lions of the USL PDL.

Kenny Walker (Midfielder), originally from Wickliffe, Ohio, spent his college days with the Louisville Cardinals (2007-2011).  In 2011, Walker was named to the All-Big East Conference Second Team. Walker was selected by the LA Galaxy in the second round (No. 38 overall) of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. Walker was one of the first eleven signings for FC Cincinnati of The United Soccer League on December 7, 2015. Walker became one of the team's primary midfielders, starting in 27 of his 28 appearances during FC Cincinnati's inaugural season. In 2017, FC Cincinnati announced Walker as their Most Valuable Player.

George Foster will appear with Cumulus Radio - WARM 98 entry (Position #63). George Foster was one of the Big Red Machine's biggest offensive threats. Foster lead the league in RBI for 3 straight years (1976-'78), in home runs for 2 years (1977-'78) and won the National League MVP in 1977 (.320, club-record 52 homers and 149 RBI). Foster spent 11 of his 18 major league seasons with the Reds, from 1971 through 1981. He finished his career as a five-time All Star and was the 1976 MLB All Star Game MVP. He played a total of 18 seasons and retired in 1986 after a short stint with the Chicago White Sox. Foster was inducted in the Reds Hall of Fame in 2003 and remains active in the Greater Cincinnati community and with the Reds organization.

Mary Danner Wineberg - Gold 2008 Beijing - Athletics with appear with the Flying Pig Marathon position (#76). - Mary was born in Brooklyn, New York and later moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where she attended Walnut Hills High School. It is here she gained an interest in track, earned a scholarship to the University of Cincinnati and found passion in running. She slowly developed her talent in the 400 meters and ran a best of 53.30. She represented Team USA in 2003, 2006, 2007, and in 2008 on various teams. Her P.B. in the 400 is 50.24. Her professional track career included running for Nike, Brooks and ending with the NYAC (New York Athletic Club). Mary has 1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal, but her highlight comes from attaining Olympic Gold in 2008 in which she ran first leg in the 4x400 meter relay.

Mary is now a passionate motivational speaker, educator author, and enthusiast of healthy living who challenges everyone to disband limiting beliefs and blaze a trail of personal triumph in pursuit of securing one's own "Gold". Mary has won a multitude of awards through the years due to her service, leadership and impact in the community. Mary still resides in Cincinnati, with her husband and two daughters. She believes that we all have greatness within us; and that it is all about how we unlock that greatness. Reserve a book by visiting www.marywineberg.com and have Mary sign it for you prior to the beginning of the parade.

David Payne - Silver 2008 Beijing - 110m hurdles with appear with the Flying Pig Marathon position (#76). - David Payne was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and attended Wyoming High School. After graduation he attended University of Cincinnati where Payne won individual titles in Conference USA and was named Conference USA Outdoor Athlete of the Year. Payne set school records for the 110 and 400 meter hurdles and was a two time NCAA All-American in the 110m hurdles. Payne, during the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, took the Silver medal and also in 2007, he picked up a Bronze medal. Both medals were in the 110m hurdles. He joined the Olympic squad for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing where he won Silver again in the 110m hurdles. Then in 2009, Payne won the USATF national title and picked up another bronze at the World Championships in Berlin. 

Taxi Phil, David Neiheisel and The Jones Brothers will appear with Cincinnati Beard Barons entry (Position #106).  All 3 are veterans of different branches. Taxi Phil (Air Force), Jim Jones (Marines), David Neiheisel (Army). Jim Jones has secured 1st place finishes in 8 different beard and moustache categories across the United States. Taxi Phil is the most famous EMCEE being asked to facilitate competitions across the nation. Taxi Phil Jones has been a huge part of the bearding community for over 15 years. He is one of the founding members of the Cincinnati Beard Barons and has been President for 10 years. He was recently elected as a Vice President of The North American Charitable Beard and Mustache Alliance. Taxi Phil Jones is known for his iconic handlebar mustache . He is recognized in the bearding community throughout the country as a world class competitor, top rated judge and a first-class Emcee. Traveling all over the country bearding with his wife Sandy, he has attended over 100 competitions. He has competed at local, regional, national and world levels. Phil has placed numerous times in First place in the U.S. comps and was honored to place Third in Worlds. Over the past 15 years he has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for local charities throughout the USA. Philanthropy is the driving force behind the competitive bearding community throughout this country. He has proud and honored to part of this community.

The Cincinnati Beard Barons will host the Big Whisker Revival at Southgate House on Oct 7th to raise money for the Barracks Project, which helps honorably discharged veterans reintegrate back into the civilian community. Cincinnati Beard Barons has raised over $45,000.00 the past 5 years.

Cincinnati MMA Fighters will appear with ColdIron Event Rentals entry (Position #126).

Duke Ragan - Silver 2020 Tokyo - Boxing - is a Cincinnati native Featherweight Boxer, with a fighting record of: 9-0 as a professional boxer.  As a amateur boxer he has won several national and international championships: 2020 Olympic boxing silver medalist, 2019 - Pam American Games Silver medalist & 2017 - Aiba World Boxing Championships Silver Medalist.

Khetag "The Lion" Pliev - originally from Russia, moved to the Cincinnati area as a child and later graduated from Lakota East High School. As a wrestler at Lakota East, Khetag won back-to-back State Championships in 2001 & 2002 and was named Ohio's Div 1 Most Outstanding Wrestler. He went back to Russia to visit his grandmother, but ended up stuck there. In 2005, he moved to Canada where he became a citizen. From 2008 to 2011, Khetag won four consecutive Canadian National Championships. In the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, he won Bronze. In 2012, he went to the Olympics in London, but did not medal. He later returned to the US and in 2015, Khetag made his professional fighting debut, with a victory over Cristiano Silva. As of the end of 2022, he is 5-2-0. In 2021, Khetag went viral when during a fight verses Devin Goodale, his finger became detached (See article: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/mma/14529093/olympian-khetag-pliev-finger...). It was reattached and he has since returned to fighting. Khetag also runs "Pliev International Wrestling Academy" at Lasalle High School on M & F 6:00 to 7:30.

Matt "The Hammer" Hamill - Matthew Hamill was born and raised in Loveland, OH. He is an American mixed martial artist and wrestler who has competed in the Light Heavyweight division of the UFC. He is an alum of Purdue University who transferred the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. While attending RIT, he became a three-time NCAA Division National Champion in wrestling. Matt Hamill will always be remembered as the only fighter to have officially defeated Jon Jones. However, what's even more intriguing is the fact that Hamill was born deaf, the only UFC fighter to have stepped inside the octagon with that disability. He is a 3x Gold & a Silver medalist in the Deaflympics and was the subject of the movie: The Hammer https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1094666/

Kerry “Meat Truck” Schall, a pioneer in the Greater Cincinnati Mixed Martial Arts scene, known for his size and power, began fighting professionally in 1998 and competed against some of the world's greatest MMA Fighters throughout his career. He appeared in the second season of The Ultimate Fighter after being chosen as one of the top unsigned competitors in the country. Kerry also promoted over 75 local MMA events, over the course of his career, in the Cincinnati area giving hundreds of our local athletes an opportunity to compete in front of friends and family.

He is now the Director of Marketing for Glier’s Goetta and Coldiron Event Rentals and is active in promoting and coordinating many of our local festivals including Glier’s Goettafest, Great Inland Seafood Festival, and Bacon Bourbon and Brew as well as many others. Kerry is the proud husband of Mandy, father to Andrew, Lauren, Jordan, Madison, and Koa, and has 7 grandchildren.

Scott Williamson will appear with Therapeutic Recreation for the Disabled (#134). In 1997,Oklahoma State’s pitcher Scott Williamson was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 9th round. Scott soared through the Reds Organization, going from Rookie Ball in 1997, to starting the next year in AA and finally ending up in AAA the same year. The following year, on April 5, 1999, Scott made his major league debut with the Cincinnati Reds. He was voted to the 1999 All Star Team, named 1999 Rookie of the Year, and finished the season with 12 wins, 19 saves, and era 2.41 as a relief pitcher. In 2003, Scott was traded to the Boston Red Sox and ended up setting Red Sox record for 3 saves in the ALCS. In 2004, Scott and the Red Sox went on to break the infamous 86 year curse of the Bambino, and to become 2004 World Series Champions. Scott went on to play for the Cubs, Padres, and Orioles. Scott’s passion for the game continues as he spends his time working with kids in the Greater Cincinnati area helping them develop there baseball and life skills. When presented with the opportunity to be involved in a Foundation that is named for man who meant so much to him as a player and a person, Joe Nuxhall Miracle League, Scott didn’t hesitate to jump aboard and portrayed the same excitement as if he was winning the World Series again. With all of his accomplishments and rewards that he earned in his career, none of them would even equal, the one of him being an instrumental part of one of the Miracle Leaguer lives. Scott continues to live in Cincinnati along with his wife Lisa, and children Reece and Cambrie.

Watch for The Scott's Reds Rally Pack and The Reds Mascots: Gapper, Rosie Red, Mr. Red and Mr. Redlegs! Rosie Red will be in position #63. The Rally pack with the Mascots will be in position #11.   The Scott's Reds Rally Pack has participated in the Opening Day Parade for the last 16 years.  At Great American Ball Park they are responsible for spreading joy, and free tee shirts, to fans throughout the season.