Seven days after George Deal was born in 1947, Catonsville held its first Fourth of July parade.

So it seems only fitting that the Catonsville Fourth of July Committee would select him to serve as grand marshal of the parade 65 years later.

As grand marshal, Deal invited three special guests to ride down Frederick Road and greet the thousands of spectators who line the parade route..

Joining him in the parade were Laila Lowery, 8, of Windsor Mill, Zach Wiley, 11, and his sister Piper, 5, both of Catonsville.

The three are members of the Casey Cares Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Arbutus that organizes events and provides support to critically ill children and their families.

"I'm a kids person, especially if they're like that," Deal said. "I just really want them to enjoy some stuff."

Emergency vehicles from local fire departments led the procession just ahead of Deal and the children in the parade.

"I liked the people," Zach said immediately after the parade. "My arm got tired a lot."

Piper said her favorite part was "when I went in the car" and added that she wanted to be in the parade again next year.

Asked what she liked about the event, Laila said, "Everything."

Everything included the convertible she rode in, something Laila said she had never done before.

While the Catonsville parade was something new for the children, Deal has seen and participated in his fair share.

Born in Baltimore, Deal moved to Catonsville in 1977 and has attended the Fourth of July parade since the 1950s.

Twelve years ago, Deal joined the Catonsville Fourth of July Committee, which organizes and raises the $100,000 necessary to put on the parade, fireworks and other Independence Day activities.

Deal joined the committee in order to, he said, preserve the tradition of the event, which featured local politicians, antique cars and representatives from community organizations and schools.

Asked on June 30 what he looked forward to most about the parade, Deal said he wanted a safe, rain-free day.

That's exactly what he got as a strong sun cut through hazy skies to provide temperatures in the upper 80s, but occasional breezes cooled the crowds.

"I saw a million people that I know," Deal said after the parade ended. "It was a great day. It was a celebration of Catonsville, not just the country.

"(My favorite part was) being able to give to these children."

Though he won't have the marshal's position next year, Deal said he is still looking forward to the event when he will join his fellow members of the Catonsville Ravens Club, a Baltimore Ravens fan club and community organization he helped organize, in the procession.

"I just like the whole deal. It's fun. It gets your mind off of what's going on," Deal added. "It's a good day for Catonsville all around.

'Catonsville, it shines on that particular day."