Google’s Brian McClendon to serve as grand marshal for KU Homecoming parade

LAWRENCE — In keeping with the 2013 University of Kansas Homecoming theme, “Jayhawks Around the World,” KU graduate and Google Earth co-creator Brian McClendon will lead the Homecoming Parade as grand marshal. The parade will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, on Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence.

McClendon, a Lawrence native, earned his KU engineering degree in 1986. He joined Google in 2004 and now leads the Google Maps team, which includes Google Maps for Mobile, Google Earth, Street View, Waze and Google’s local business efforts. He holds 10 patents for advanced computer graphics hardware and software.

“As a loyal Jayhawk and Lawrence native, Brian is the perfect choice as this year’s grand marshal,” said Kevin Corbett, KU Alumni Association president. “Each month, more than 1 billion people around the world use the software he helped create and, thanks to Brian, Lawrence is the default center of Google Earth.”

McClendon serves on the advisory boards for the School of Engineering and the Department of Electrical Engineering and computer science. He and his wife, Beth Ellyn, established the McClendon Engineering Scholarship in 2007, donated computer tablets for electrical engineering and computer science students, and provided a Google Liquid Galaxy interactive display in Eaton Hall. The McClendons live in Portola Valley, Calif.

Following the parade Oct. 3, the Homecoming celebration will continue with a pep rally on Eighth Street between Massachusetts and New Hampshire streets. The Alumni Association and the student-led Homecoming steering committee have planned a week of events from Sunday, Sept. 29, through Saturday, Oct. 5, concluding with the Homecoming football game featuring KU vs. Texas Tech Oct. 5 in Memorial Stadium. Visit Homecoming to view a daily schedule, meet the steering committee and learn more about KU’s Homecoming tradition.