George Gagwin has been a renowned figure in Mill Valley for decades, and his participation in the Memorial Day Parade over those many years has been well documented in his 1929 Ford Coup, spanning some 40 years.
That makes Cagwin easily among the most prolific Memorial Day Parade participants. Anyone that has been to the annual parade has seen George and his beautiful car.
Cagwin was born in Mill Valley about 91 years ago in the house his parents built. With two partners, George had a realty company called Gagwin, Semour, Hamilton located on East Blithedale for many years.
Fast forward to this month, for an event that many Mill Valley residents will appreciate.
Cagwin’s 1929 Ford is near and dear to him, and it has become primarily a parade car. “I’d guess that many Mayors have ridden in it over the years,” says Grilly’s owner Jim Revoir says.
Cagwin has decided to sell his beautiful Ford, as he doesn’t feel comfortable driving in the parade any longer.
Rather than sell it at an auction for probably a very high price, he has decided to sell it to Estuardo, the longtime manager of Revoir’s Grilly’s, for a very low price because he wants it to be in the Memorial Day Parade for many years to come and he knows Estuardo will enter it in the parade every year and will take good care of the car.”
Revoir has previously given the Grilly’s truck to his nephew, so Estuardo, who wants to revive the Tam High bands on trailers in the Parade again, will have a vehicle to drive in the parade.
“Over the years, George and Estuardo have become friends,” Revoir says. “Estuardo is taking George on a swing through Mill Valley for him to remember all his years of living here and his involvement in the community.
They will also follow the parade route from Old Mill School to Tam High as part of the drive. They might decorate the car with Memorial Day decorations.