Former Congressman Ken Lucas and his wife, Mary, will be the grand marshals of the Union Celebrates America parade in the Boone County city.
According to an announcement from StoryPoint Senior Living in Union, where the couple now resides, they were nominated for their community service in both their careers, and “It was no surprise” to anyone – except the Lucases.
The Lucases have a history of public roles in Boone County and beyond. Originally from Grant County, Ken Lucas joined the Air Force and served for three years, then spent another eight years in the Air Force National Guard before moving to investment banking after an honorable discharge.
Lucas then served on Florence City Council, Boone County Commission, then as Boone County Judge/Executive. He was elected U.S. Representative as a Democrat to represent Northern Kentucky and the Fourth Congressional District in 1998 and served until 2005.
He was then appointed to be Kentucky’s Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, a role which he served for eight years, after which he retired.
Meanwhile, Mary Lucas holds four degrees – a bachelor’s degree in art and a bachelor’s in biology from Eastern Kentucky University, as well as a master’s degree in education and a second master’s degree in biology from Northern Kentucky University.
She used her education at the high school level for 14 years before returning to school for her master’s in biology, after which he served as a surgical nurse for another 14 years.
When her husband was in Congress, she joined an organization of spouses of those in leadership and led a trip to China to offer medical care to underserved women.
After hearing they were named the grand marshals of the upcoming parade to celebrate the Fourth of July, Union Mayor Larry Solomon came to the senior center to congratulate them.
The Union Celebrates America parade will be at 6 p.m., Friday, June 24, at Ryle High School.
