Sisters Candy France, Jana Cook Named Grand Marshals of UW Homecoming Parade

Two sisters -- who each served as president of the University of Wyoming Alumni Association (UWAA) Board of Directors -- have been selected as the grand marshals of the UW Homecoming parade.

The Carroll sisters -- Candy France and Jana Cook -- will lead the annual parade, a cherished Homecoming tradition, Saturday, Sept. 26. This year's theme is "Cowboy Fever."

UW Homecoming will feature a variety of events hosted across campus and in the community Monday-Saturday, Sept. 21-26. Homecoming is sponsored by UniWyo Credit Union.

The parade is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the corner of Ninth and Bradley streets. It will travel south on Ninth Street to Grand Avenue, west on Grand to Third Street and north on Third Street to Bradley. The UWAA will coordinate the parade.

"Candy and Jana have been incredible alumnae and longtime supporters of their alma mater," says Jack Tennant, UWAA executive director. "We're honored to have the two of them leading this year's 'Cowboy Fever' Homecoming parade."

France and Cook were born to Jane and Frank Carroll. They grew up on a cattle ranch between Encampment and Saratoga. After graduating from Platte Valley High School in Saratoga, they ventured east to Laramie to attend UW.

France, the older sister, earned her bachelor's degree in agricultural communications in 1970. She began her career working in UW's Division of Communications Services. After working for eight years at UW, she moved to Arizona to join the communications department at the University of Arizona.

France moved back to Wyoming in the early 1980s. She met her husband, Dwight France, in 1983 on a charter flight, when he flew France and others to Tennessee for a friend to compete in the Miss USA pageant. France and Dwight were married for 37 years until his death in 2022.

France and Dwight, also a UW graduate, have stayed connected to their alma mater through their support of UW football and their service to the UWAA. Both served as UWAA board members. France served as board president from 1994-95.

France and Dwight's involvement with the UWAA rubbed off on their daughter, Jane, who earned two degrees from UW. She recently served as UWAA board president.

France says her favorite memory of her time at UW is meeting another student who also lived in Knight Hall.

"We went our separate ways after graduation but reconnected when we were both elected to the UWAA board," France says. "She also served as president. Sadly, she passed away a few months ago. However, our families are still connected, as my daughter serves on the same UWAA board as her son."

Cook chose to follow in her sister's footsteps and pursued a degree in journalism. After she graduated in 1975, she worked for Dave Bonner at the Powell Tribune. Then, she moved to Cheyenne and worked for Bernie Horton at the Wyoming Eagle.

In 1978, life circumstances led Cook outside the Cowboy State. She moved to Casa Grande, Ariz., where she worked for the University of Arizona in cooperative extension. In her new role, she helped with 4-H programs in Pinal County.

She then joined Paragon Hotel Corp. as a director of sales at the Holiday Inn Casa Grande. She had worked there for just a few months when the company sent in a new general manager -- Dennis Cook. The two developed a friendship that blossomed into a relationship. They married in 1993.

Ten years later, the couple moved back to Wyoming. Cook has served as the town clerk of Riverside since 2004.

Like her sister, Cook joined the UWAA to stay connected to her alma mater. She served as a board member and as board president from 2011-12.

"Staying connected to the university is so important to me and Denny," Cook says. "There are so many wonderful opportunities for everyone there, and going back on campus is like going back home."

Both France and Cook say they are honored and excited to serve as this year's Homecoming parade grand marshals.

Other scheduled Homecoming events include:

-- The Tribute to Steamboat event will take place Wednesday, Sept. 23, beginning at 5 p.m. with a barbecue at the Cliff and Martha Hansen Teaching Arena, located at 470 Wyoming Highway 230. A ranch bronc riding showdown will follow at 6 p.m. The evening will conclude with a swing dance hosted by UW's Cowboy Country Swing Club.

-- Homecoming check-in will be from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center. Saturday check-in will be available at the Alumni Tailgate from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Homecoming T-shirts will be given to the first 100 registered alumni Friday only on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. One T-shirt will be available per registered alumni while supplies last. Additional swag items will be available at check-in, including drink tokens that registered alumni can use during the Homecoming Happy Hour at multiple locations or the Alumni Tailgate event. The University Store will have a pop-up shop during Homecoming check-in.

-- Alumni Lunch will be from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday in the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center. This event celebrates UW alumni, faculty and staff, and their continued dedication to the university. Faculty and staff who are alumni receive one complimentary meal ticket courtesy of the Alumni Association. Tickets are available for purchase for all alumni and the public at $10 each.

-- The 50th Club Dessert Social will be Friday from 3-4 p.m. in the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center. Members of the class of 1976 and the 50th Club are invited to share a sweet treat and memories during this event. Fiftieth reunion swag will be available for the class of 1976.

-- Homecoming Happy Hour will begin at 4 p.m. Friday at three locations: Bond's Brewing Co., the Cowboy Saloon and the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center.

-- Cowboy Coffee, sponsored by UniWyo Credit Union, will take place from 8-9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at UW's Ivinson Parking Garage, located between 10th and 11th streets along Ivinson Avenue. Complimentary Homecoming mugs -- one per person -- and breakfast items will be available while they last.

-- The Alumni Tailgate, sponsored by Crest Insurance, will be Saturday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center. Complimentary game-day snacks will be provided, and drinks will be available for purchase. The University Store will have a pop-up shop. The UW Cowboys will take on the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at 1 p.m. in War Memorial Stadium.

To register for the Homecoming celebration or for more information, visit https://www.pokes.org/homecoming, call the UWAA office at (307) 766-4166, or email [email protected].