Jacksonville Man Keeps MLK Legacy Alive Through 45 Years of Annual Parade

Gary Thomas has co-founded and organized Jacksonville's MLK Jr. parade since 1981, transforming it into a major civil rights commemoration.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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For the past 45 years, Gary Thomas has co-founded and organized Jacksonville's annual Martin Luther King Jr. parade, which has grown into one of the city's most significant civil rights commemorations. Thomas sees the parade as a 'Freedom Walk' that honors not just Dr. King, but the entire civil rights movement and the many unsung heroes who made sacrifices. Under Thomas's leadership, the MLK Foundation maintains a year-round presence in Jacksonville through memorial services, scholarship programs, food drives and educational trips.

Why it matters

Jacksonville's MLK parade is an important annual event that keeps the legacy of the civil rights movement alive in the community. Thomas's long-standing dedication to organizing the parade and expanding the MLK Foundation's work has ensured that Dr. King's message and the broader struggle for equality and justice remain at the forefront.

The details

Thomas, co-founder of Jacksonville's MLK Foundation, has helped organize the parade for 45 years, transforming it into one of the city's most significant civil rights commemorations. This year's parade featured the largest turnout yet, with nine marching bands, cheer teams, JROTC units, clubs, associations, law enforcement, and corporate participants. Thomas emphasizes that the celebration extends beyond Dr. King's individual contributions, honoring 'the entire movement' and the many unsung heroes of the civil rights struggle.

  • Thomas has co-founded and organized Jacksonville's annual MLK Jr. parade since 1981.
  • This year's parade, the 45th annual event, marked its largest turnout yet.

The players

Gary Thomas

Co-founder of Jacksonville's MLK Foundation who has organized the city's annual MLK Jr. parade for the past 45 years.

Jacksonville's MLK Foundation

An organization founded by Gary Thomas that maintains a year-round presence in Jacksonville through memorial services, scholarship programs, food drives and educational trips.

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What they’re saying

“It's not just for Dr. King. It's for all of the people, black, white, whatever, that have been involved in the struggle for human rights in this country, to make this republic a real democracy.”

— Gary Thomas, Co-founder, Jacksonville's MLK Foundation

“We walk in the shadow of Dr. King, Medgar Evers, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks. That, more than anything, should be the spirit of our parade.”

— Gary Thomas, Co-founder, Jacksonville's MLK Foundation

“We feel like it's the entire movement that we celebrate. There were a lot of other people, too, that have vanished into obscurity that made sacrifices as significant as those that Dr. King made.”

— Gary Thomas, Co-founder, Jacksonville's MLK Foundation

What’s next

The MLK Foundation plans to continue organizing the annual parade and expanding its year-round community programs in Jacksonville.

The takeaway

Gary Thomas's lifelong dedication to honoring the legacy of Dr. King and the broader civil rights movement through Jacksonville's annual parade and the MLK Foundation's community work has ensured that this important history remains at the forefront and continues to inspire new generations.