ILGRA is pleased to honor the following individuals as Grand Marshals for the 2013 Windy City Rodeo

RUBEN NIEVES

Ruben Nieves was born & raised on the north side of Chicago, until he met his partner Kelly from the southwest side in 1976. He began living and working in the Midway Airport area, in the LGBT bar scene with his partner. Then in 1987 they opened lnnexile Chicago, where Ruben is managing & bartending to this day. In 1989 they opened the Palm Beaches lnnexile. Which was sold in 1999. For the past 37 years Ruben has been a constant supporter and fund raiser for many LGBT organizations in Chicago & Lake Worth FL.

KIRK WILLIAMSON

As editor of Nightspots Magazine, Chicago's own queer bar rag, Kirk Williamson has been a longtime supporter of the Windy City Rodeo and other ILGRA events. His photography of the rodeo has appeared both in the magazine and in Windy City Times, for which he also serves as art director. In 2006, Kirk was presented with an Appreciation Award from the International Gay Rodeo Association (which proudly hangs over his desk) and served as Windy City Rodeo's grand marshal for the first time in 2007. He also accepted IGRA 's 2012 Appreciation Award, which will hang right next to 2006's plaque as soon as he finds the right nail.

CHUCK RODOCKER

For four decades, Chuck Rodocker has been a stalwart in Chicago's LGBT's communities. A former bartender at Sunday's, in 1977 Chuck assumed ownership of Touche on Lincoln Avenue in the Lakeview neighborhood. As a leather bar, Touche soon became a prime spot for hosting community benefits and meetings as well as for fulfilling the needs of an emerging LGBT and fetish communities. Chuck has supported numerous leather/Levi's organizations for more than 30 years and over the past 20 years has been a proud sponsor of the Illinois Ga{ Rodeo Association and the Windy City Rodeo. He was an origina and ongoing sponsor of the International Mr. Leather contest, and a sponsor of the Mr. Chicago Leather Contest and the Mr. Midwest Rubber Contest. Chuck also sponsored one of the city's first gay softball teams, which led to formation of the Gay Athletic Association (now known as the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association). The Windy City Athletic Association, the Lincoln Park Lagooners, and the Gay Games have also benefited from his support. In addition to financial support, Chuck allows many groups including /LGRA to meet at his bar, solicit donations there, and post notices. He has proven to be one of the Windy City Rodeo's biggest fans.