Marian McQuade (January 18, 1917 – September 26, 2008) was the founder of National Grandparents Day. She served on the West Virginia Commission on Aging and the Nursing Home Licensing Board. For many years, she helped with the Past 80 Party, which was held annually in Richwood, WV. Jim Comstock, editor of 'The News Leader' and the West Virginia Hillbilly, originated the Past 80 Party.
Marian McQuade, founder of National Grandparents Day
Marian McQuade: founder of National Grandparents Day
McQuade was born Marian Lucille Herndon in Caperton, West Virginia on January 18, 1917. Like Mother's Day founder Anna Jarvis, she was a native West Virginian.
Campaigning in West Virginia and later nationwide to set aside a day for grandparents, in 1973 West Virginia became the first state with a special day to honour grandparents when Governor Arch Moore proclaimed May 27, 1973, Grandparents Day. In September 1978, the White House called her to inform her that President Jimmy Carter had signed a bill designating the Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day beginning in 1979. In 1989, the United States Postal Service issued a tenth-anniversary commemorative envelope bearing the likeness of Marian McQuade in honour of National Grandparents Day.
National Grandparents Day is a secular holiday celebrated in various countries, with official recognition in some, and occurring on various days of the year, either as one holiday or sometimes as a separate Grandmothers' Day and Grandfathers' Day.
Source: wikipedia
