Barry Hughes will be grand marshal for the 2024 Citizens United for a Better Bridgeport Christmas Parade. Photo courtesy of CUBB

Barry Hughes enjoys working hard to help his community grow and prosper.

A lifelong resident of Bridgeport, Hughes has served on the Bridgeport City Council for more than 23 years. During that time, he has also served as the town’s mayor pro tem. But his hard work doesn’t stop with the city council, and his leadership is the reason Hughes has been chosen as this year’s grand marshal for the annual Citizens United for a Better Bridgeport Christmas Parade.

“He’s a wonderful leader. He really works hard for the town,” says Doris Janney, a member of Citizens United for a Better Bridgeport, known as CUBB.

The 2024 parade will be held on Saturday, December 7, in downtown Bridgeport. The lineup will begin at 4:30 p.m., and the parade will start at 5 p.m. It’s the first year CUBB has held a lighted parade.

Hughes says he is proud CUBB selected him as this year’s grand marshal. “You’re proud of all other accomplishments that you do, but when I was chosen grand marshal, that was quite an honor,” he says.

During his time on the city council, Hughes has received the Certified Municipal Official Emeritus award from the Alabama League of Municipalities Leadership Institute, having exceeded the required CMO credit hours for the certification training program for elected municipal officials.

Maintaining a close working relationship with the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce, Hughes has served 2 terms on its board. He makes annual trips to Montgomery to help secure grants and other funding for Bridgeport. He has also made numerous visits to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress to discuss the needs of Bridgeport.

Hughes worked to obtain funding from TVA for the city’s boat dock and recreation area. Bridgeport now boasts a dock area equipped with pavilions for picnics, restrooms and spacious parking. Hughes was also instrumental in securing 65 acres of land for a future campsite near the boat dock.

Hughes retired from the U.S. Army National Guard after serving 27 years and reaching an E-7 rank. He says he’s proud of his military service time and the work he has done for his community. He helped for many years with Bridgeport Little League baseball and youth football and still works in the construction business.

Hughes and his wife, Betty, have been married for 52 years. They have 2 sons and 5 grandchildren and are members of Calvary Baptist Church in Bridgeport.