Saturday, a familiar face to many college football fans and the state’s first lady will be at the helm of the Christmas on the River parade. Former University of Alabama quarterback Andrew Zow and First Lady Patsy Riley will be in Demopolis to serve as Grand Marshall’s over the day’s events.

Riley, along with her grandson Ren, plans to make a day of it attending the celebration all day. Riley and her grandson will ride in the Children’s Day parade at 11:30 a.m., attend a viewing of How the Grinch Stole Christmas at 2 p.m. and complete the day’s activities by serving as the Grand Marshall for the Nautical parade at 6:30 p.m.

Demopolis Are Chamber of Commerce Events and Tourism Coordinator Kelley Smith said it was an honor to have the First Lady in attendance.

“We were very happy to hear she would be able to come,” said Smith. “We feel very fortunate not only to have her attend, but to serve as the Grand Marshall.”

While Zow is originally from Lake Butler, Fla. He is quite familiar with Alabama. Zow chose to remain in Alabama after graduation moving to Birmingham to start his won company.

Things have changed a great deal for Andrew Zow since his playing days at the Capstone. Once the former Tide signal caller saw that a professional football career was not in the cards he went on his own to form a successful business.

On June 10, 2003, Andrew L. Zow founded Andrew Zow&Associates, Inc., a new corporation that associates themselves with manufacturers and suppliers in the utility industry. The company is a certified Minority Business Enterprise focusing as a manufacturer’s representative and/or a distributor.

The company was awarded the Chairman’s Partnership Award in Sept. of 2003 from the US Department of Commerce/MBDA in Birmingham.

Andrew is the president of Andrew Zow&Associates, Inc., and is a 2001 graduate of the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Fitness Management.

Along with being a successful businessman, Zow is the subject of a book to be released in the near future. Archie C. Lamb and Vortex Sports will release Crimson QB: The Andrew Zow Story in December.

Zow said he had been approached several times about the book and finally decided it would be fun to tell his story. Zow said the book would highlight his life from his youth to his playing days in Tuscaloosa.

“I had been approached by several writers and publishers since I finished my career at the University of Alabama to reflect on my career as the Crimson Tide quarterback,” said Zow. “It was important for me to tell my own story, not only about my days in Tuscaloosa but how I have grown mentally, physically and spiritually from my childhood days in Lake Butler, Fla.”

He is a former quarterback for the University of Alabama, where he was an Academic All-SEC student-athlete.

Andrew participated in many speaking engagements and community service activities throughout the schools in Tuscaloosa County and Birmingham.

He is also a recipient of the Key to the City of Anniston presented by the mayor.

Zow’s success as a businessman was to be expected after his standout career as the Tide signal caller. Zow’s holds school records for total plays, 1,020, total yardage, 5,958, and most career passing yards with 5,983. Zow also holds school records with 852 passing attempts, 459 completions and 12 consecutive completions in the 2000 Ole Miss game.

He resides in the Birmingham area and is married with two sons.