This home movie from 1966 captures what is likely the Foley’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in downtown Houston. Footage includes scenes of parade floats, balloons, clowns, boy scouts, Santa Claus and his reindeer, classic cars, and baton twirling. Harold H. “Hal” Coley, former member of the Texas House of Representatives, filmed this home movie.
Harold H. “Hal” Coley was born on August 8, 1922. Before becoming a politician, he worked as a news editor for a Conroe radio station. In 1957, Coley took over James. E. Cox’s seat in the Texas House of Representatives during a special election after Cox resigned amid bribery allegations. Coley served as a Democrat in the Texas House of Representatives from 1957 to 1961. He died in Tyler on January 27, 2004.