Odell Attends Grand Marshall Installation for Callaghan
MaryEllen Odell
Putnam County Executive
(845) 808-1001
February 10, 2014
County Executive MaryEllen Odell was among the many dignitaries, Emerald Society of Putnam County members, family and friends who were present at Centennial Golf Club on Friday, Feb. 7 to watch as John J. Callaghan of Mahopac was officially installed as the Grand Marshall of the 2014 Northern Westchester and Putnam County St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
“It was a great night and the Emerald Society could not have chosen a better Grand Marshall candidate than John Callaghan. He will certainly make everyone of Irish heritage – and that’s everyone on St. Patrick’s Day – very proud as he leads our St. Patrick’s Day Parade,’ said Odell.
The eldest of Margaret and Charles Callaghan’s eight children, John was born in Ardnawark, Barnesmore, County Donegal, Ireland on October 13, 1943. At 18, he immigrated to Scotland and then to Yorkshire, England before “crossing the pond” to the United States where he was employed by the New York Telephone Company.
In 1965, John was drafted into the U.S. Army. He was assigned to serve with the 4th Army Division in Vietnam and rose to the rank of sergeant before being honorably discharged in 1967 and returning to his job at the phone company.
John met his bride, Mary Houlihan, in 1969. They were married in 1971 and moved to Mahopac from the Bronx in 1973. Together they raised their three children, Debbie, Sean and Christopher.
John joined the Emerald Association of Putnam County in 1975 and has served multiple terms as their Executive Board vice-president, president, chairman of the Feis Committee and representative on the Parade Committee. John presently serves as chairman of the Welfare and Scholarship committees.
Photo caption: Grand Marshall John J. Callaghan, County Executive MaryEllen Odell, and parade announcer Bill Keating at Installation Dinner held at Centennial Golf Club on Friday, Feb. 7.
