The grand marshal of the 2013 Rose Parade will be Jane Goodall, renowned chimpanzee researcher and environmentalist.
In response to receiving the honor, Goodall made reference to the 124th Rose Parade's theme, borrowed from Dr. Seuss, "Oh, the Places You'll Go!"
"My dream for this New Year's Day is for everyone to think of the places we can all go if we work together to make the world a better place," Goodall said. "Every journey starts with one step. And I am pleased to see the Tournament of Roses continue to take steps towards not only celebrating beauty and imagination but also a cleaner environment."
The Tournament of Roses writes on its web site that Goodall has been an inspiration as the organization seeks to become more sustainable, including improving waste management.
At age 26, Goodall traveled from England to what is now Tanzania to study the little-known world of chimpanzees. She gained the trust of the chimps and produced research revealing how the animals live, use tools and engage in war-like activity. Her work has increased the world's understanding of both animals and humans and has been used to advocate for endangered species.
Last year's grand marshal was Iraq war veteran and “Dancing With The Stars” contestant J.R. Martinez.
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