Saturday, March 17, commemorates both the 37th annual Sedona St. Patrick?s Day Parade and Sedona City Councilman John Bradshaw?s 37th birthday.

Saturday, March 17, commemorates both the 37th annual Sedona St. Patrick?s Day Parade and Sedona City Councilman John Bradshaw?s 37th birthday.

Bradshaw was born on March 17, 1970, in Sedona — the day of the inaugural St. Patrick?s Day Parade.

?I always called it my birthday party that Sedona throws for me,? Bradshaw said of the parade, and he hasn?t missed a year yet.

In fact, one year, Bradshaw said he was quite a spectacle at the parade.

Bradshaw and one of his buddies wore pizza boxes hanging from their shoulders that read, ?Will work for fishing lessons,? and walked the entire length of the parade.

No, Bradshaw?s costume wasn?t part of a float encouraging spring recreation.

Bradshaw wasn?t even a registered participant in the parade.

He had lost a bet.

?That?s definitely a parade that stands out in my mind,? Bradshaw said.

While fishing at Lake Roosevelt near Phoenix with three friends, Bradshaw and his buddies decided to turn the days activity into a competition, Bradshaw said.

The group split into two teams of two, each going out in separate boats to see who could catch the most fish. The losers had to wear the pizza-box signs at the parade.

Bradshaw?s team lost by a single fish.

Since Bradshaw?s debut in the parade as a young man needing fishing lessons, he has become a title sponsor. This is the fourth year Bradshaw has made financial contributions on behalf of numerous business owned by the Bradshaw family, including A Day in the West Tours and Photo Express.

Bradshaw has lived in Sedona his entire life and is one of the few local residents who was actually born in Sedona. A doctor delivered Bradshaw at an office located inside what was then the town of Sedona.

Today, Bradshaw and his wife, Maree, live with their two children, Jillian, 12, and Mason, 10, in Sedona.

?I?m definitely here to stay,? Bradshaw said.