The 2026 St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal will be

COURT & KAREN CONN
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This year’s theme is”
“A BRIDGE ACROSS
THE CENTURIES”

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The Conn’s Hospitality Group has supplied Springfield with many services & memories for decades!

The Grand Marshal for this year’s parade is Court & Karen Conn

WHAT BEGAN WITH ROY CONN AND HIS FAMILY RESTAURANT IN PALMYRA, ILLINOIS in 1948 is now Conn’s Hospitality Group that includes Court, Karen, Casey & Adam Conn. As time passed, and Roy was beginning to slow down some, his son Court began to oversee most aspects of the Conn’s businesses during the late 70’s to early 80’s, eventually becoming primary owner of Conn’s Catering in 1985.
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His wife, Karen, joined him in 1986 and later became a primary owner in 1996. Together, they soon found a beautiful but neglected historic apartment building that they converted to a gorgeous bed and breakfast steps away from the Illinois State Capitol. They named this new venture the Inn at 835.
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Next came the 19th century house at the corner of 7th & Jackson originally owned by Obed Lewis. Research showed that the Lewis children often played with the neighboring Lincoln children. The Lewis home was passed on to each generation until the 1930’s when it became office space. Then in 2007 the Lewis’ great-great grandson and his wife, Court & Karen Conn bought house back into the family.
The house proved to be need taken down. But the Conn’s saved another house, the Lincoln-era Isaac Lindsey house. The Lindsey house, which was built with the help of Abraham Lincoln, was moved in 2008 from its foundation six blocks north to be placed on the site of the former Obed Lewis house. What we all know as Obed & Isacs

Thank you to the Conn family that have done so much for this community!