A chance meeting began the story of this at a Pizza Hut years ago year’s Many Christmas Parade Honorary Grand Marshals John Wayne and Tina McCormic.
“The first night I started working at Pizza Hut, he tells me he’s going to marry me,” Tina said of the chance meeting. “A year later, that following New Year’s Eve we got married.”
Today, the couple have raised their two children, Timothy and Tabitha, in the town where they first met. Timmi is a major in the U.S. Army, stationed in Arlington, Virginia. Tabitha is married to Daniel Strawn and they live in Natchitoches, where she works for the Natchitoches School Board Office.
Even with an empty nest, the two show their dedication to local sports in a huge way, as John Wayne is well known for the barbecue chicken lunches he cooks with a small army of dedicated friends for any number of local charities and sports teams. It’s an absolutely delicious way to support the local youth and community.
Tina developed a love of the camera and photography, much like her father. She is often seen on the sidelines of area sports teams, where she has carved a niche as the parish’s premier photographer.
“Nothing gives us more joy than giving back to our community,” Tina says. “We are thankful we get to do what we do for so many others.”