Dwight Howard will be front and center at the Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade

HOUSTON - Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard will be the Grand Marshall of Houston's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

“We are excited that Dwight Howard has agreed to lead our annual Thanksgiving Day Parade," Mayor Annise Parker said in a statement released to FOX 26 Sports.  "He is a big Houston supporter, a positive role model and an active leader in our community.  

"He’s also a pretty good basketball player that we love to watch.  It’s going to be a lot of fun to see him in this role.”

Rockets CEO Tad Brown said this is just another way for his star center to give back to the Houston area.

"It's great," Brown said. "I couldn't think of a bigger-than-life personality to be the Grand Marshall.

"He enjoys being part of the community. He enjoys giving back."