DALLAS, Nov. 25, 2008 — Comerica Bank and Dallas officials today announced a new theme, new date, a new parade route and several new entries for the 2009 Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade in downtown Dallas.

Comerica Chairman & CEO Ralph Babb, Dallas City Council-member Pauline Medrano and DOWNTOWNDALLAS President John Crawford announced that “Celebrate Community!” will be the theme of the family-friendly event, scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, at 2:30 p.m. The 1.3-mile parade route will begin in the Dallas Arts District on Ross Avenue in front of the Dallas Museum of Art and will conclude at Houston and All-Star Way next to the American Airlines Center. Simultaneous pep rallies featuring the university bands and cheerleaders from the schools in the 73rd AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic are tentatively scheduled near the American Airlines Center immediately following the parade, which is moving to New Year’s Day due to the Cotton Bowl game change to Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.

J. Curtis Sanford Parade Committee organizers expect that the Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade will have approximately 70 entries with some 3,500 participants including the university marching bands and cheerleaders, the world-famous Kilgore College Rangerettes, high school bands and cheer teams from across the country, equestrians, and more than 30 floats and specialty entries celebrating North Texas organizations and attractions.

New entries for the 2009 parade include:

• The Marine Forces Reserve Band from New Orleans, La.
• The U.S. Army 1st Cavalry Division Horse Detachment from Fort Hood, Texas
• The Texas National Guard 36th Infantry Division Band from Austin
• The Crow Collection of Asian Art float with lion and dragon dancers
• A King Tut Exhibit entry from the Dallas Museum of Art
• Tenet Healthcare, which is relocating to downtown Dallas
• More than 200 Circle Ten Council Boy Scouts carrying banners and a giant U.S. flag

The parade will benefit the Scovell Scholarship Foundation, which provides thousands of dollars in college grants annually for North Texas high school graduates with leadership abilities, strong moral character, financial need and a connection to sports.

“Comerica Bank is proud to call Dallas home, and there’s no better way to celebrate our community than with a parade through the streets of downtown Dallas,” said Ralph Babb, chairman and CEO, Comerica Incorporated and Comerica Bank. “The Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade will be a great way for families to ring in 2009 while welcoming thousands of visitors in town for the annual AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic.”

“Today’s announcement reinforces Comerica’s strong commitment to our community,” said Dallas City Councilmember Pauline Medrano. “On behalf of the citizens of Dallas, I thank Ralph Babb and Comerica employees for embracing our city and for making downtown Dallas the place to be on New Year’s Day.”

The volunteer-led J. Curtis Sanford Parade Committee is named for Cotton Bowl founder and Dallas oilman J. Curtis Sanford, who spent his own money to start the New Year’s Day football game in 1937 to highlight Dallas. Sanford’s widow (Betty), daughter (Betty Crawford) and son-in-law (John Crawford) attended the press conference and commented on how the Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade aligns with the Cotton Bowl founder’s original intentions.

“The J. Curtis Sanford Parade Committee and the Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade continue Mr. Sanford’s vision to showcase Dallas to others across the country,” said John Crawford, president, DOWNTOWNDALLAS. “We’re grateful that the parade will highlight some of our newest corporate citizens Downtown. It’s a great time to work, live and celebrate in downtown Dallas.”

According to the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade helps boost the local economy during a crucial week for local hotels and restaurants.

“A free, large-scale community event like the Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade gives visitors a good reason to arrive earlier, support our economy as they shop and dine, and experience the exciting new developments in the urban core of Dallas,” said Phillip Jones, president, Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade is a great annual event for local residents and for the thousands of guests in town for the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic.”

“The Field Scovell Scholarship Foundation is grateful to Comerica Bank and to the entire Sanford Parade Committee for their efforts to recognize deserving young students in North Texas,” said Sue Scovell Lavender, daughter of Field and Mary Scovell. “The parade celebrates two of my parents’ great passions – education and Cotton Bowl Week in Dallas.”

Additional volunteers are still needed for the parade. For information on the Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade, including sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, go to comericabankparade.com. About Comerica Bank
Comerica Bank is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated, a financial services company headquartered in Dallas and strategically aligned into three major business segments: the Business Bank, the Retail Bank, and Wealth & Institutional Management. Comerica focuses on relationships and helping businesses and people to be successful. In addition to Dallas, Houston and Austin, Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Michigan, California, Florida and Arizona, with select businesses operating in several other states, and Canada and Mexico. Comerica Incorporated reported total assets of $65.2 billion at September 30, 2008. To receive e-mail alerts of breaking Comerica news, go to http://www.comerica.com/newsalerts.