FRANKLIN -- Former Franklin Mayor Paul Crowley has been named grand marshal of the Sussex County St. Patrick's Day parade.

Crowley, who said about 95 percent of his family's history is traced to Ireland, was honored on Sunday afternoon at a luncheon at the Irish Cottage Inn.

He said that one of his Irish ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War after settling in Ireland.

Referring to Sussex County, Crowley said, "There is a large number of Irish up here, so it's a real honor to have been picked."

Sussex County's St. Patrick's Day Parade is on March 11. It has been held annually in Newton since 2004.

Crowley succeeded last year's grand marshal, Vernon Township High School Principal Tim Dunnigan, who joined other prior parade leaders at Sunday's luncheon.

Crowley is a native of Newark and 36-year resident of Franklin who works as a dentist. He was elected mayor in 2007 and defeated in the June 2015 Republican primary.

He was introduced at the luncheon by former Sussex County Freeholder Glen Vetrano, the parade's 2007 grand marshal.

State Sen. Steve Oroho, a Franklin resident, was among those in attendance Sunday, as was his running mate, Assemblyman Parker Space.

Oroho is facing a Republican primary challenge from Assemblywoman Gail Phoebus, who did not attend.

Phoebus was elected in 2015, on a ticket with Oroho and Space, after then-Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose declined to seek re-election.

McHose, now the business administrator of Franklin, showed up on Sunday, as did her mother, former State Republican Party Chair Virginia Littell.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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