DALLAS, Dec. 18, 2008 — J. Curtis Sanford founded the first Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1, 1937, to showcase Dallas to visitors across the country. Seventy-two years later, the woman he married will carry on his New Year’s legacy of hospitality. Comerica Bank and the J. Curtis Sanford Parade Committee today announced that Mrs. Betty Sanford will serve as grand marshal of the 2009 Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade on Jan. 1, 2009, in downtown Dallas.

“In a year in which the parade celebrates community, we are honored to recognize and thank Mrs. Sanford for the incredible contributions she and her family have made to Dallas,” said Ralph Babb, Chairman & CEO, Comerica Incorporated. “Mrs. Sanford continues to inspire others by her active community service and generosity to others.”

“I’m truly honored to serve as grand marshal of the Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade,” said Mrs. Sanford. “The parade and the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic carry forth my husband’s vision of a New Year’s spectacular to promote our community as a great place to live, work and raise a family.”

In addition to serving as grand marshal of the Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade, Mrs. Sanford will conduct the final AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic coin toss at historic Cotton Bowl Stadium on Friday, Jan. 2, 2009. In 2010, the football game will move to the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

Mrs. Sanford continues to maintain a dizzying schedule. Last summer, she competed in the Senior Olympics, where she won three gold medals in the javelin, shot put and hammer throw. Mrs. Sanford is a native Dallasite. She has two children, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Her son-in-law, John Crawford, is a former chairman of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association and serves as president of DOWNTOWNDALLAS - the non-profit organization that supports and promotes downtown improvement and revitalization.

The J. Curtis Sanford Parade Committee is an all-volunteer non-profit corporation formed in 2006 to restore the New Year’s parade tradition during AT&T Cotton Bowl week. The committee was named in memory of Mrs. Sanford’s husband for his visionary leadership to promote North Texas. Proceeds from the Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade benefit the Field and Mary Scovell Scholarship Foundation. GRAND MARSHAL BETTY SANFORD

Who:
Widow of Cotton Bowl Founder J. Curtis Sanford and Beloved Community Ambassador

What:
Grand Marshal of Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade

When:
Thursday, Jan, 1, 2009, 2:30 p.m.

Where:
Downtown Dallas (Arts District to Victory Plaza) 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.