Dateline: July 12, 2001

Visitors have a 'hot' time at 123rd celebration 

Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

A new location and a new rodeo did nothing to dampen enthusiasm for the 123rd annual Saints’ Roost Celebration held here last week, but visitors and townsfolk did have to contend with temperatures that soared above 100°F.

The celebration got started Wednesday, July 4, with a bicycle parade on Kearney Street. Winners in the youngest division were Taylor Knorpp, first; Hannah Hommel, second; and Branson Cruse, third. In the middle division winners were Haley Chambless, first; and Tyler and Taylor Smith, second and third. In the big kids’ division winners were Chris Tiedeman, first; Amanda Rice, second; and Deston Chambless, third.

Events on the Fourth continued at Thunder Junction with ice cream and sloppy joes being served all day and fireworks being fired that night.

The town took Thursday off and got back to celebrating on Friday, July 6, with the Stick Horse Rodeo sponsored by the Donley County Horse Club and the Depression Lunch sponsored by the Main Street Ministry Center. The first day of a three-day carnival started that afternoon at Thunder Junction.

Friday night, the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association marked its 50th anniversary by changing its traditional rodeo to a ranch rodeo competition. Comments were positive from those in attendance as local and area ranches battled it out to see who had the best cowboys. Twelve ranches competed on Friday night, and another 12 competed on Saturday. Results were not available at presstime.

Saturday was the big day of the celebration with the craft fair, barbecue, parade, turtle race, and more.

Some grumbling had been heard around town about moving the festivities from their traditional place on the courthouse square to City Park due to the courthouse restoration project. But right away Saturday, the roominess and beauty of the park and the convenience of the covered pavilion had people making positive comments. In the days that have followed, some citizens are even saying they prefer the new location.

During the Old Settlers Reunion, Clara Mae Carter and C.E. Welch were recognized as the oldest folks in attendance. Mildred Housden was honored as the person having lived in the county the longest, and Dr. Buddy Hudson from Colleyville, Texas, was the person traveling the greatest distance to the celebration. W.K. Hardin and Claudine Todd were the Pioneer Man and Woman of the Year.

Attendance for the barbecue was down again this year. The Al Morrah Shrine Club reports serving only 850 people. Last year, the Shriners served 1,100. That figure was 1,134 in 1999 and over 1,500 in 1997. A total for 1998 was unavailable.

The Lions Club’s Cow Patty Bingo winner was Paulette Kidd. She won $50.

The parade followed a different route this year, turning on Third Street instead of Second Street and thus not disrupting traffic on US 287. It was a change which had the effect of shortening the duration of the parade and easing the traffic directing pressures on members of the Donley County Sheriff’s Department.

Popular television and screen actor Barry Corbin was the Grand Marshall this year, leading the parade of 54 entries on horseback.

Winners of the parade this year were: Float Division – CHS Cheerleaders driven by Eddie Eads (first), Herring National Bank/Mr. & Miss CHS (second); Riding Units – Cheyenne Noble (first), Khiva Shrine Temple Mule Skinners (second); Antique Cars – Wondell & Ann Luttrell’s 1925 Model T (first), James Nelson’s 1952 Chevy Pickup (second); Other – Lone Star Transportation Escort Vehicle (first), and Khiva Shrine’s Mini-Vettes (second).

Following the parade, Henson’s Turtle Race was held at its usual location with eight-month-old Gavin Hollan of Clarendon, six-year-old Benjamin McDonald of Amarillo, and 10-year-old Leigh Ann Layton of Clarendon racing the fastest terrapins this year.

The VFW Post raffled off a shotgun, and Wiley Reynolds of Lelia Lake was the lucky winner. Russell Estlack of Clarendon won the trip for two to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas given by the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce.