Happy Birthday, Lamar

Over 45 official entries took part in Saturday’s Lamar Days parade on May 14th. Sunny skies and cool temperatures brought out a crowd that lined the streets from East Olive to South Main to celebrate Lamar’s 125th anniversary. Lamar Chamber of Commerce President, Jill Tinnes said there were about 45 official entries, but she said about a dozen more joined in at the last-minute to offer something for everyone.

William and Kathryn Wootten had the honors for King and Queen for Lamar’s Parade. Feather’s, the Honker’s official mascot ruled the roost for several decades without competition, but found a new friend in “Quackers”, the Lamar Rotary’s new mascot, making its debut this year. Quackers turned a few heads, and almost lost his, as there was only an inch or two of clearance left, negotiating under the overhead signage a few yards short of the Main and Olive intersection. Rotarian John Sykes’, look of surprise turned into a sigh of relief once the inflatable cleared the gap. The crowd joined in with a collective gasp as they believed a crash was imminent. The lawn chair drill team from Colorado East Bank and Trust, made a surprise visit to the parade after a several year absence. They put on an exhibition of tight and skilled manipulation of their lawn chairs several times during the course of the parade.

A lot of residents stayed downtown following the parade to view the staged melodrama of the infamous Frisbie shooting of 1906. Quite a few more were on hand at noon for the traditional Ham and Bean dinner served by the Lamar Senior Center on East Olive Street.

By Russ Baldwin

Photos by Russ Baldwin (All Rights Reserved)