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Legends of an Era: Willcox's 55th Rex Allen Days celebrates past, looks to the future
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
"I think it went really well," said Sue Haley, president of Rex Allen Days, Inc. "We were pleased with the crowd."
"The event was absolutely wonderful, and we are looking forward to next year. My family came away glowing from the event this year. I felt more at home this trip than I have in a couple of years. We were bowled over by how wonderful everyone was," said Rex Allen Jr., Tuesday.
"I want to compliment Delcie (Schultz) and the entire board of directors of the Rex Allen Museum for making the stage show the best we've had in the last four or five years.
Delcie worked tirelessly to market the event in places it hadn't been marketed before.
Everything - the parade, the rodeo, the stage show, and even the tractor pull -- had people coming from a lot greater distances than we had before," he added.
Haley said, "The park (attendance) was down and the carnival was down," adding "the rain Sunday didn't help any."
Though the skies looked ominous on Saturday, it didn't rain on the parade. The only rain came during Sunday's carnival and rodeo.
"The parade went really well," Haley said.
Allen concurred, saying it was "absolutely phenomenal."
Saturday's parade theme was "Legends of an Era."
Kelly and Terry Rowden announced the parade, and the parade marshal was Lee Gonzalez Gonzalez, the widow of film star and entertainer Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez.
A black 1948 Buick, owned and driven by Councilman Jimmy Norris, was driven behind the Marine color guard in memory of Pedro shortly before the parade began.
"We wanted to give people a little bit of time to absorb the fact that we had a great loss this year -- that was Pedro," said Haley, adding that time was taken to allow his family to watch the tribute and then join the parade line.
The parade judges were Richard Moreno of Willcox, Susan Tawney of Sierra Vista, and Armando Membrila of Safford, said Jan Trevino, the parade chairman.
Moreno and Tawney were judges for the first time, while Membrila has been a judge for four years now.
From about 70 entries, the parade winners were Mounted Group - Apacheland Appaloosa Club; Commercial - Fort Bowie Vineyards and Orchard Products; Band - Huber Middle School Marching Band of Douglas; Antique Vehicle - Gretchen Boyd; Antique Tractor - Power from the Past; Organization - Willcox FFA; Horse Drawn Vehicle - Lazy S Ranch; Mayor's Trophy - Valley Telecom; Best Use of Theme - Sacred Heart Catholic Church; and Best Band - Triangle T Guest Ranch.
Always exciting, the 25th annual Orlando B. Willcox Turtle Race had 15 entries.
In first place was Kennedy Cook, and second, Andrew Frish. There was a tie for third place between McKenzee Kee, 11, and Hanah Melton, 6, both of Willcox.
Shaye and Stephen Klump, who ran the show, thanked judges Julie Deurinck, Shannon Klump, Craig Benton, and Scott Budgell.
All who attended enjoyed Saturday's afternoon and evening stage shows at the high school auditorium.
Rex Allen, Jr., told the audience that the concert this year was a tribute to heroes such as Guy Atchley, a television news anchor/reporter and cancer survivor; Coach Leo Golembiewski, with the University of Arizona Icecats, Mary Leighton, and Johnny Western, as well as the late Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez and Rex Allen Sr.
The memory of Pedro, who had attended Rex Allen Days for more than 50 years, was honored with a song about heroes, performed by Rex Allen, Jr.
A table with the pans he always played stood on stage during the concert, topped by a bouquet of roses.
"I know Pedro's probably with us here tonight. He could be standing right there," said Allen, pointing toward the table.
Former Rex Allen Museum Manager Mary Leighton was honored with a plaque, which was read and presented to her by Allen at the beginning of the show.
The concert also featured legendary singer and guitarist Johnny Western, and the third generation of Allens to debut in Willcox -- singers Cody Allen and Logan Allen -- the sons of Rex Jr.
"I thought the concert was great. Even though it is sad that Pedro and my Dad are gone, bringing the boys to the event showed that the tradition is moving on. The tradition is still there," Allen said Tuesday.
The Rex Allen Days Rodeo, also at Quail Drive Sports Park, began both days with a Wild Horse Race.
Pre-rodeo events included Mutton Bustin', a Stick Horse Race, Dummy Roping, and Barrel Racing. Rodeo results were not available at press time.
Allen also saw tradition being passed on through the Rex Allen Days Queens, as well.
"Deanna and I went to the Queen's luncheon, and I was very, very impressed."
Allen said the queens committee "wanted to make sure the girls understood the tradition of Rex Allen Days. The girls were very well-versed in the history of the event and what it means. We were very, very impressed."
"Destiny's going to make a great Rex Allen Days Queen."
Destiny Vaught, 21, of Benson, was crowned 2007 Rex Allen Days Queen at the rodeo Sunday afternoon.
Vaught, the daughter of Abelina and Brian Vaught, is employed by her family's business ABC Pump and Well Drilling.
Area residents may remember Vaught as Benson's Butterfield Rodeo Queen for 2000-01.
She is currently enrolled in equine classes at Cochise Community College, and hopes to someday own an equestrian riding stable for the handicapped in the Cochise County area.
Asked to explain why she would like to be Rex Allen Days Queen, Vaught said she hopes "to be a role model for the children, men and women, and the heritage of rodeos," and "represent Willcox in the Rex Allen Days rodeo all over the state to the best of my ability... giving a good example of what a determined heart can do and be anything you want with the right attitude."
The Willcox Elementary School and Northern Cochise Community Hospital Nursing Home received visits Friday afternoon from Rex Allen Jr. and members of his Arizona band, Cody Allen and Logan Allen, and the rodeo queen contestants, including current Queen Ashley Hubbard, and contestants Vaught, Jessica Albright of Willcox, Cary Ann Ely of Willcox, and Audrey Megitt of Benson.
The eighth annual Western Music, Cowboy Poetry, and Rex Allen Film Festival had good attendance, said Jim Sober, who coordinated the event.
"I think it went well. We had pretty good crowds, especially on Saturday," he said.
Sober gives much credit to the permanent steel roof, installed prior to last year's Rex Allen Days, which shades the outdoor audience area in front of the Windmill Park stage.
Referring to a good turnout Sunday for the Rotary breakfast and cowboy church, Sober said, "The shade helps a lot. People come for breakfast and hang around."
"We were certainly pleased with the way it went," he added.
Overall, Haley was happy with the 2006 Rex Allen Days.
"I think it went well. We were pretty pleased with the crowd," she said.
"We start working next month on an even bigger and better event next year."
"The event was absolutely wonderful, and we are looking forward to next year. My family came away glowing from the event this year. I felt more at home this trip than I have in a couple of years. We were bowled over by how wonderful everyone was," said Rex Allen Jr., Tuesday.
"I want to compliment Delcie (Schultz) and the entire board of directors of the Rex Allen Museum for making the stage show the best we've had in the last four or five years.
Delcie worked tirelessly to market the event in places it hadn't been marketed before.
Everything - the parade, the rodeo, the stage show, and even the tractor pull -- had people coming from a lot greater distances than we had before," he added.
Haley said, "The park (attendance) was down and the carnival was down," adding "the rain Sunday didn't help any."
Though the skies looked ominous on Saturday, it didn't rain on the parade. The only rain came during Sunday's carnival and rodeo.
"The parade went really well," Haley said.
Allen concurred, saying it was "absolutely phenomenal."
Saturday's parade theme was "Legends of an Era."
Kelly and Terry Rowden announced the parade, and the parade marshal was Lee Gonzalez Gonzalez, the widow of film star and entertainer Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez.
A black 1948 Buick, owned and driven by Councilman Jimmy Norris, was driven behind the Marine color guard in memory of Pedro shortly before the parade began.
"We wanted to give people a little bit of time to absorb the fact that we had a great loss this year -- that was Pedro," said Haley, adding that time was taken to allow his family to watch the tribute and then join the parade line.
The parade judges were Richard Moreno of Willcox, Susan Tawney of Sierra Vista, and Armando Membrila of Safford, said Jan Trevino, the parade chairman.
Moreno and Tawney were judges for the first time, while Membrila has been a judge for four years now.
From about 70 entries, the parade winners were Mounted Group - Apacheland Appaloosa Club; Commercial - Fort Bowie Vineyards and Orchard Products; Band - Huber Middle School Marching Band of Douglas; Antique Vehicle - Gretchen Boyd; Antique Tractor - Power from the Past; Organization - Willcox FFA; Horse Drawn Vehicle - Lazy S Ranch; Mayor's Trophy - Valley Telecom; Best Use of Theme - Sacred Heart Catholic Church; and Best Band - Triangle T Guest Ranch.
Always exciting, the 25th annual Orlando B. Willcox Turtle Race had 15 entries.
In first place was Kennedy Cook, and second, Andrew Frish. There was a tie for third place between McKenzee Kee, 11, and Hanah Melton, 6, both of Willcox.
Shaye and Stephen Klump, who ran the show, thanked judges Julie Deurinck, Shannon Klump, Craig Benton, and Scott Budgell.
All who attended enjoyed Saturday's afternoon and evening stage shows at the high school auditorium.
Rex Allen, Jr., told the audience that the concert this year was a tribute to heroes such as Guy Atchley, a television news anchor/reporter and cancer survivor; Coach Leo Golembiewski, with the University of Arizona Icecats, Mary Leighton, and Johnny Western, as well as the late Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez and Rex Allen Sr.
The memory of Pedro, who had attended Rex Allen Days for more than 50 years, was honored with a song about heroes, performed by Rex Allen, Jr.
A table with the pans he always played stood on stage during the concert, topped by a bouquet of roses.
"I know Pedro's probably with us here tonight. He could be standing right there," said Allen, pointing toward the table.
Former Rex Allen Museum Manager Mary Leighton was honored with a plaque, which was read and presented to her by Allen at the beginning of the show.
The concert also featured legendary singer and guitarist Johnny Western, and the third generation of Allens to debut in Willcox -- singers Cody Allen and Logan Allen -- the sons of Rex Jr.
"I thought the concert was great. Even though it is sad that Pedro and my Dad are gone, bringing the boys to the event showed that the tradition is moving on. The tradition is still there," Allen said Tuesday.
The Rex Allen Days Rodeo, also at Quail Drive Sports Park, began both days with a Wild Horse Race.
Pre-rodeo events included Mutton Bustin', a Stick Horse Race, Dummy Roping, and Barrel Racing. Rodeo results were not available at press time.
Allen also saw tradition being passed on through the Rex Allen Days Queens, as well.
"Deanna and I went to the Queen's luncheon, and I was very, very impressed."
Allen said the queens committee "wanted to make sure the girls understood the tradition of Rex Allen Days. The girls were very well-versed in the history of the event and what it means. We were very, very impressed."
"Destiny's going to make a great Rex Allen Days Queen."
Destiny Vaught, 21, of Benson, was crowned 2007 Rex Allen Days Queen at the rodeo Sunday afternoon.
Vaught, the daughter of Abelina and Brian Vaught, is employed by her family's business ABC Pump and Well Drilling.
Area residents may remember Vaught as Benson's Butterfield Rodeo Queen for 2000-01.
She is currently enrolled in equine classes at Cochise Community College, and hopes to someday own an equestrian riding stable for the handicapped in the Cochise County area.
Asked to explain why she would like to be Rex Allen Days Queen, Vaught said she hopes "to be a role model for the children, men and women, and the heritage of rodeos," and "represent Willcox in the Rex Allen Days rodeo all over the state to the best of my ability... giving a good example of what a determined heart can do and be anything you want with the right attitude."
The Willcox Elementary School and Northern Cochise Community Hospital Nursing Home received visits Friday afternoon from Rex Allen Jr. and members of his Arizona band, Cody Allen and Logan Allen, and the rodeo queen contestants, including current Queen Ashley Hubbard, and contestants Vaught, Jessica Albright of Willcox, Cary Ann Ely of Willcox, and Audrey Megitt of Benson.
The eighth annual Western Music, Cowboy Poetry, and Rex Allen Film Festival had good attendance, said Jim Sober, who coordinated the event.
"I think it went well. We had pretty good crowds, especially on Saturday," he said.
Sober gives much credit to the permanent steel roof, installed prior to last year's Rex Allen Days, which shades the outdoor audience area in front of the Windmill Park stage.
Referring to a good turnout Sunday for the Rotary breakfast and cowboy church, Sober said, "The shade helps a lot. People come for breakfast and hang around."
"We were certainly pleased with the way it went," he added.
Overall, Haley was happy with the 2006 Rex Allen Days.
"I think it went well. We were pretty pleased with the crowd," she said.
"We start working next month on an even bigger and better event next year."
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