Dodson All Class Reunion seeks Phillips County floats

One of the highlights of the 100th Annual Phillips County Fairlater this summer will be the 100th Annual Dodson All Class Reunion.

As part of that reunion, the board members have long planned to hold a school parade during the final day of the event, Sunday, August 2. Though the parade remains intact for the day, the people who are to participate in it has changed and each and every resident of Phillips County – and beyond -- are being asked to enter.

“First we were going to have a parade consisting of people just from the school,” said Bonnie Lankford, Co-Chair of the Dodson All Class Reunion. “But know we have expanded it to anybody in the county, or anywhere at all for that matter, that would like to participate in the 100-year parade. People could dress up centennially or whatever they like. The more the merrier.”

On Sunday, August 2 at noon, parade participants will meet in front of Dodson School to line up for the event. The parade route will leave the school and travel to the Dodson Fair Grounds as a prelude to the Open Rodeo to be held in the arena at 1 p.m. on the day.

So far there are about a half-dozen participants in the parade. Lankford said she can't remember when the last time there was a big parade in Dodson, but added that the timing for one is perfect.

"We would like to have a big parade to celebrate 100 years for the county, the town of Dodson and the fair," Lankford said. "So come one, come all."

Bridgett Ereaux is the Chair Person for the event so if there are questions or you would like to be in the parade, she can be reached at 390-5031.

Registration for the school reunion will be on Friday, July 31, from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturday, August 1 from 9 a.m. until noon. Lankford said that the preregistration for the reunion has been strong with people coming to town from as far away as Hawaii.

"There are people coming from all across the country," Lankford said. "They would really like to see as many people as possible, especially the people who still live in the area."

Reservations for the event are $50 per person which includes the banquet and breakfast. During, and after, the banquet, there will be live and silent auctions to help defray costs of the reunion. All other proceeds from the auctions will be put towards purchasing new curtains for the stage in the school gym.

"We are asking graduates to bring items to be auctioned off during the event," Lankford said. "If anyone has questions they can call me at 390-2276."

Carl Solberg has made a DVD using pictures from past Dodson High School Annuals -- lasting over an hour -- which will also be available at the Dodson School Reunion.