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53rd REX ALLEN DAYS: Get back to Rex's roots
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Steve Reno/Range News Parade Grand Marshal Dave Harris aptly fits the "Willcox Pride" theme for this year's Rex Allen Days. He's a member of the Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Arizona Softball Hall of Fame. Harris, 74, was state Player of the Year in 1951 and led a Willcox-area team to a Rocky Mountain regional title several times during his career from 1946-82. |
By CAROL BROEDER/Arizona Range News
The pride of Willcox will on display during the 53rd Rex Allen Days this weekend.
Participants can get back to Rex's roots at the sixth annual Western Music, Cowboy Poetry, and Rex Allen Film Festival.
A variety of Rex Allen movies will show continuously in the little theater of the Rex Allen Theater from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at no charge.
"There will be movies no one has seen on the big screen for a long time," said Bill Nolan, the theater's manager.
New equipment at the theater allows Nolan to show DVDs on the big screen. He has the complete collection of Rex Allen movies on DVD from the Rex Allen Museum.
Nolan said the theater will show its first-run regular movies Friday and Saturday nights, but without a matinee Saturday in deference to the special film festival.
The theater will return to its regular schedule on Sunday.
"Willcox Pride" is the theme of this year's Rex Allen Days Parade.
"We chose Willcox pride as the theme because Rex Allen Days is dedicated to the community of Willcox," said Stacey Green, chairman of the Rex Allen Days Committee, "We donate back to the community. We are invested in the community. There's a certain pride in that."
The parade begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday through the downtown area. The parade marshal is local softball legend Dave Harris. There were 46 entries as of press time, but the committee expects at least 60, Green said.
(For the parade route, see the map on page XX in this edition of the Range News.)
The Willcox High School Marching Band will lead the parade this year.
"We're excited to have them as part of the parade," Green said.
New to Rex Allen Days this year is barrel-racing for children 12 and under as a pre-rodeo event.
Thursday
The Willcox Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture is holding its 22nd Annual Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame Banquet at 6 p.m. on Thursday at the Willcox Community Center, 312 West Stewart St.
Jack Nelson and Jack Davenport were selected as the 2004 inductees into the Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame. Posthumous inductees are Bill DeRacy and Clarence Post.
The favorite son/daughter awards, in honor of Rex Allen, will also be part of the program.
The out-of-town award is presented to someone who has moved and made his or her mark elsewhere, but never forgot Willcox.
The in-town award is awarded to someone who has "stuck it out" in Willcox and made his or her mark here.
Dinner will be traditional cowboy fare of steak and all the fixings at a cost of $25 per person.
Friday
Events begin with the 9 a.m. tee time for the Southeastern Arizona Shrine Golf Tournament at Shadow Mountain Golf Course in Sunsites.
The Rex Allen Days Carnival and Country Fair will begin at 4 p.m. in Keiller Park, and will include arts and crafts, live entertainment, and food concessions.
Members of the Parade Committee will be staked out at the visitor's center beginning Friday morning to select this year's "Mystery Guests," who will be "arrested" by officers of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The out-of-town couple will spend the weekend enjoying Rex Allen Days free of charge.
During the afternoon, Rex Allen Jr., and the Rex Allen Days Queen Brittany Shannon and Lady-in-Waiting Nicolette Klump, will visit the Willcox Elementary School at 1 p.m., and the Northern Cochise Community Hospital Nursing Home at 2:30 p.m.
Western hospitality dining and dancing at local clubs and restaurants will be featured throughout the weekend.
Join the search for the Coronado Trail in the Willcox area by the Center for Desert Archaeology.
The "Coronado Road Show," inspired by the popular television program, "The Antiques Road Show," will take place at the Willcox Community Center at 312 W. Stewart St.
Experts will be on hand to scientifically evaluate possible Coronado-era artifacts from 3 to 4 p.m.
From 4 to 6 p.m., the scholars will present the latest research on Spanish explorations in the American Southwest. This will include a public lecture and viewing of artifacts.
The sixth annual Western Music, Cowboy Poetry, and Rex Allen Film Festival begins at 11 a.m.
Saturday
Rex Allen Jr., also known as Chico, will be in two concerts on Saturday at 4 and 7:30 p.m. at the Willcox High School Auditorium, with Belinda Gail and Pedro Gonzales-Gonzales.
Tickets may be purchased until 5 p.m. on Friday at the chamber. After Friday, tickets may be purchased at the Rex Allen Museum, beginning at 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday for both shows, and at the door. Prices are $21 for premier seating, $18 for the middle section, and $15 for the back section.
The Rex Allen Days Rodeo, at Quail Drive Sports Park, begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday with a Wild Horse Race.
Tickets are $6 general admission, $10 grandstand seating, and $12 for box seating.
The pre-rodeo activities, including Muttin' Bustin', Steer Riding, Stick Horse Race, Dummy Roping and Barrel Racing begin at 12:30 p.m. The registration for the barrel-racing event only is $10 per person. Sign up at the chamber or at the arena on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
There will be a winner chosen for each day, both Saturday and Sunday.
The Antique Tractor Pull and Engine Show runs at 1:30 p.m. and at 6 p.m. at 450 East Grant Street. Earlier Pulls run Friday at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The popular men's softball tournament begins at Quail Drive Sports Park at 7 a.m.
At noon, the 23rd annual General Orlando B. Willcox Turtle Race will begin at the basketball courts in Keiller Park.
The championship race will follow the heat races. The race is limited to backyard pets
All young people ages three to 12 are invited to enter a turtle in this prestigious event. Entries are limited, however, to only one turtle per person.
Ribbons will be awarded to first-, second-, and third-place winners. Cash prizes of $15, $10, and $5 will be awarded to the three top championship turtles.
The Carnival and Country Fair at Keiller Park will be going on all day both Saturday and Sunday, with arts and crafts, live entertainment, and food concessions.
The sixth annual Western Music, Cowboy Poetry, and Rex Allen Film Festival resumes at 9 a.m. at Windmill Park.
The Rex Allen Days parade begins at 10 a.m.
Sunday
The Willcox Rotary Club Breakfast will be held at Windmill Park from 7 until 11 a.m.
Cowboy church will take place at 9 a.m., also at Windmill Park.
The Rodeo continues Sunday at 12:30 with the pre-rodeo activities.
The Rex Allen Days Rodeo Finals and the 2005 Queen Coronation are scheduled for 2 p.m.
The softball tournament resumes at Quail Drive Park at 8 a.m.
The Carnival and Country Fair resumes at Keiller Park at 9 a.m.
Green is grateful for the continuing support from the community, especially the Willcox FFA. She said the FFA is involved with the rodeo concession, tractor pull, and the parade.
All is in place for the 53rd Rex Allen Days, except for what humans cannot control.
"The planning is going along nicely," Green said, "I just hope the weather holds for us."
(Editor's Note: Reporter Steve Reno contributed to this report.)
Participants can get back to Rex's roots at the sixth annual Western Music, Cowboy Poetry, and Rex Allen Film Festival.
A variety of Rex Allen movies will show continuously in the little theater of the Rex Allen Theater from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at no charge.
"There will be movies no one has seen on the big screen for a long time," said Bill Nolan, the theater's manager.
New equipment at the theater allows Nolan to show DVDs on the big screen. He has the complete collection of Rex Allen movies on DVD from the Rex Allen Museum.
Nolan said the theater will show its first-run regular movies Friday and Saturday nights, but without a matinee Saturday in deference to the special film festival.
The theater will return to its regular schedule on Sunday.
"Willcox Pride" is the theme of this year's Rex Allen Days Parade.
"We chose Willcox pride as the theme because Rex Allen Days is dedicated to the community of Willcox," said Stacey Green, chairman of the Rex Allen Days Committee, "We donate back to the community. We are invested in the community. There's a certain pride in that."
The parade begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday through the downtown area. The parade marshal is local softball legend Dave Harris. There were 46 entries as of press time, but the committee expects at least 60, Green said.
(For the parade route, see the map on page XX in this edition of the Range News.)
The Willcox High School Marching Band will lead the parade this year.
"We're excited to have them as part of the parade," Green said.
New to Rex Allen Days this year is barrel-racing for children 12 and under as a pre-rodeo event.
Thursday
The Willcox Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture is holding its 22nd Annual Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame Banquet at 6 p.m. on Thursday at the Willcox Community Center, 312 West Stewart St.
Jack Nelson and Jack Davenport were selected as the 2004 inductees into the Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame. Posthumous inductees are Bill DeRacy and Clarence Post.
The favorite son/daughter awards, in honor of Rex Allen, will also be part of the program.
The out-of-town award is presented to someone who has moved and made his or her mark elsewhere, but never forgot Willcox.
The in-town award is awarded to someone who has "stuck it out" in Willcox and made his or her mark here.
Dinner will be traditional cowboy fare of steak and all the fixings at a cost of $25 per person.
Friday
Events begin with the 9 a.m. tee time for the Southeastern Arizona Shrine Golf Tournament at Shadow Mountain Golf Course in Sunsites.
The Rex Allen Days Carnival and Country Fair will begin at 4 p.m. in Keiller Park, and will include arts and crafts, live entertainment, and food concessions.
Members of the Parade Committee will be staked out at the visitor's center beginning Friday morning to select this year's "Mystery Guests," who will be "arrested" by officers of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The out-of-town couple will spend the weekend enjoying Rex Allen Days free of charge.
During the afternoon, Rex Allen Jr., and the Rex Allen Days Queen Brittany Shannon and Lady-in-Waiting Nicolette Klump, will visit the Willcox Elementary School at 1 p.m., and the Northern Cochise Community Hospital Nursing Home at 2:30 p.m.
Western hospitality dining and dancing at local clubs and restaurants will be featured throughout the weekend.
Join the search for the Coronado Trail in the Willcox area by the Center for Desert Archaeology.
The "Coronado Road Show," inspired by the popular television program, "The Antiques Road Show," will take place at the Willcox Community Center at 312 W. Stewart St.
Experts will be on hand to scientifically evaluate possible Coronado-era artifacts from 3 to 4 p.m.
From 4 to 6 p.m., the scholars will present the latest research on Spanish explorations in the American Southwest. This will include a public lecture and viewing of artifacts.
The sixth annual Western Music, Cowboy Poetry, and Rex Allen Film Festival begins at 11 a.m.
Saturday
Rex Allen Jr., also known as Chico, will be in two concerts on Saturday at 4 and 7:30 p.m. at the Willcox High School Auditorium, with Belinda Gail and Pedro Gonzales-Gonzales.
Tickets may be purchased until 5 p.m. on Friday at the chamber. After Friday, tickets may be purchased at the Rex Allen Museum, beginning at 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday for both shows, and at the door. Prices are $21 for premier seating, $18 for the middle section, and $15 for the back section.
The Rex Allen Days Rodeo, at Quail Drive Sports Park, begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday with a Wild Horse Race.
Tickets are $6 general admission, $10 grandstand seating, and $12 for box seating.
The pre-rodeo activities, including Muttin' Bustin', Steer Riding, Stick Horse Race, Dummy Roping and Barrel Racing begin at 12:30 p.m. The registration for the barrel-racing event only is $10 per person. Sign up at the chamber or at the arena on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
There will be a winner chosen for each day, both Saturday and Sunday.
The Antique Tractor Pull and Engine Show runs at 1:30 p.m. and at 6 p.m. at 450 East Grant Street. Earlier Pulls run Friday at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The popular men's softball tournament begins at Quail Drive Sports Park at 7 a.m.
At noon, the 23rd annual General Orlando B. Willcox Turtle Race will begin at the basketball courts in Keiller Park.
The championship race will follow the heat races. The race is limited to backyard pets
All young people ages three to 12 are invited to enter a turtle in this prestigious event. Entries are limited, however, to only one turtle per person.
Ribbons will be awarded to first-, second-, and third-place winners. Cash prizes of $15, $10, and $5 will be awarded to the three top championship turtles.
The Carnival and Country Fair at Keiller Park will be going on all day both Saturday and Sunday, with arts and crafts, live entertainment, and food concessions.
The sixth annual Western Music, Cowboy Poetry, and Rex Allen Film Festival resumes at 9 a.m. at Windmill Park.
The Rex Allen Days parade begins at 10 a.m.
Sunday
The Willcox Rotary Club Breakfast will be held at Windmill Park from 7 until 11 a.m.
Cowboy church will take place at 9 a.m., also at Windmill Park.
The Rodeo continues Sunday at 12:30 with the pre-rodeo activities.
The Rex Allen Days Rodeo Finals and the 2005 Queen Coronation are scheduled for 2 p.m.
The softball tournament resumes at Quail Drive Park at 8 a.m.
The Carnival and Country Fair resumes at Keiller Park at 9 a.m.
Green is grateful for the continuing support from the community, especially the Willcox FFA. She said the FFA is involved with the rodeo concession, tractor pull, and the parade.
All is in place for the 53rd Rex Allen Days, except for what humans cannot control.
"The planning is going along nicely," Green said, "I just hope the weather holds for us."
(Editor's Note: Reporter Steve Reno contributed to this report.)
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