By Kelly Tyus

 

DEADLINE EXTENDED to May 10, 2022 for any articles and/or fair pictures that you would like to include in the FCFA history book. Contact Kelly Tyus, text 903-388-1813, or email kelly.tyus@gmail.com.

 

The “100 years of Traditions and Heritage 1922-2022” history book will be printed after the June 13-18 2022 fair and rodeo to include the 100-year celebration photos and articles.  To PRE-ORDER your book, mail $75.00 plus $7.95 postage to Freestone County Fair Association, % Sec. Nadine Phillips, PO Box 592, Fairfield, TX 75840.

 

“LOOKING THRU THE PAST TO FIND THE FUTURE”

 

1955: The parade marshals were Capt. Tom Ellis of Tyler, a group of Texas Game Wardens; Senator Bill Moore of Bryan; and Rep. Jack Bryan of Buffalo. Fairfield Mayor I. W. Thornton gave a welcome address under the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Hundreds of visitors came to see the two mile long, colorful parade that opened the three-day event. The 1955 Miss Freestone Queen was Miss Emma Jean Ivy of Fairfield. (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, dated 08.25.1955)

 

1956: FCFA President was Suel Hill. The Honorable Abner McCall of Waco associate justice of the Texas Supreme Court to lead parade and crowned the 1956 Miss Freestone County Queen was Miss Margaret Ann Ivy. Margaret Ann Ivy (1956)and Emma Jean Ivy (1955) were the first “sisters” to be crowned Miss Freestone County Queen.

 

1957:     (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, dated 03.28.1957, page 1.)

Directors & Committee Members:  President Suel Hill, Fairfield; Mr. & Mrs. Stover, Teague; Leslie Welch, Teague; J. C. Lambert, Dew; Glynn Gilliam, Donie; Jake Barker, Winkler; Mrs. Homer Jolly, Wortham; Bill Harris, Wortham; L. R. Cockrell, Wortham; Gussie Weaver, Wortham; Harold Walker, Wortham; W. F. Echardt, Wortham; E. A. Strange, Wortham; Rev. J. E. Morton, Wortham; Mrs. Franklin P. Simmons, Wortham; Joe Richards, Fairfield; J. H. Pritchard, Fairfield and Jack Cely, Fairfield.

 

A Horse Show was “an added main attraction at the 1957 Freestone County Fair in Fairfield.” Committee Chairmen were Leslie Welch, O. B. Utley, Jr. and James Willis.

 

Secretary of State Zollie Steakley lead the parade. The 1957 Miss Freestone County Queen was Miss Sarah Moody of Wortham.

 

1958: The Grand Marshals were the Mayors of Fairfield, Teague and Wortham. P. D. Browne, professor of Bible and mathematics at Baylor University was the principal speaker at homecoming excercises at the Freestone County Fair. Crowned the 1958 Miss Freestone County Queen was Miss Sharon Bond of Teague.

 

Attendance at the Freestone County Fair rodeo Aug 29-30 was a record breaker for the two-night total. The rodeos were produced by Roland Reid of Ft. Worth and announced by Rip McKenzie of Mexia. Local winners of various events were: Ladies barrel race: Shirley Weaver of Wortham; Girls junior barrel race: Nadine Ivy of Fairfield; Ribbon Roping: 1st place was Glendon Carroll of Fairfield and 2nd place was Ted Weaver of Wortham. Glendon Carroll won the Freestone County award with the most points in the two-night totals.

 

1959: The known officers were: President Suel Hilll; Sec/Treas. L. J. Davis; Directors were Rankin Gilpin, C. L. Carroll and Leslie Welch. The Grand Marshal was Judge W. A. Morrison of Cameron.

Crowned the 1959 Miss Freestone County Queen was Miss Kathy Davis of Fairfield.

 

“Steel work has been completed for the new bleachers on north side of the rodeo arena and construction of the new arena fence and bucking chutes is underway.” (Ref: The Wortham Journal, dated 07.16.1959, front page.)

 

First Tom Thumb Pageant was held and chaired by Mrs. J. H. Keller, Jr. and Mrs. O. B. Utley, Jr.

 

A new class of beef “Beef Heifers” was added to the livestock show and sale.

 

1960: Officers were: President Suel Hill, Vice President Rankin Gilpin, Secretary L. J. Davis and Treasurer C. E. Childs, Sr.

 

Grand Marshalls were Julian Baggett of Teague, Clyde Bounds, Pro-Tem of Wortham and Richard Hill of Fairfield. Crowned the 1960 Miss Freestone County Queen was Miss Gayle Smith of Teague.

 

“New section of family camps will be added this year just south of the present camps, inside of the fair grounds.” (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, dated 05.19.1960, Editor’s Column, page 1.)

 

The FIRST kid rodeo was held and chaired by Joe Richards. Winners were: Calf Riding was Roger Jones; Steer Riding was Willis Piesett; Sr. Bull Riding was Jack Hogan; Heifer Riding was Billy Hagen; Jr. Bull Riding was Stanley Nash; Tie-down Roping was Burt Richards; Rescue Race Over 12 were Burt Richards, Nadine Ivy; Barrel Races were Girls’: Nadine Ivy and Boys’: Mike McReynolds; and Calf Scramble was Jody Bonner.

 

Livestock Show Winners: Grand Champion Steer: Bobby Dunbar; Champion Beef Heifers: Roy Hill; Champion Dairy Heifers: Henry Horton; Champion Breeding Gilts:  Mark Chavers; Champion Boars: Irvin Willard; Champion Barrows: Gordon Small; and Champion Pen of 3 Fat Barrows: Sammy Craig.

 

1961: The FCFA Directors lead the parade: President Suel Hill, Vice President Rankin Gilpin, Secretary L. J. Davis and Treasurer C. E. Childs, Jr. Directors: Joe Richards, Fairfield; Jerry Jones, Lanely; Leslie Welch, Teague; Day Whitaker, Donie; Ted Weaver, Wortham; Ralph Howell, Streetman; and Jake Barker, Winkler.

 

1961 Miss Freestone County Queen was Miss Laurie Ann Sawyer of Teague. The rodeo producer was L. J. Huffman of Waco.

 

Twenty-seven representatives from the various sections of Freestone County gathered at the Tower Café Monday night to lay the groundwork for the 1961 Freestone County Fair to be held August 24-25-26.                    (Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, dated 04.27.1961, page 1.)

1962: FCFA Directors were: President Thomas Allen; Vice President Rankin Gilpin; Secretary B. R. Vestal; Treasurer C. E. Childs, Jr.; Joe Richards, Fairfield; Jerry Jones, Lanely; Leslie Welch, Teague; Day Whitaker, Donie; Ted Weaver, Wortham, Ralph Howell, Streetman and Jake Barker, Winkler.

 

Crowned 1962 Miss Freestone County Queen was Miss Donna Allison of Teague. In the livestock show, there were 45 hogs, 8 dairy heifers, 13 steers and 5 beef heifers shown.

 

1963: Parade marshal was the Honorable Frank G. McDonald, Chief Justice of Central Texas’ 10th Court of Appeals from Waco. New FCFA directors were: I. W. Whitaker Donie; Jimmy Ross Young, Streetman and Bill Brown, Winkler. Crowned 1963 Miss Freestone County Queen was Miss Beverly Bergstrom of Fairfield. Rodeo producer was L. J. Huffman of Waco.

 

1964: The parade theme was “Texas Fun-Tier”. Crowned 1964 Miss Freestone County Queen was Miss Suzie Dobbs of Teague.

 

1965: The parade theme was “Fabulous Fifty”. Attorney General Waggoner Carr lead the parade.

Crowned 1965 Miss Freestone County Queen was Miss Beverly Robeson of Fairfield. New Directors were John Alford, C. R. Morgan, and Thomas Allen all of Fairfield.

 

A new division, Decorated Bicycles, was added to the parade. The first winner was Jimmy Gregory.

 

“This is a county fair and when people from all over the county participate it naturally tends

to make the fair more of a county-wide fair and creates much more interest.”

(Ref: The Fairfield Recorder, dated 09.16.1965, page 1.)

 

“It’s Your Fair – Will You Be There?”