A Super, Colossal Bicentennial Fayette County Fair in 1976
Sept. 3, 1976
When the 1976 Fayette County Fair Parade kicked off at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4, one of the widely anticipated special entries was Smoky the Bear riding in a pick-up truck. After the parade line-up began at 1:30 p.m. at La Grange City Hall, Boy Scout Troops #203 and #204 planned to hand out ice water to participants to help them beat the afternoon heat. The Civil Air Patrol Cadets of San Antonio were participating in the parade for the first time, as was the Woman’s Auxiliary of the Harris County Sheriff’s Posse, riding in full regalia. District Attorney Oliver Kitzman was the parade marshal, while Fayette County Sheriff T. J. Flournoy, better known as “Big Jim,” was to lead the parade, followed by the city police, sheriff’s department and highway patrol. Volunteer firefighters were responsible for directing traffic to ensure the safety of participants and parade-watchers.
Fair director Calvin Kuehn and co-chair Theo Svec were in charge of free parking and parking personnel at the grounds. Calvin learned how to tackle the mammoth task of managing thousands of vehicles, all the while maintaining order, safety and happy patrons, from his father, Joe Kuehn. In his first year of volunteering as a fair director, local banker Theo Svec was working alongside Calvin.
The 1976 fair association board president, William T. (Bill) Jones of Fayetteville, paid a special tribute in Fair View News to longtime general manager and executive vice-president R.J. (Dick) Edwards. He recognized Dick for 10 enthusiastic years of dedicated service to the event, pointing out that among his contributions was recruiting acts with an international flavor that were so popular.
Atlan M. Citzler, wellknown and respected La Grange administrator, was appointed assistant to fair president Bill Jones.
Several of Fayette County’s Home Demonstration Clubs had made quilts with a patriotic theme for the fair’s annual quilt auction. The Muldoon Club’s was red, white and blue polka dots. The Bluff Club ladies quilted a very intricate design on a solid satin backing, while the Wallhalla Club members designed theirs around the theme of happy birthday, with a big birthday cake in the middle. The auction was scheduled for shortly after the first show on Saturday night, Sept. 4.
Mrs. T.J. Flournoy, the wife of Fayette County Sheriff Jim Flournoy, was the first lady director ever elected to the fair association. Flowers were her delight. In all the years her husband was becoming a law enforcement legend, this woman was doing what she thought was good for Fayette County, too. (Mrs. Flournoy was considered an authority on the Bible and worked closely with First Baptist Church in La Grange.) Cut flowers, potted plants and artistic arrangements would be judged under her capable guidance.
Of special interest to the ladies in the 1976 fair were special premium awards being offered in the canning department by corporate sponsors Ball Corporation and Kerr. There were four categories: fruits, vegetables, pickles and relishes, and jams and jellies.
To help feed the hungry throngs of fair-goers, the centrally located German-Czech Mart would be capably operated by 10 different nonprofit organizations. Tables and benches were available for customers to sit and enjoy their food while listening to Claude Marty’s Trio of Schulenburg. Director Ivan Fajkus, co-owner of Royal Crown Bottling Company and the Green Lantern Cafe in La Grange, was the ‘maître d’ of the German-Czech Mart, serving as consultant, troubleshooter, inventory control manager, etc. (In 1974, he became the first male to serve as president of the Sacred Heart School Parent-Teacher Club (PTC).)
One of the purveyors of the 1976 fair food was the Sacred Heart PTC, a charter member of the German Czech Mart. Mexican was the flavor of their food, with the fine touch of German-Czech handling. Their tamales with chili had improved every year, and in 1976 the volunteers would be adding chiliburgers.
The La Grange Rotary Club members would be cooking their delicious barbecue sandwiches at the German-Czech Mart. Among the club’s good works in the community were the purchase of heart monitors for Fayette Memorial Hospital, the Miss La Grange Contest and lights for the municipal airport. The organization also assisted with the line-up of the parade every year.
The Aggie Booster Club was also going to be working at the German- Czech Mart selling corndogs. Dr. Donald Mayer, the president of the La Grange Noon Lions Club, said their volunteers would again be offering delicious corn-onthe- cob.
The beef committee had organized an interesting and informative beef seminar on Sept. 4th in the air-conditioned VFW Hall. A $4 ticket covered a fairgoer’s $2 gate entrance fee, three lectures by prominent beef and meat specialists, a question-and-answer period, cowboy stew at the VFW Hall and a beverage (beer) break in the early afternoon. The lecture titles were: producing beef from weaning calves, beef carcass grading and heavy beef versus light beef.
FFA and 4-H members planned to exhibit about 40 head in the second annual Beef Heifer Show. Contributions the year before ranged from $10 to $400 for a grand total of $1,890.
If you’d like to reach Elaine, please email her at callacomm@ hotmail.com. You can also visit her website: www. elainethomaswriter.com.