THE SAINT PATRICK'S FESTIVAL
50 Years Ago, 1968
The year 1968 was a tumultuous one in our country's history. It was the third year of the St. Patrick's Festival. It is known by some as one of the best festivals. At least, it was one of the more publicized. Laurens County's towns were saluted on each day. The festival gained national and even world attention. William P. Fay, Ireland's ambassador to the United States, sent his greetings and wishes for a successful festival. Late night talk show host, Joey Bishop, was named as Official Leprechaun of the festival. The recognition was presented to him on nationwide television by his side-kick, Regis Philbin. Ed Shanghnesey awarded Bishop a shillelagh. Dublin was mentioned during several of the shows throughout the week of the festival.
(Festival Founder - Dick Killebrew, WMLT - left above.)
After two years of running the festival as a private promotional event, festival founders Ed Hilliard and W.H. Champion asked Chuck Billings to be General Chairman for the 1968. It was a year of beginnings. The festival was on its way to becoming self-sustaining. Active members of the 1968 committee also included Thomas Kellam, Judge Harold E. Ward, Mayor William R. Smith, Mayor Hugh Wood, Com. James H. Perry, Travis Higginbotham, Charles Manning, Roy Hammond, Billy Brown, Willis Denny, Jim Willoughby, Hugh Lord, Rev. Arthur Cody, Margaret Hill, Mildred Leavitt, and Emmett Black, Jr.
In the early days, the festival only lasted one week, from March 11th through St. Patrick's Day. Pre-festival activities began with a dance at the V.F.W. Club on the Macon Road. A dance was held for pre-teens at the Shamrock Shanty in front of the old High School. Kids paid 75 cents to get in and were encouraged to wear "something green." A dance for the teenagers and college students was held at the American Legion with the group "The Love Street Light Circus" playing. Eighty-four persons participated in the St. Patrick's Duplicate Bridge Tournament headed by Fletcher Cater at the Holiday Inn.
Many events were held that year which are no longer held. The Dublin Association of Fine Arts brought back the popular sidewalk art show. Art lovers were treated to musical entertainment by folk singers Jackie Colter, Pete Tyre, Denise Daniel, and Catherine Chestnut. A bulletin board contest was held at the V.A. Hospital. The Dublin Youth Council challenged the members of the Dublin City Council to a bicycle race from the courthouse down toward the city hall. Alderman J.Y. Lee edged out Willie Beasley and Allen Jones of the youth council to take the title. Junior Scarboro and Mayor William Robert Smith lost out when the chain on their "bicycle built for two" broke just before they reached the finish line. Maybe that is one event we could bring back. Imagine the sight.
One new event was the Pancake Feast. The Dublin Exchange Club, chaired by W.E. Woodard, sponsored what has become one of the most popular events of the festival today. Tickets went for a dollar for adults and fifty cents for children.
The Rev. Bob Harrington, the sometimes humorous and inspirational "Chaplain of Bourbon Street," captivated a capacity crowd at the Joint Civic Luncheon held at the Holiday Inn. Rev. Harrington launched his "Wake Up America" crusade in the City Auditorium with three performances. During the luncheon sponsored by the Lions Club, W.H. Lovett was presented the award as the Senior Citizen of the Year. Dr. John A. Bell and Mrs. Carl K. Nelson, Sr. were selected as the man and woman of the year.
The Little Miss and Mr. Dublin contest was then held in the auditorium of the City Hall. Robin Johnson and Hank Davis were selected for the title. Festival organizer and radio personality, Dick Killebrew, served as master of ceremonies. Claudia Griggs and Stephen Exparaza were selected as Miss and Mr. Leprechaun. Andrea Curry, Ray Barrentine, Kim Pullen, and Donnie Vinson were runners-up in the contest, which was also held in the City Auditorium.
Sporting events were becoming a major part of the festival. The largest bowling tournament to date was held at the Laurens Lanes on East Jackson Street. June Blake and Ed Pierce directed the successful event. Eighty five teams participated in the event in which Reba Coleman received national recognition for bowling 100 points above her average score. Sixty golf teams competed in a four ball tournament at the Dublin Country Club. A basketball game was played between the Dublin Tip-Off Club and the Dexter All-Stars.
The Dublin-Laurens Chamber of Commerce, an integral part of the festival from its beginning, opened its new headquarters in the rear portion of the city hall, now occupied by the police department.
In the days before the Miss St. Patrick's crown, area high school homecoming queens reigned over the festivities. In 1968, they were: Joby Stafford of Dublin High, Wanda Mullis of Dexter High, Celeste Lawson of Dudley High, Kay Darsey and Vicki Collins of East Laurens High, Lorena Pearson, Betty Jean Moore, Betty Christian, and Gloria Lowery of Oconee High, B.D. Perry High, Mary Fleming High, and Millville High, and Sheryl Avant of Laurens High.
Marching in the parade was the nationally known Continental Air Command Band. They were one of the oldest and largest musical organizations in the Air Force and one which had played for many of the world's leaders. The Dublin Irish Band was cited for a superb performance. Washington County's band dressed colorfully to salute Dublin and were awarded a special recognition by the judges. The perennial favorite Oconee High and B.D. Perry High bands put on their usual crowd pleasing performances.
The panel of judges gave the award for the best non-professional float to the Laurens County Library, which edged out the Lions Club. The Dublin Association of Fine Arts won the most original float prize.
The 1968 festival signaled the acceleration of the festival into the success it remains today.
50 Years Ago, 1968
(Festival Founder - Dick Killebrew, WMLT - left above.)
After two years of running the festival as a private promotional event, festival founders Ed Hilliard and W.H. Champion asked Chuck Billings to be General Chairman for the 1968. It was a year of beginnings. The festival was on its way to becoming self-sustaining. Active members of the 1968 committee also included Thomas Kellam, Judge Harold E. Ward, Mayor William R. Smith, Mayor Hugh Wood, Com. James H. Perry, Travis Higginbotham, Charles Manning, Roy Hammond, Billy Brown, Willis Denny, Jim Willoughby, Hugh Lord, Rev. Arthur Cody, Margaret Hill, Mildred Leavitt, and Emmett Black, Jr.
In the early days, the festival only lasted one week, from March 11th through St. Patrick's Day. Pre-festival activities began with a dance at the V.F.W. Club on the Macon Road. A dance was held for pre-teens at the Shamrock Shanty in front of the old High School. Kids paid 75 cents to get in and were encouraged to wear "something green." A dance for the teenagers and college students was held at the American Legion with the group "The Love Street Light Circus" playing. Eighty-four persons participated in the St. Patrick's Duplicate Bridge Tournament headed by Fletcher Cater at the Holiday Inn.
Many events were held that year which are no longer held. The Dublin Association of Fine Arts brought back the popular sidewalk art show. Art lovers were treated to musical entertainment by folk singers Jackie Colter, Pete Tyre, Denise Daniel, and Catherine Chestnut. A bulletin board contest was held at the V.A. Hospital. The Dublin Youth Council challenged the members of the Dublin City Council to a bicycle race from the courthouse down toward the city hall. Alderman J.Y. Lee edged out Willie Beasley and Allen Jones of the youth council to take the title. Junior Scarboro and Mayor William Robert Smith lost out when the chain on their "bicycle built for two" broke just before they reached the finish line. Maybe that is one event we could bring back. Imagine the sight.
The Rev. Bob Harrington, the sometimes humorous and inspirational "Chaplain of Bourbon Street," captivated a capacity crowd at the Joint Civic Luncheon held at the Holiday Inn. Rev. Harrington launched his "Wake Up America" crusade in the City Auditorium with three performances. During the luncheon sponsored by the Lions Club, W.H. Lovett was presented the award as the Senior Citizen of the Year. Dr. John A. Bell and Mrs. Carl K. Nelson, Sr. were selected as the man and woman of the year.
The Little Miss and Mr. Dublin contest was then held in the auditorium of the City Hall. Robin Johnson and Hank Davis were selected for the title. Festival organizer and radio personality, Dick Killebrew, served as master of ceremonies. Claudia Griggs and Stephen Exparaza were selected as Miss and Mr. Leprechaun. Andrea Curry, Ray Barrentine, Kim Pullen, and Donnie Vinson were runners-up in the contest, which was also held in the City Auditorium.
The Dublin-Laurens Chamber of Commerce, an integral part of the festival from its beginning, opened its new headquarters in the rear portion of the city hall, now occupied by the police department.
In the days before the Miss St. Patrick's crown, area high school homecoming queens reigned over the festivities. In 1968, they were: Joby Stafford of Dublin High, Wanda Mullis of Dexter High, Celeste Lawson of Dudley High, Kay Darsey and Vicki Collins of East Laurens High, Lorena Pearson, Betty Jean Moore, Betty Christian, and Gloria Lowery of Oconee High, B.D. Perry High, Mary Fleming High, and Millville High, and Sheryl Avant of Laurens High.
The panel of judges gave the award for the best non-professional float to the Laurens County Library, which edged out the Lions Club. The Dublin Association of Fine Arts won the most original float prize.
The 1968 festival signaled the acceleration of the festival into the success it remains today.
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