09/19/2023
As president of the board of the Overton 150 committee, I personally want to thank everyone who worked with us on this event, and everyone who attended this event. We appreciate your support! Please read through this list, because Overton would NOT have had an event if not for them. Thank them if you see them!!
Our goal was to celebrate our town’s 150th anniversary. We wanted an event “for everyone,” and we wanted to show off the best of our city. It all began as an idea sponsored by Overton Heritage Foundation. We called a meeting, volunteers showed up, we elected a board of directors, appointed volunteer event leaders, and began to work on making this event a reality! Thank you’s first go to our board: me (Debbie Maxwell), Lauren Paige Pepper, Mitzi Bowie, Sarah Tharp, and Donna Crawford. We met and mapped this event, and handled all of the administrative tasks that went along with it, like fundraising, advertising, signs, food permits, obtaining services like insurance, port a potties, security, tents, and games for the kids. Our event leaders stepped up and signed on for leading and managing their events. We all worked on this for 9 months, since the beginning of 2023, and a lot of time, effort, and hard work was put into making this event happen.
I owe sincere thanks to my board, event leaders, and everyone listed below. You all came through on this project by working very hard, and dedicating yourselves to making this go very, very well. This was something I had on my bucket list, and I actually saved up for two years in anticipation of this happening. As they say, “it takes a village.” Thank you to my village – OVERTON- for showing up and celebrating! The members of the Overton 150 Board of Directors sincerely hope that the town flourishes over the next 50 years, and that the 200-year anniversary celebration will be even bigger and better!
Event Leaders from our local clubs and businesses:
Rotary Club - the golf tournament - Joe Taylor with Rotary members, Cathy Calhoun-golf towels
Friends of the Library – time capsule opening event
Star Makers Studio – Tammy Hale –free street performance by dance teams
Boy Scouts Troup 319 – George Davis, Sarah Tharp - pancake breakfast, carried our flags and the banner in the parade, game booth at the Kids carnival
Overton ISD - Larry Calhoun, Sarah Tharp - all homecoming and alumni events.
Overton Heritage Foundation – Promise Gurley, leader - pie auction, street dance; Debbie Maxwell - all oversight of monies and bookkeeping
Event leaders who were regular citizen volunteers:
Information booth and merchandise, general organization and administrative duties: Lauren Paige Pepper
Food Vendors and Community worship service: Mitzi Bowie
Parade: Curtis Gilbert
Vendor Market: Ruth Gilbert
Kids bicycle Decorating contest: Donna Crawford, Dawn Sheets
Classic Car show: John Elliott
Kids Carnival area: Dawn Sheets and Donna Crawford
Talent Show: Larry Calhoun
History Walk: Debbie Maxwell
History display at Library – Jenn Bender, Jasmin Owens
Centennial display at library – Cynthia Clark, Debbie Maxwell
This event was completely financially sponsored by DONATIONS. Local businesses were supportive, some alumni were generous, and many private citizens gave. We are so greatly appreciative of this generosity, especially in these economic times. Donations covered signs, rentals, administrative costs, office supplies, advertising, and public relations.
We also had generous donations of services and items:
City of Overton -golf course, community building, patrol cars, fires trucks and equipment, road blockade items, trash cans
Overton City Council - approval to hold the event
City Liasons and Coordinators – Mayor Curtis Gilbert, Chief of Police Bryan Pool, City Manager Shane West
Friends of the Library – time capsule purchase with plaque (see names below)
Insurance One - insurance coverage for this event
McMillan Memorial Library - space and staff for events
T Rowe Consolidated -Tim and Emily Rowe - hung all the pole signs & provided the Kennamer Square stage
Logo design: Matthew Stapleton
Rev. Nathan Cravens, Zion Baptist Church – community worship service, all of the tables on Kennamer square.
Josh Croswell, First Baptist Church– prayer at opening
Dr. Monte Rouquette – emcee for parade, emcee for opening ceremonies
Junk Gypsies - Amie and Jolie Sikes, Phillip, Janie, and Indie Sikes, Grand Marshals of the parade
Larry Calhoun – sound equipment for Kennamer square
Mayor Curtis Gilbert- official city representative for opening ceremonies
Debbie Maxwell – sound equipment for parade
Video-drone - Jonathan Tharp
General photographs – Promise Gurley
Set up -Kennamer square – maintenance issues -general help—John Ryan Pepper, Todd Littlefield, Casey Lusk
Parade
Wachel Towing & Automotive -parade stage
Brian Burks - truck and trailer for the veterans
Mr. Gilbert’s brother - hay for veterans trailer
Convertible cars for the Grand Marshals – YATES GMC Henderson - Corey Brooks
Kids bicycle decorating contest
Dollar General-parking lot for bike parade
George Creel- judging
Sharon Creel - judging
Fred Parsons - judging, taking canned goods to the food bank
Car Show
Ashley Holmgren Chrome Reflections - judging
Daniel Martin - judging
John Elliott - judging
Touch a truck Donations:
Christus Health -ambulance
Bulldog Bilt- Jeff Burk—flatbed truck
Overton Police – squad car
TxDot— Casey True - bucket truck
Overton Fire Dept – fire truck
Jessie Smith– 18-wheeler
OISD – school bus
Wachel towing - James Wachel —tow truck
Yates GMC of Henderson – convertible cars for the parade—Junk Gypsies and Sikes Family
Kids carnival
Dawn Sheets -face painting
Leverett’s Chapel Bible Fellowship Youth - Loree Cope- ring toss
Friends of the Library – balloon game
Boy Scouts Troup 319 of Overton - George Davis - balloon stomp
Boy Scouts of Henderson - Nathan Bishop– pinewood derby races
123 Jump Chris & LaShunon Hall – bounce houses
Street Dance
DJ Niki Whatley – music services for the evening
Jim’s Feed - hay bales
Home Depot Tyler - Ernesto – buckets, poles, lights
Overton Hardware - cement
Other:
Rhonda McPherson - fundraising
Rogue Printing – discount
Pretty Little Flowers -discount
Funtastic Events – obstacle course rental-discount
BMB Clothing – discount
Overton Hardware – parking lot to sell t-shirts
Volunteers who donated time and effort:
Overton Heritage Fundation: Promise Gurley, Scott Curtis, Brandi Freeman, Sarah & Don Johnson, Katie & Rusty McLane , Debbie Maxwell, Roxanne Richards
Friends of the Library: Jann & Ray Smith, Lisa Barnett, Jenn Bender, Kristi & Stephen DuBose, Randi Loar, Jasmin Owens , Amelda Penn, Linda Ramsey, Patti Svoboda
All the boys of Boy Scout Troup 319
Cynthia Clark
Tammy Coleman
Tara Coleman
George Davis
Tomasene Elliott
Kirby Gilbert
Emma Hale
Sarah Johnson
Rochelle Wiggins Jones
Todd Littlefield
Daun Rouquette Littlefield
Casey Lusk
Lyndsey Lusk
Rhonda McPherson
Katie McLean
Andy Neill
Brenda Neill
John Ryan Pepper
Debby Pickering
Crystal Sheets
Mike Sheets
Mikey Sheets
Debbie Stuart
Jerry Stuart
Beverly Uzell
Doris Rhea Wiggins
I am sure I have missed someone, and for that I apologize. This was a big, overwhelming event to handle, and something I had never done, not to mention LEAD. The Overton 150 Board thanks you, and I personally say “Thank you to all“ .
Debbie Maxwell
Proud citizen of Overton
