Old Timers’ Day Set For May 5
Southwest City’s annual Old Timers’ Day is set to kick off this Saturday, May 5. Events begin at 7 a.m. with a Fireman’s pancake breakfast at Full Gospel Church. At 9 a.m. crafters and vendors along Main Street open for business and, an hour later, at 10 a.m., live music starts with Johnny Dale Roberts.
Southwest City’s annual Old Timers’ Day is set to kick off this Saturday, May 5. Events begin at 7 a.m. with a Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast at Full Gospel Church.
At 9 a.m. crafters and vendors along Main Street open for business and, an hour later, at 10 a.m., live music starts with Johnny Dale Roberts on stage behind the Anne Croxdale Memorial Library.
Free cash drawings will be held throughout the day — $100 will be awarded at noon, $200 at 2 p.m. and $500 at 3 p.m.
Uptown Dance Company will take the musician’s stage at noon and entertain until the Old Timers’ Day Parade at 12:30 p.m.
Also at noon, the Senior Citizen’s Center will be holding a drawing for a knife, handmade locally by Joe Carpenter. Tickets can be purchased at the center, City Hall, or Corner Stone Bank in Southwest City.
The always-amusing Outhouse Races begin at 1 p.m., as local teams compete to steer their homemade outhouse to the finish line.
American Idol contestant Jesse Joice will entertain guests from 1:15 p.m. until festivities end.
A pie-eating contest will be held at 1:30 p.m., followed by the ugly feet contest at 2:30 p.m.
The Old Timers’ Day Rodeo will be held at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 4, and Saturday, May 5, at the rodeo grounds, a mile south of town on Highway 20. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 6-12 years old. Events include bareback bronc, saddle bronc and bull riding, as well as team and calf roping, barrel racing, mutton busting and steer wrestling. For more information, call Frank Woods at 417-342-5498.
The Southwest City Commercial Club began Old Timers’ Day in May 1978. The event began following the retirement of John Poynor, a longtime area resident who had owned and operated the Phillips 66 Service Station from 1927 to 1977. In 1978, the Commercial Club voted to hold a parade in honor of John and Bess Poynor for their 50 years of service to Southwest City. The Poynors became the first Mr. and Mrs. “Old Timers.”
Due to the success of that day, the Commercial Club has held a parade each year to honor members of the community. Those honored have included business owners, area farmers, community leaders and volunteers. Each has represented someone special who contributed to the Southwest City area over the years.
This year’s honorees are Danny and Lois Frye. Danny is a Southwest City native, and Lois has lived in town for 55 years. The two met in Lois’ hometown of Chicago, Ill., while Danny was working in the area dismantling railroads.
In 1963, the couple married, and Lois moved to Southwest City to be with Danny. She went to work at the Bank of Decatur in Arkansas before having children and taking on the title of homemaker. Once her children were grown, she served as the city clerk of Southwest City for eight years. Danny continued to work for Commercial Metal Railroad Salvage until retiring after 51 years. He now spends his time tending to the Fryes’ farm, east of town.
“He keeps a few head of cattle and bales hay,” said Lois. “Just enough to keep him busy.”
The couple has three children and five grandchildren together: Danae Hardy and her children, Drew, Dalton and Derek; Danny Russell, his wife Shana, and their children, Danica and Charley; and Dana Rae Frye.
Danny and Lois believe community and kindness are the town’s two greatest assets.
“The people are so friendly and it’s such a ‘hometown’ atmosphere,” Lois said. “We’re related to almost everyone, but the people are truly caring people.”
Danny and Lois Frye will be honored during the Southwest City Old Timers’ Day Parade on Saturday, May 5.