FORT MADISON - The Tri State Rodeo Committee is happy to announce the husband-and-wife team of Dave and Debbie Clark have been named grand marshals of the 76th Tri State Rodeo Parade for their decades of volunteer efforts in diverse capacities to help put on Fort Madison’s landmark event. The Clarks can trace their dedication and involvement with the Rodeo throughout their 33 years of marriage and beyond.
As the former operations manager of KBKB Radio, Dave has broadcast over 300 live reports from the Tri-State Rodeo performances and pre-rodeo events. In addition, Dave, along with Skip Peters, provided and played the recorded arena music during the Rodeo performances, which includes two years with Hall of Fame Announcer Bob Tallman and three with Hall of Fame Announcer Hadley Barrett. Dave also joined Rich Harlow, Bob Britton and Duane Sherwood in broadcasting the rodeo parade for 15 years.
Dave’s work on behalf of the rodeo did not end behind a microphone, he also co-founded the Elks Downtown Hoedown Street Dance, an official pre-rodeo event in the 1990s. He also helped prepare the Rodeo Chairman’s Dinner for almost 15 years and assisted with the Tri-State Rodeo Parade lineup in the early 1980s. Dave devoted 20 plus years to working in Cowboy Hospitality, which included frying 150 pounds of catfish each year for almost a decade! When asked why he has dedicated decades of his life to the rodeo, Dave states, “I was taught from a young age by my parents and teachers that if you have the chance, ability, and time to help make your community a better place, you should do so. The Tri State Rodeo is such an important part of the fabric of our town that if in some small way I can help, then that’s what I am going to try and do. The whole committee works so hard all year to bring us the rodeo, that they deserve our support. I think sometimes that a lot of folks in our town don’t realize what a big-time event (now a Hall of Fame event) we have right here. One thing I do know is that every year during Labor Day Week there is no better place on Earth to be than in Fort Madison, Iowa.”
Debbie’s rodeo resume is equally impressive with her 30 years in Cowboy Hospitality, with the last decade of that as a Rodeo Committee Assistant. Like her husband, Debbie started early with her rodeo involvement with working in the Aquinas/Holy Trinity concessions in the 1980’s and early 1990’s and helping with the Rodeo Chairman’s Dinner for 15 years. “When Nick Morrow at Amour Dial started the Cowboy Hospitality Program, I was asked by Karen Peters if I would be interested in helping and I’ve been here ever since,” Debbie recalls. “I have been coming to the rodeo and camping with my family since the early 1960’s and helping out where I could just seemed like a natural fit for me. I love working with the other volunteers we have and enjoy getting to hear the different stories from the cowboys. Plus, it’s my one chance a year to have a slice of Sue Watson’s peanut butter pie.”
The Tri State Rodeo Committee is honored to have Dave and Debbie as this year’s grand marshals, and we want to congratulate and thank them for their many years of service.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here