1980
The first celebration to recognize the town and area's oil & gas heritage was held on 26-Apr-1980.
Shreveport Times 24-Apr-1980, Page 15-A
A scene from the first Gusher Days parade.
Shreveport Times 27-Apr-1980, Page 20-A
1981
The event received scant mention in the newspaper this year - just notices to sign up for a "Run for Your Life" marathon and a men's slow pitch softball tournament.
1982
Highlights of the 1982 celebration recapped.
This greased pole contestant, James Lee, Jr., was actually about six feet higher than appears due to photo cropping.
1983
Noted oil well firefighter Red Adair served as 1983 grand marshal. He was the inspiration for John Wayne's character in the film "Hellfighters."
Times 08-Apr-1983, Page 12-B
Pictures from the day.
Times 08-May-1983, Page 1-A
1984
Sorrell Booke, appearing in character as "Boss Hogg" from the then popular television series "The Dukes of Hazzard" was grand marshal of the 1984 parade.
Times 29-Apr-1984, Page 1-A
Below, Booke dressed as the Boss, is pictured with Debbie Durmon...
...and later as himself, with brothers Cliff and Clay Holt at a dinner held at the home of W. C. "Dub" Allen.
1985
U. S. Congressman Buddy Roemer, who later served a term as Louisiana governor, served as grand marshal that year. Long-time Oil City school secretary Sylvia Pinckard and son Wayne were designated queen and king of the day.
Times 26-Apr-1985, Page 1-F
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| Charles Elson "Buddy" Roemer III |
Brandon Taylor is shown attempting to climb a greased pole that was later scaled successfully by Travis Bean, who won a $25 prize.
Times 28-Apr-1985, Page 1-A
In addition to a parade, rock musician Danny Johnson and his band performed, as did other musical groups. A "Sucker Rod Relay" competition pitted oilfield crews against one another. Later, a rodeo was held in the arena south of town..
Times 28-Apr-1985, Page 28-A
Mentioned in the caption below as from Shreveport, Danny also had an Oil City connection; as that is the site of his family's business - Bobby Johnson Equipment Company, where he has himself worked on occasion. A highly regarded guitarist, he has been a member of the classic rock group Steppenwolf since 1996.
Times 16-Oct-1981, Page 4-D
1986
The grand marshal was Louisiana Secretary of State Jim Brown.
Times 11-Nov-1985, Page 20-A
Others recognized included Woman of the Year, Nancy White; and King and Queen Charlie and Bebe Winslett. Nancy worked for many years at Oil City Bank, while the Winsletts operated Humphries Insurance Agency, founded by Bebe's mother Mrs. Lula Humphries.
Times 02-May-1986, Page 3-B
Young dancers perform at the 1986 Gusher Days.
Times 04-May-1986, Page 1-A
One unusual attendee that year was carnival worker Anton Fichirdt, an immigrant from southwest Africa, who had just arrived in America two weeks earlier.
Times 04-May-1986, Page 16-A from below
Note: No additional information about Anton turned up in a search of other newspapers and public records. It is therefore not known if he remained in the U.S., or ultimately returned to Africa.
1987
The celebration began on Friday 01-May with a crawfish boil and square dance. On Saturday, activities included live music, various games, and a carnival. Later in the afternoon a barbecue was held at Dub Allen's nature park to benefit the local oil & gas museum. That evening there was a country & western dance in the community center.
Times 01-May-1987, Page 52
Below, Chris Johnson enjoys one of the carnival rides.
Times 03-May-1987, Page 1
1988
Below is the agenda for the ninth celebration. Honorees included:
Grand Marshal: Bob Griffin
King: Emmett Pickle
Queen: Virginia Crawford Thacker
Man of the Year: Johnny Law
Woman of the Year: Edna Collins Gaines
Times 06-May-1988, Pages 47 & 50
Local television journalist and personality Griffin has been in the area a great many years. Many youngsters (now oldsters) remember his early 1960s weekday morning program "Bob and his Buddies."
Times 30-Sep-1984, Page 11-F
1989
Among the honorees that year was parade marshal Shirley Rose of Shreveport, identified as one of the last Caddo Indians living in the area.
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| Shirley Rose |
Others included:
Grand Marshals: Mary Whitesnake Rambin and Thelma Barnes, both of the Inter-tribal Twin Eagle Pow Wow
King & Queen: Jerry & Jo Butler
Woman of the Year: Sadie Martin Barber
Man of the Year: Roy "Hoppy" Hopkins
Times 05-May-1989, Page 7C
1990
A simple announcement of the upcoming festival was the sole mention in the newspaper that year.
Times 04-May-1990, Page 3C
1991
Below is Judy Pearson, director of what was then known as the Caddo-Pine Island Museum, domiciled in the old Kansas City Southern Railways depot.
Times 02-May-1991, Page 16A
1992
Another year where mention was limited to a basic announcement.
Times 01-May-1991, Page 21C
1993
A more detailed preview returned in 1993, mentioning the following honorees:
Grand Marshal: Caddo Parish Sheriff Don Hathaway
King: Bill Bateman
Queen: Blanche Chipman
Times 28-Apr-1993, Page 2N
Queen Blanche Chipman passed away just two months later. The honor was cited in her obituary.
Times 07-Jul-1993, Page 4B
1994
Former alderwoman Marie Wall Buchanan and businessman Millard Law were Woman and Man of the Year.
Times 25-May-1994, Page 2-E
1995 -1997
For three years, the only mention in the newspaper was a simple notice, such as the following appearing in the Alexandria paper in 1997.
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Alexandria (LA) Town Talk 11-May-1997, Page F-2
In August of 1997, Dub Allen passed away. A big supporter of Gusher Days with many connections, he had been instrumental in attracting the notable personalities who attended back in the 1980s.
1998
Businessman Jacky Rivers and wife Zelma (Brumley) were honored as Man and Woman of the Year.
1999
Like in 1995-1997, a single mention of Gusher Days appears for the entire year in August, though mentioning the event occurring the third weekend in May. It's not clear if this is a misprint, the festival was postponed but notice not updated, or what exactly happened. If a reader knows, please contact me.
2000
Again, a simple notice was all that was shown in 2000, with brief, but more detailed description appearing in the Alexandria newspaper than in the local Shreveport Times. Interestingly, it again was apparently held in the fall rather than in May.
Gusher Days Today
The event, which later relocated from downtown to nearby Earl G. Williamson Park on Caddo Lake, is held on the first weekend of May each year, and continues to an anticipated event and opportunity for citizens to congregate, have fun, and demonstrate local pride.
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