A small dash of cold water showered the proposal when some stickler for facts reminded one and all that the county’s 150th anniversary or sesquicentennial won’t come around until 1989. But the pageant salesman was not to be discouraged, and by that time the idea of dressing up for a celebration had begun to appeal to some of the local folk. So it was decided to go ahead with the celebration and to call it the county’s “Quasqui-Centennial” which was supposed to mean its 125th birthday.
A corporation was formed to raise operating capital to finance the celebration in 1964. The main feature of the celebration was a pageant entitled “Heritage and Horizons” which was described as “A spectacular of the county’s 125 years of progress” and was presented at the county fairgrounds June 2 through June 6th, 1964.
The celebration itself ran from May 30th through the final day of the pageant. It began with “Celebration Ball” at the Elks Club May 30th, followed by “Religious Day” on Sunday, “Good Old Fashioned Bargain Days” at Marion stores and a tournament at the Southern Illinois Golf Club on June 1, “Williamson County Day” Tuesday, June 2, “Ladies Day” June 3, “Youth Day” June 4, “Homecoming June 5, and “Salute to the Future” June 6.
On July 22, 1965 year, Maurie Arnold and Harry Beneke of the committee which assumed the Job of handling the business of the celebration, reported that the receipts of the venture amounted to $21,822.23, and the expenses, $21,356.29, leaving a balance of $465 at that time.
COMMITTES FOR THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY QUASQUI-CENTENNIAL, INC.
President, Mr. Ted Bujdoso; Vice President, Mr. Edward Smart; Treasurer, Mr. John Clayton; Secretary, Mrs. Jessie Gray
Board Members
Mr. Harold Chase, Rev. C.R. Walker, Mr. Lloyd Henderson, Mr. James Sneed, Mrs. Eugene Morono, Mr. Fred Henderson, Miss Laura Belle Warder
Executive Committee
Active General Chairman, Mr. Morris Arnold; Secretary, Mrs. Jessie Gray; Treasurer, Mr. Harry Beneke; Headquarters Chairman, Mrs. Roy Campbell
Insurance Committee
Chairman: Raymond McCormick
Fireworks Committee
Chairman: Charles Edwards
Operating Capital Committee
Chairman: Gene Cox
Decoration Committee
Chairman: Jerry Higgins
Revenue Division
Chairman: Mr. William C. Hadfield
Historical Program Committee
Chairman, Mr. Robert Greenwood; Mrs. Robert Greenwood, Mrs. William T. Patterson, Mrs. J. E. Reid Jr., Mrs. Wayne Watson, Mrs. Harold Zimmerman, Mr. Ed Gentry
Novelties Committee
Chairman, Mr. Arthur Pratt; Mr. Richard Darby, Mr. Richard Dawson, Mr. Leo Dingrando
Concessions Committee
Chairman, Mr. Jess W. Childers; Mr. John K. Miller
Celebration Ball Committee
Chairman, Mr. Harold Crum; Mr. Ben Bruce, Mr. Marshal Bedford, Mr. L. C. Cavaness, Mr. John L. Norris
Spectacle Ticket Division
Chairman, Mr. O. L. Musgrave
Ticket Committee
Chairman, Mr. Leo Frost
Advance Sales Committee
Chairman, Mrs. Lee Chamness; Mrs. Charles Thomas, Miss Judy Newman, Mrs. Robert Hudgens
Patrons Ticket Committee
Chairman, Miss Margaret Broeking
Cashiers and Gates Committee
Chairman, Mr. Mel Lynn
Publicity Division
Chairman, Mr. Jim Duncan
Special Events Division
Chairman, Mr. W.V. Brown; Co-Chairman (Special Days), Mr. Leo Cox
Merchants Promotion Committee
Chairman, Mr. Joe Thompson
Historical Windows Committee
Chairman, Mr. Wayland Sims; Mrs. William Randolph, Mrs. Linck Fowler, Mrs. James Gordon, Mr. and Mrs. Arleigh Ashby, Miss Edna Smith, Miss Flora Byrns, Mrs. William Murphy
Parade Committee
Chairman, Mr. Sam Stilley; Mrs. Jessie Gray
Music Committee
Mr. Phillip Eigenmann
SPECIAL DAYS
Monday, Old Fashioned Bargain Day
Mr. Ken Duncan
Tuesday, Williamson County Day
Mr. Sid Dungey, Mr. Jerry Grace
Wednesday, Ladies Day
Mr. Nate Kaplan
Thursday, Youth Day
Mr. Dick Kent, Mr. Dirk Mereness, Mrs. Walter Poppy
Friday, Homecoming Day
Mr. Lloyd McMichael, Mr. Gino Motta, Golf; Mr. Leo Cox
Saturday, Salute to the Future
Mr. Dee L. Rodd, Miss Marie Brown
Hospitality Division
Chairman, Mr. James Wilson
Dignitaries and Guests Committee
Chairman, Mr. Dee L. Rodd
Pioneer Event Committee
Mrs. J. W. Ferguson, Mr. and Mrs. R. Miller
Traffic and Safety Committee
Chairman, Mr. Tom Redickas
Hospitality Center Committee
Chairman, Mrs. Oscar Schafale, the Federation of Church Women
Housing Committee
Chairman, Mr. Wally Thurmond
Transportation Committee
Chairman, Mr. Gib Smart
Spectacle Division
Chairman, Mr. J. P. Smothers
Scenario and Title Committee
Chairman, Mrs. Jessie Gray; Mrs. Lona Tyner, Mrs. Olene Wiseman, Mrs. Martha Bender, Mr. J. C. Mitchell
Cast Committee
Chairman, Mr. Richard Kent; Mr. George Rutherford, Mr. Richard Mereness, Miss Ina Trammel, Mr. Jack Bailen
Properties Committee
Chairman, Mr. Earl Parks; Mr. Robert Blankenship, Mr. Leon Fosse, Mr. Larry Rix
Construction Committee
Chairman, Mr. C. O. Blackman; Mr. Gladden McNary, Mr. Otto Simpson, Mr. Dewey Summers, Mr. Ray Wells
Grounds Committee
Chairman, Mr. Ben Bruce; Mr. Harry Crisp Jr., Mr. Frank Bruce, Mr. Sid Dungey
Costume and Makeup Committee
Chairman, Mrs. William Novick; Miss Norma Boyd, Miss Nita Davidson, Mrs. Paul Griffiths
Sound System Committee
Chairman, Mr. Paul Joyner; Mr. Charles Boatright
Participation Division
Ladies Chairwoman, Mrs. Lester Brandt; Men’s Chairman, Mr. John K. Miller
Brothers of Brush Committee
Chairman, Mr. Don Ridgley
Promenade and Caravan Committee
Mr. Howard May
Celebration Belles Committee
Chairman, Mrs. Carlyle Sims; Mrs. Ted Bujdoso, Mrs. L. C. Cavaness
Ladies Sunbonnets and Dresses Committee
Chairman, Mrs. Charles Boatright; Mrs. Robert Greenwood, Mrs. Jack Rickey, Mrs. Ivan Zwick, Mrs. Ray Hancock, Mrs. Wendell Hill
Beard Judges
Chairman, Marie Brown; Nora Reed, Ann Waterbury, Sherry Hudgens
(Data extracted from Glances at Life, Homer Butler; Williamson County Quasqui-Centennial Souvenir Program Book; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 07/01/2013)