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REMEMBERING
PAST cavOILcade's
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1953,
1954,
1955,
1956,
1957,
1958,
1959,
1960,
1961,
1962,
1963,
1964,
1965,
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1968,
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1987,
1988,
1989,
1990,
1991,
1992,
1993, 1994,
1995,
1996,
1997,
1998,
1999,
2000,
2001,
2002,
2003,
2004,2005
"A
Salute to the Oil Industry"
1953 Although
cavOILcade's to follow proved to be more extravagant, this first
celebration was one to remember. Congressman Jack Brooks crowned
Barbara Putman on the steps of the sub courthouse, with velvet
drapes covering the doors and serving as a backdrop for the
"stage". Neither the threat of rain nor that of
mosquitoes kept spectators from attending the ceremony. Such
events as the "Hat Breakfast", the street parade and a
picnic on Rose Hill Manor made this premier cavOILcade a success.
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1954
For this second cavOILcade,
Jacque Simonton was crowned queen on Thursday, so as to allow her
to reign throughout the festivities. Lee Eagleson served his
second of three years as Chairperson and the coronation ceremony
was much more elaborate than the first. Wayne Dunham joined the cavOILcade
team and designed the backdrop for this and 28 more coronation
ceremonies.
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1955
Mary Elizabeth Bryam was
chosen as queen for this cavOILcade. The Port Arthur Camera Club's
International Exhibition of Photography began what would be an
annual event this year.
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1956
Walter Nelson became
general chairperson for this year and Darlene Jacobs reigned as
queen. The Jefferson County Mosquito Control helped rid the area
of mosquitoes before the parade and a turn-out of 40,000 arrived
to witness the procession before it began to rain. Though the
weather cancelled or postponed other activities, the 1956 cavOILcade
was regarded as a success.
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1957
Jerry Brenner took over as
chairperson and "The Holiday on Ice" troupe performed at
the Redleg Stadium (later to be called Seahawk Stadium). In 1957,
110,000 were estimated to have attended the various activities,
and Patsy Gerbens became queen.
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1958
With Tom Featherson as
chairperson, Queen Ann Brannon reigned over this cavOILcade, with
Gordon and Sheila McRae as headliners for the variety show. The
attendance rate grew to an estimated 115,000.
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1959
Trinell Defour was chosen
from 43 contestants as queen for this seventh celebration. Xavier
Cugat headlined the variety show as cavOILcade said goodbye to the
Fifties.
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1960
Under the chairmanship of
Byron Hildebrand, the Pleasure Pier Ballroom was extensively
remodeled for the activities. Anne Lofton was queen and Tony
Bennett provided entertainment for the Friday night crowd.
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1961
"Arabian Nights"
For all previous years,
the theme of cavOILcade was "A Tribute to the Oil
Industry", but for this ninth celebration a community-wide
contest was used to choose a new theme. Therefore Leni Anderson
reigned over "Arabian Nights" and became the first queen
to have her picture appear in color in the Port Arthur News.
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1962
"Faraway Places"
John W. Lestage was
general chairperson for 1962. Over 2,000 marked crawfish were set
loose in Jaycee Park for a crawfish hunt and crawfish race. Karen
Ann Sealy became queen of cavOILcade and in 1963 was chosen as
runner-up for the Miss Texas Pageant.
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1963
"Dick Dowling Centennial"
The confederate theme
"Dick Dowling Centennial" was chosen to commemorate the
100th anniversary of the Battle of Sabine Pass. Peggy
Gralino reigned as queen and Frankie Avalon headlined the variety
show.
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1964
"Hi Neighbor"
W.G. "Jerry"
Thomall was general chairman and Alice Virginia Dumesnil reigned
as queen. The Port Arthur Little Theater put on a production of
"My Fair Lady" and the Thieves Market offered a new
attraction to the festivities.
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1965
"Hits of Broadway"
An all-professional
touring cast of singers and dancers put on the "Hits of
Broadway" variety show. George Stanley served as general
chairperson and Hellen Lynell Smith became queen of the thirteenth
annual cavOILcade.
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1966
"Ports of Call"
The theme of this cavOILcade,
"Ports of Call", was chosen to correspond with the
opening of the new port for Port Arthur. Queen Ida Cloar reigned
and Sam Henry was chairperson of the event. The Broadway touring
company performed "Half a Sixpence" for the variety
show.
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1967
Although the Pleasure Pier Bridge was wrecked a week before the
celebration, extra work allowed cavOILcade to go on as planned.
Burt Lee was chairperson and though events had to be moved to
other sights, Queen Gretchen Lueders still reigned over a
successful cavOILcade.
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1968
"Looking for the Future" PAISD
Superintendent Dr.Clyde Gott served as chairman of the
celebration. Bobby Vinton was the concert headliner. Queen Candy
Carr reigned over the festivities.
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1969
"Texas' Greatest Corner"
Ken Murphy was chairperson
over the festival and Debbie Nunez became queen. A late
cancellation by Brenda Lee brought in Jeanie C. Riley for the
variety show.
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1970
"Bridge to the Patriotic Seventies"
With the opening of the
new bridge to Pleasure Island, Jack Scott served as chairperson
and Mary Barrileaux as queen. John Gary headlined the variety show
that year. cavOILcade was also expanded that year to include more
sponsors and also black princesses.
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1971
"Paint and Picture of Prosperity"
Irwin Mingle served as
chairperson over this event as 55 princesses competed for the
crown. Beth Hansen was chosen to reign, and Lee Eagleson, the
early chairperson, was honored for his help in getting cavOILcade off the ground.
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1972
"A Rainbow of Progress"
Event chairperson was Jim
Carr and Tara Angelle was crowned queen.
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1973
"Jubilee '73"
Jim Stelly took over as
chairperson this year and Katherine Singletary became queen. Tom
T. Hall and Susan Raye headlined the entertainment.
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1974
"All American cavOILcade"
Ray Stevens headlined this
event as Jimmie Fields became chairperson. Lydia Garcia was chosen
to reign over the 22nd cavOILcade. A crowd gathered to
watch as Port Arthur and New Iberia, LA firefighters challenged
each other to a water fight with firehoses after their annual
softball game.
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1975
"cavOILcade '75- a Bicentennial Salute"
Chaired by Roy Shotts,
this 23rd event chose Deborah Bowling as its queen.
Minnie Pearl headlined with a troupe from the "Louisiana
Hayride" TV show.
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1976
"Reach for the Stars"
Rain threatened this
year's events, but most of the festivities proceeded before the
weather arrived. Randy McAlpine served as chairperson and Lynn
McPherson became queen. Johnny Rodriguez headlined.
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1977
"Silver Reflection"
For this 25th
Anniversary, 18 of the previous 24 queens returned to witness
Desiree Leon take the crown. Crystal Gayle entertained and the
Skyhawk Sport Parachute club gave a demonstration of jumps and
free fall. Wiley Ballard was chairperson.
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1978
"Visions into the Future"
David Parsley was
chairperson over this event in which the Boat Parade was revived.
Rhonda Strange was crowned queen and Tammy Wynette was the
headliner for the variety show.
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1979
"A Western Whirl" Wayne
Beshears was general chairperson and Kathy Wilkins was queen for
this festival in which Eddie Rabbitt headlined the entertainment.
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1980
"cavOILcade Under the Big Top"
Tom Snodgrass was general
chairperson this year and the coronation ceremony in which Cheryl
Reynolds was crowned queen was held in the Port Arthur Civic
Center for the first time. "The Pleasure Island Enduro",
a boat race, was a new-comer to the event and Charley Pride was
the featured entertainer.
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1981
"Adventures into Space"
Wiley Ballard served again
as chairperson, Lisa Holstead was crowned queen and T.G. Sheppard
was the featured entertainer.
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1982
"A Southern Tradition"
Paige Lawson reigned as
queen for this festival and Michael Hatton was chairperson. The
Sports-A-Rama was a big hit, as drill teams and cheerleaders
competed. Dottie West was the featured entertainer.
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1983
"cavOILcade- Texas Style"
James Black was
chairperson and Christina DeLeon reigned this year. Roger V and
his band, a Las Vegas stage show, entertained for the "Texas
Style Party" by performing country, top 40 and Broadway hits.
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1984
"An Autumn Festival"
Robert Anderson was
chairperson and Carlana Guidry queen. The Osmond Brothers were the
featured entertainers.
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1985
"New Horizons- A New Beginning"
In accordance with the
theme, new people and new events were introduced. April Weeks was
chosen as queen and Zip Zummo as chairperson. The Port Arthur
Little Theater put on a production of "Barnum".
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1986
"A Salute to Texas Sesquicentennial"
For the first time a
woman, Sadalise Fredeman, was chosen as general chairperson.
Kristina Chirafis was selected queen from 60 contestants and Bo
Didley and The Shirelles were included in the concert event.
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1987
"Young at Heart"
Charles Pearson was
chairperson and the festival expanded to four weekends. Christi
Carter was chosen to reign.
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1988
Sissy
Wood took over as chairperson this year. Heather Griffin became
the first queen to live in a city other than Port Arthur; she was
from Port Neches.
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1989
"Carousel" Joel
Levingston took charge as chairperson and carousel horses appeared
on shirts, bags and volunteers to coincide with the theme of
"Carousel". St. James Catholic Church held a cake
decorating contest for the festivities.Queen of 1989 was Jenni
Dickerson
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1990
"Arabesque" David
Parsley was chairperson and Tracie Christie was queen of this 1990
celebration. Frank Sinatra, Jr. performed at the variety show with
comedian Fred Travelena.
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1991
"King Neptune"
Randy Haggard took over as
chairperson and LaRae Rising was queen. Jeweler Ed Turnbull gave
$100 to the past princess who could deliver the oldest cavOILcade charm.
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1992
"A Salute to 1492"
Shirley Adams was
chairperson for this cavOILcade 40th Anniversary
celebration. Queen Maura Parker reigned this year.
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1993
"Cruise cavOILcade '93"
Jim Darby was chairperson
and Debbie Neef was the new cavOILcade director. Shandi Schrader
was crowned queen and the princesses were given a commemorative
tee shirt with the cavOILcade logo.
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1994
"Reflections '94"
Sue Parsley was
chairperson and Randi Balsamo was queen. Tod Clark was stage
designer, creating a beautiful scenic display that included two
young girls on swings.
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1995
"Steppin' Out to cavOILcade '95"
Rita Davis was chairperson
and Tod Clark again handled stage design with a New York- Style
design showing a hotel. Kayla Lemaire was crowned queen. This cavOILcade
event was dedicated to April Begnaud.
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1996
"Jewels of the East"
Patty Oltremari was chosen
as new director and David Daspit was chairperson. Cristina
Carvajal was the first cavOILcade queen whose mother also held the
crown, in 1964.
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1997
"History and Horizons"
Ellen Clark was
chairperson for this year and Ranoda McClain was crowned queen.
The stage was designed to resemble a KCS Depot.
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1998
"Black Gold- Texas Tea; A Southeast Tradition"
Claire Thomason was
chairperson for this event and Amanda Joffrion was crowned queen.
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1999
"Let The Good Times Roll"
Amidst a stage design of
oil derricks, Natalie Beaugh reigned as queen for this year's cavOILcade
celebration. Walter Breaux, Jr. was the event chairperson.
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2000
"Spindletop 2001"
Vicki Dereses headed up
this year's events as chairperson. Staci Barnett was crowned
queen. Oil derricks again adorned a lovely cavOILcade stage.
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2001
"Memories Frozen in Time"
Charles Gongre served as
chairperson and Dominique Maroquin was queen upon a stage
decorated in a gorgeous "Winter Wonderland" theme.
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2002
"cavOILcade's Golden Era: 'Let's Rock n' Roll"
Charlie Rhodes is
chairperson of this 50th Anniversary cavOILcade celebration. Mallory Romero was chosen Queen.
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2003
"Treasure from the sea" Chairman
was Ursula Lefkowitz. Queen was Heidi Todd. Returning this was
Queen's tea and thieves market.
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2004
“cavOILcade:
A World Tradition”
Chairman
Larry Begnaud crowned Dana Falgout as the new queen.
Dana is the second queen in cavOILcade’s history to come
from Nederland. Oil
derricks decorated the stage.
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2005
“Fountains
of Beauty”
A
water wall decorated the stage where Chairman Carol Wommack
crowned Erin Placette, from Nederland, as the 53rd
Queen.
For the first time in history, the coronation was held in
January, 2006, due to damage to the southeast Texas area from
Hurricane Rita, which hit Port Arthur on September 23, 2005.
All other cavOILcade events were held as scheduled, with
the exception of the Style Show, Coronation, Parade and fishing
rodeo.
After several years, the golf tournament was brought back,
only to be postponed because of Hurricane Katrina, which hit the
New Orleans area on August 28, 2005.
Many of our industrial teams were sent to the
Louisiana-Mississippi area for clean up
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