1960 AUGUSTA COMMUNITY LIVESTOCK ASSOCIATION

The above pictures are of the Queen Contest. The identities of the ladies are unknown. If you can identify any of them, please contact me with their names by clicking here. The master of ceremonies was Hal Barton. He was an announcer on WTAD-AM/FM and KHQA-TV in Quincy, Illinois.

Horse shows were a big part of the fair. There were programs featuring both society and western classes. However, the society shows were falling out of favor. The fair was going through great changes at about this time. Big name entertainment and a large carnival were booked. Seating was increased in the arena. Crowds were large. It was the golden age of the Augusta Stock Show.

The tractor pull was also very popular . . . and very noisy.

Prizes including new cars were given away. This ticket barrell was borrowed from the Adams County Fair. A local car dealer provided the flat-bed truck. The Secretary's Office is in the background.

Usually the bookkeepers stayed in the Secretary's Office. In the first picture they are sitting on the arena track. If you know the names of these ladies, please contact me. The picture on the right was the view from the Secretary's Office towards the arena. The view included the Baptist Sound Service truck.

Ed Standley was the sound man assigned to the fair. He was employed by Baptist Sound Service. Later the name was changed to BESCO, Inc. He was a hard and skillful worker and was well liked by all the fair staff. The little truck was his home for the duration of the fair. He kept four or five public address systems working on the fairgrounds. But his most important responsibility was to support the programs in the arena.

The left picture is of the paging amplifier in the Secretary's Office. Personnel in the Secretary's Office could page all over the fairgrounds. It was often my job to make the pager announcements. Occassionally Baptist Sound provided Ed with a helper. His helper is sitting in the lawn chair talking to Ed who is in the truck.

By this time I had an inclination for things electronic. I had already earned my ham license. I always looked forward to the fair when I could play with Ed and his equipment. Ed and I got to be friends and he recommended me for a job with Baptist Sound for the Summer of 1962. For a few weeks I had my own truck and I really enjoyed the work. But soon I was fired! I had a fear of heights and fell from the telephone poles I was climbing. It was a big crisis. My first real job and I got fired, ha. I haven't seen Ed since although recently I have been trying to find him. If anyone knows how to contact him, please email me.

Ed used ladders when he could. But he, unlike me, also did a good job climbing poles.

Click here to go to the 1963 fair.

© 2001-2002, Ken Bowles -- June 03, 2002, Edition