Parade kicks off annual Pleasanton celebration

Roger Sims, Journal Staff
Oct 9, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Nov 3, 2023

A mounted color guard and singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" began the parade on a patriotic note. (Photos by Roger Sims/Linn County Journal)

It was just a few minutes until the start of the parade down Main Street in Pleasanton on Saturday, Oct. 7. A few people were milling about on the street and sidewalks waiting for the main event of Gen. Pleasonton Days to begin. Maybe it was the cool weather that was still hanging in the lower 50s, but it surely wasn’t the crowd that organizers were hoping for.

But as the mounted color guard and police cars began their journey from the intersection of Sixth Street south down Main, the crowd on the sidewalks began to grow, almost as if on cue. And as children grabbed up candy thrown by entries in the parades, the adults were treated to more than 70 floats, vehicles, marchers and music from the marching band from Jayhawk-Linn Junior and Senior High School.

Parade grand marshal Don Proffitt waves to the crowd as his car passes the review stand.

The parade took about half an hour to pass in front of the review stand. Don Proffitt, an active member of the community and former Linn County Clerk and county fire board member, was the parade's grand marshal.

Community Health Centers of Southeast Kansas’ Pleasanton clinic won first-place prize in the float division, with the Breast Cancer Awareness float sponsored by Jennifer Mayes in second and the Frisco train in third place. The train was driven by Mike Miller, but the train was built by welding students in the STARS program in Pleasanton with Dianna Smith donating materials.

The Mane Room's float boasted throwback hairstyles and shades.

Rod Mangold took first place in the vehicle division with his 1972 Chevrolet Cheyenne pickup, and Joanne Allen was second with her 2007 Chevrolet Corvette. Shawn Myrick placed third with his 1931 Chevy coupe.

Coffman Land and Homes real estate company won the business float prize.

Two-wheel division awards went to Jack Bright, first place; Logan Casey, second; and Margaret Stafford, third. Bob Snow wearing a fur trader outfit of handsewn skins and fur placed first in the walking division with the Linn County Republicans placing second, and city council candidate Angie Randall placing third.

Dressed in frontier-trapper style handsewn leather and fur, Bob Snow won first place in the walking division.

Following the parade, festivities shifted to Dunlap Park, where food and craft vendors were set up and afternoon games were held and people could visit under the shade trees on what turned out to be a warm, sunny day. Later in the afternoon, the activities returned to Main Street near the Pleasanton Community Center with bingo and a cornhole tournament and, finally, a street dance to end the day.

The final events of 2023’s celebration was a community church service on Sunday morning followed by a community lunch at noon.

Pleasanton's CHC/SEK clinic won first place float with this entry.

Celebrating the Frisco Railroad, the first to serve the city of Pleasanton, was this entry driven by Mike Miller. The train was made by the welding class at the Southeast Training Academy for Rural Students (STARS) in Pleasanton.