Longview PRCA Rodeo topic at Rotary by Tehan
By GREG COLLINS for the News Herald

Archie Tehan, former district governor for Rotary and a member of the Greggton Rotary Club in Longview, was the guest speaker for the Kilgore Rotary Club on Wednesday. Tehan spoke about the upcoming Longview PRCA Rodeo, set for April 20 and 21 in Longview.

The Rotary Club of Greggton has run the rodeo for nine years now - it has been in existence for 17 years - and there are a number of charities in Longview that benefit from the event, including Junior Achievement, RYLA, Literacy Council and others.

The club will make just over $40,000 from the two-day rodeo, and most all of that money will be divided among charities.

It takes 45 Rotarians to put on the rodeo, and a significant number of sponsors and patrons. And, of course, they need rodeo fans to come and be part of the festivities.

The rodeo is a sanctioned PRCA event and draws some fairly big names to Longview in a variety of competitions, including roping, steer wrestling, steer riding, barrel racing and team roping.

Tickets to the event for reserved seating are $12 in advance and $14 at the gate. Adult tickets for general admission are $8 in advance and $10 at the gate. Children ages 3 to 12 can purchase a general admission ticket for $3 or three cans of food that will be donated to the Highway 80 Rescue Mission. Child tickets at the gate are $5.

"We are hopeful that a lot of people will come and support this rodeo," Tehan commented.

The event will be held at the Longview Rodeo Arena which is located at the Fairgrounds next to Maude Cobb Activity Center.

In other Rotary news, Amanda Mixon, a senior at Kilgore High School, was recognized as the Rotary Club Student of the Month. Mixon is a standout student, athlete and also is part of a good number of school clubs and organizations. She is also a member of the Citizens Bank Student Board. She plans to attend Kilgore College next year and then move on to The University of North Texas.

Honored for perfect attendance at the meeting were Greg Murphy for six years and Richard Rorschach for 27 years of perfect attendance.

Melvin Jordan reported that Janice Tolbert represented Kilgore in the Four-Way Speech Contest Saturday at Carthage. She did not win but was close to the top spot. Janice is a senior at KHS.

Rotarians will be picking up trash on US 259 this coming Friday and Saturday. The club does the trash pickup four times per year.

The annual Scholar Athlete Banquet is set for Thursday, April 26 in the Devall Student Center. Two students from KHS, two from Sabine and two from Kilgore College will be honored.

Wednesday, Dr. Charles Whiteside will discuss fresh war as the program.

The Kilgore Rotary Club meets each Wednesday at noon in the Masonic Lodge on Stone Road. Guests are always welcome.