“Oh what a beautiful morning, Oh what a beautiful day”. The lyrics of a well known song describes the weather that greeted an approximate crowd of 10,000 people at the Old Settlers Reunion in Cheyenne on Saturday, April 17, 1982. Excitement began to build as the first of the mini marathon runners came dashing down Cheyenne’s main street shortly after 9:00 a.m. The parade was a few mutes late and the huge crowd, standing four to five rows deep didn’t seem to mind the short delay as they mixed and mingled meeting new and old acquaintances.
The Cheyenne Volunteer Fire Department and the RMC Ambulances ushered in the 1982 C&A Old Settlers Parade with a throng of sirens. The 1 and half hour long parade, comprised of beautiful floats topped with lovely ladies and girls and handsome men and boys, bands, honoraries, dignitaries, wagon trains, antique cars, riding clubs and many others, captured the attention of the many cameras clicking to record this “Once Every Five Years” historic celebration.
The climax of the parade was the crowning of the C&A Queen Jamie Maddux by Governor George Nigh. Following the parade, the barbeque was served to approximately 2500 people before the Beutler & Son RCA Rodeo. That evening the CHS Music Department performed “Hello Dolly” to a delighted sell-out crowd.
The Mini-Marathon winners were B.B. Burkitt and C.E. Schicken-danz; Whiskers Jimmy McCoy; Whistler Josh Hammond; Pioneer Dress Kim Boydston (wearing Mae Thomas’ dress) and Melda Moler; Western Dress Debbie Beaty and Fiddlers Buzz Colson.
The Cheyenne-Arapaho Old Settlers Queen for 1982 was Jamie Maddux. Attendants riding on the queen’s float were Nena Bowers, Charlotte Kirk, Sherri Little, Donna Porter, Rona Reimer and Jymay Whitson, Flower girls were Rebecca Lippencott and Mary Maddux. The float was decorated in pink and white.
Jamie’s ancestors making the run were as follows: Great Grandfather Sam Maddux, Great-Great Grandparents John Henry Anderson and wife Martha Emma Wilson Anderson, Great Great Uncles Lafayette Collier Anderson and Archie Albert Anderson; Great Great Great Uncle William W. Anderson; and Fourth Cousins John Albert Anderson and Henry Madison Anderson.
Grand Marshal was Fred Cordell. Parade winners: Riding Club Elk City; Cub Scout in the School Division; Dobson Telephone; Sorosis Club; Sayre Nazarene Church; Grand Inspection.