More than 3,200 school children, plus teachers, parents and interested spectators thronged Jackson last Friday from early morning until late afternoon to participate in, or just to watch, the events of the 21st revival of the Kiwanis School Festival.

It was not the largest in point of attendance of the festivals held here in the past 21 years, but in many respects it created the greatest amount of interest. For the first time in its history, the event was filmed for a television broadcast.

The children and teachers marched livelier in the mile-long parade route, and patrons applauded and cheered their schools to attract the attention of the cameraman, who raced along the parade route to gain vantage points for catching the marching columns.

Nineteen 1- and 2-teacher rural schools, the eight consolidated graded schools of city and county, and the two public high schools, Jackson High and Breathitt High, with their bands, and the Jackson Kindergarten school, formed the parade line of schools as they stepped out through downtown Jackson, led by the color guard of the local National Guard company. Following the parade, the entire group was assembled on the athletic field at Lees Junior College for a brief patriotic ceremony.

Festival Chairman, James R. Deaton, presided at the campus ceremony with the invocation given by Dean Frazier B. Adams of Less College, and the welcome expressed by Kiwanis President, J. W. Poe, Jr.

In addition to the scheduled program, the throng of more than 4,000 persons heard a brief talk by Nick Basso, news director of WSAZ-TV, Huntington, West Virginia, who commended the citizens of Jackson upon sponsoring what be termed "a wonderful demonstration of interest in educational and spiritual advancement of the youth."

Mr. Basso applauded the teachers and pupils for their "fine floats and banners," evidencing their progress in school.

Winning cash prizes for total points accumulated in the various festival events were:

In all, 91 scholastic contests were held during the morning and early afternoon hours. Winners in these events, as announced by Mr. Deaton, were:

Grade 3: Jewell Hatton, Camp Christy, 1st; Nayoma Noble, Lower War Creek, 2nd;

Grade 4: Callie Privett, Five Mile, 1st; Andy Arrowood, Arrowood, 2nd.

Grade 5: Clell Strong, Haddix, 1st; Earl Keith, Stray Branch, 2nd.

Grade 6: Elmer Haddix, Haddix, 1st; Nathan Brewer, Davis, 2nd.

Grade 7: Wendell Spicer, Elkatawa, 1st; Shelby Jean Wilder, Smith Branch, 2nd.

Grade 8: Imogene Smith, Arrowood, 1st; Mary Lou Brown, Davis, 2nd.

Grade 3: Brit Collins, Elkatawa, 1st; Ted Turner, Stray Branch, 2nd.

Grade 4: Han Carpenter, Davis, 1st; Yincent Turner, Canoe, 2nd.

Grade 5: Jeff Combs, Elkatawa, 1st; John Clemons, Magoffin Baptist, 2nd.

Grade 6: John S. Gabbard, Elkatawa, 1st; John Henry Arrowood, Arrowood, 2nd;

Grade 7: Pat Hollon, Jr., 1st; Joel Potter, Magoffin Baptist, 2nd.

Grade 8: Lonnie Combs, Elkatawa, 1st; Alice Lawson, Morgue, 2nd.

Group Singing (1 - 6 pupils): Five Mile, 1st; Canoe, 2nd.

Group Singing (7 or more pupils): Magoffin Baptist, 1st; Morris Fork, 2nd.

Group Action Song: Arrowood, 1st; Rosenwald, 2nd.

Rhythm Band: Magoffin Baptist, 1st; Stray Branch, 2nd.

Grade 3: Granville Hollon, 1st.

Grade 4: Juanita Smith, Smith's Branch, 1st; Ray McGlone, Stray Branch, 2nd.

Grade 5: Olga Prater, Smith's Branch, 1st; Florence Turner, Canoe, 2nd.

Grade 6: Forest Collins, Elkatawa, 1st; Sara E. Turner, Canoe, 2nd.

Grade 7: Ray D. Gabbard, Elkatawa, 1st; Mahala Combs, Cockrells Fork, 2nd.

Grade 8: Chiles Patrick, Magoffin Baptist, 1st; Maxine Spencer, Camp Christy, 2nd.

Child's Story, grades 1, 2, and 3: Cockrells Fork, 1st; Arrowood, 2nd.

Child's Story, all grades: Arrowood, 1st; Stray Branch, 2nd.

Committed Reading, grades 1, 2, 3, 4: Pauline Fugate, Stray Branch, 1st; Charles A. Howard, Canoe, 2nd.

Committed Reading, upper grades: Wanda Fae Spicer, Arrowood, 1st; Frances E. Oaks, Stray Branch, 2nd.

Declamation: Jesse James Spicer, Arrowood, 1st; Vernon Keith, Stray Branch, 2nd.

Grade 1: Melton Turner, Stray Branch, 1st; Sherry Ann Stamper, Arrowood, 2nd.

Grade 2: Clara Smith, Morgue, 1st; Edward Lee Spicer, Stray Branch, 2nd.

Grade 3: Wanda Lee Turner, Stray Branch, 1st; Sarah E. Johnson, Canoe, 2nd.

Grade 4: Alonzo Turner, Stray Branch, 1st; Bill Johnson, Canoe, 2nd.

Grade 5: Granville Deaton, Jr., Canoe, 1st; Dorothy Haddix, Stray Branch, 2nd.

Grade 6: Bera Faye Hughes, Arrowood, 1st; Edith Haddix, Stray Branch, 2nd.

Grade 7: Dorothy Hughes, Arrowood, 1st; Edwina Noble, Lower War Creek, 2nd.

Grade 8: Shirley Turner, Arrowood, 1st; Charlotte Faye Hardin, Smith Branch, 2nd.

Grade 3: Angelina Spicer, Arrowood, 1st; Linda Noble, Lower War Creek, 2nd.

Grade 4: Charlotte Ann Johnson, 1st; Bonnie Howes, Magoffin Baptist, 2nd.

Grade 5: Verna _____, Lower War Creek, 1st; Jessie Miller, Elkatawa, 2nd.

Grade 6: Ruth Lee Neace, Haddix, 1st; Ima E. Sebastian, Canoe, 2nd.

Grade 7: Geneva Thorpe, Smith Branch, 1st; Wilma J. Watts, Elkatawa, 2nd.

Grade 8: winners not announced.

Grade 3: Mildred Dennis, Little Red, 1st; Johnny Johnson, Big Rock, 2nd.

Grade 4: Sue Combs, Little Red, 1st; Margaret Bradley, Jackson City, 2nd.

Grade 5: Harold Holbrook, Little Red, 1st; Helen Landrum, Caney, 2nd.

Grade 6: Delphia Caudill, Big Rock, 1st; Gladys Campbell, Caney, 2nd.

Grade 7: Carolyn Clemons, Quicksand, 1st; Mary Carolyn Allen, Little Red, 2nd.

Grade 8: Dana Isom, Vancleve, 1st; Lila Leach, Jackson City, 2nd.

Grade 3: Adna Hays, Caney, 1st; Herbert Spencer, Vancleve, 2nd.

Grade 4: Stephen Combs, Caney, 1st; Lois Clemons, Quicksand, 2nd.

Grade 5: Jarlene Strong, Quicksand, 1st; James W. Napier, Jackson City, 2nd.

Grade 6: Phillip Litteral, Vancleve, 1st; Corine Howard, Quicksand, 2nd.

Grade 7: Gary Hays, Jackson City, 1st; Willard Allen, Quicksand, 2nd.

Grade 8: Frank Derossett, Evanston, 1st; Wilma J. Deaton, Quicksand, 2nd.

Group Singing (1 - 6 pupils): Little Red, 1st; Rousseau, 2nd.

Group Singing (7 or more pupils): Little Red, 1st; Big Rock, 2nd.

Action Song: Big Rock, 1st; Caney, 2nd.

Rhythm Band: Little Red, 1st; Big Rock, 2nd.

Grade 3: Sarah Denman, Jackson City, 1st; Ina Lee Campbell, Caney, 2nd.

Grade 4: Mary Landolt, Jackson City, 1st; Barbara Hudson, Caney, 2nd.

Grade 5: David Landrum, Caney, 1st; Helen Clendaniel, Jackson City, 2nd.

Grade 6: Carolyn Osborne, Jackson City, 1st; Theda Mae Williams, Caney, 2nd.

Grade 7: Larry Bach, Quicksand, 1st; Ruth Pearl Hays, Caney, 2nd.

Grade 8: Charlene Patton, Little Red, 1st; Patricia Blevins, Rousseau, 2nd.

Child's Story, lower grades: Jackson City, 1st; Caney, 2nd.

Child's Story, upper grades: Little Red, 1st; Big Rock, 2nd.

Committed Reading, lower grades: Beverly Bach, Little Red, 1st; Phyllis Sallee, Jackson City, 2nd.

Committed Reading, upper grades: Fern Landrum, Caney, 1st; Beverly Bach, Jackson City, 2nd.

Declamation: Frank Hickey, Jackson City, 1st; Woodrow Morris, Little Red, 2nd.

Grade 1: Luverna Stamper, Big Rock, 1st; Tommie Chapman, Quicksand, 2nd.

Grade 2: Billy Lou Spencer, Jackson City, 1st; Charlene Roach, Rousseau, 2nd.

Grade 3: Eric Spencer, Big Rock, 1st; Ervine Allen, Little Red, 2nd.

Grade 4: Homer Johnson, Big Rock, 1st; Patsy Combs, Quicksand, 2nd.

Grade 5: Edith McCless, Jackson City, 1st; Judy Gabbard, Big Rock, 2nd.

Grade 6: Maxine Gayheart, Evanston, 1st; Garnett Little, Rousseau, 2nd.

Grade 7: Joyce Slusher, Little Red, 1st; James Brewer, Vancleve, 2nd.

Grade 8: Martha Lou Lovely, Caney, 1st: Lillie Campbell, Big Rock, 2nd.

Grade 3: Dora Southers, Quicksand, 1st; Edna Ruth Campbell, Caney, 2nd.

Grade 4: Richard Gibson, Jackson City, 1st; Elvina Caudill, Big Rock, 2nd.

Grade 5: Beverly Hays, Jackson City, 1st; Irene Mann, Evanston, 2nd.

Grade 6: Mary E. Butler, Quicksand, 1st; Linda Dowdle, Evanston, 2nd.

Grade 7: no winners announced.

Grade 8: Audrey McPherson, Little Red, 1st; Virginia Salyer, Jackson City, 2nd.

Grades 1 and 2: Nettie M. Thompson, Stray Branch, 1st; Mae Riley, Jackson City, 2nd.

Grades 3 and 4: Henry Baker, Jackson City, 1st; Loretta Walker, Magoffin Baptist, 2nd.

Grades 5 and 6: Kenneth Brackett, Houston, 1st; Tex Burnette, Vancleve, 2nd.
Grades 7 and 8: Ronnie Hays, Jackson City, 1st; J. Wise Deaton, Little Red, 2nd.

Johnny Rice, Jackson City, 1st; Juanita Faye Turner, Stray Branch, 2nd.

Grade 6: Phillip Combs, Vancleve, 1st; Martha Hornbeck, Jackson City, 2nd.

Grade 8: Geneva Branson, Little Red, 1st; Peggy Bays, Jackson City, 2nd.

Members of the Jackson Kiwanis Club, which originated and sponsors the festival, expressed satisfaction with the 1953 version of the event. Both Mr. Deaton and Club President Poe pointed out the fine cooperation received by the club, not only from the teachers and students of the competing schools, but also from the citizens of Jackson.

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(Courtsey of The Jackson Times)

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