Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1012265
By Mark Humphrey ENTERPRISE-LEADER LINCOLN — A cowboy stud- ies and analyzes a situation then decides what should be done and sets about rectify- ing the matter in short order. In essence, this is how the street dance was incorpo- rated as a regular part of the annual Lincoln Rodeo. The Lincoln Rodeo got started 65 years ago, but the street dance wasn't officially added until 1967 with Louie Guess requesting and receiving approval from the mayor of Lincoln. Guess became a member of Lincoln Riding Club in 1955 or 1956 and always had a taste for music and enjoying life to the fullest. Summer- time temperatures were hot during the day, not an ideal time for hosting a dance. "Howard Lester came down to Lincoln to play music on the street," Guess remembers. "We were danc- ing out in the hot sun. I told myself, 'it could be better.' So, I went and talked to the mayor and talked to the mayor about it being a better thing next year to have the dance the night before the rodeo and that sounded like a good thing. So, the year 1967 that was what we did." Records are missing from that era and Guess can't recall her name, but he does remember the mayor, who approved the street dance was a lady. Guess wanted to make the street dance a success and has cooked many a meal in preparation for the event to welcome rodeo fans to Lincoln. "I have cooked a lot of times at the rodeo grounds," Guess said. "I would start at 5:30 in the morning and get it all done by 4:30 in the afternoon." For the first street dance, Guess cooked 150 pounds of pork, 20 chickens, along with hotdogs and hamburg- ers. One guy from Siloam Springs showed up to help with the cooking that hot day Guess remembers. " T h e p e o p l e w o u l d already be there to eat," Guess said. "It was great, then I would get home fast to get me a bath and get up to the street dance. That was a great time in my life." This year as the Lincoln Rodeo celebrates 65 years, the street dance is now in its 52nd year. Lester is still performing showing rodeo fans a good time with his band the Boston Mountain Playboys. The Lil' Mister and Lil' Miss contests portions of the 2018 Lincoln Riding Club royalty pageant immediately precede the street dance which goes from 8 to 11 p.m. Wednesday on the Lincoln Square. The Lil' Mister and Lil' Miss contests begin at 7 p.m. Guess now 85, clings to his cowboy ways. He is still going strong. Guess does a little guitar picking and hosts jam sessions in his backyard shop known as "Louie's Guitar Lounge." H e d r a w s a c e r t a i n a m o u n t o f sa t i s fa c t i o n over the success of the street dance. "It has been a good one that where people have fun," Guess said. "Everyone was happy and so was I." 6B Enterprise-Leader Wednesday, August 8, 2018 L i n c o L n R o d e o together. It takes every- body from fans, competi- tors, judges, timers, rodeo royalty, sponsors, emer- gency medical technicians and veterinarians on-hand to announcers, photogra- phers, bullfighters, rodeo clowns, pickup men, and a clean-up crew. When a cowboy lands face down in the dirt and has to scramble to get out of the way of an ornery critter the bullfighters don't stop to check his political affiliation or religion. Their job is to intentionally inter- vene utilizing trained tactics designed to draw the atten- tion of the bull away from the cowboy by putting them- selves in harm's way. That is what the soldier has, in effect, done for the average American citizen. The First Amendment to the United States Constitu- tion declares: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the free- dom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Many nations across the globe don't believe in grant- ing people an opportunity to exercise such freedoms. Th e re a s o n A m e r i c a n s enjoy these privileges today is because of men like Rex Blisard, who have been will- ing to lay down their lives in service of their country for the cause of maintaining freedom. There may be no better way to celebrate the "Right of Peaceably Assemble" than to turn out for the 65th annual Lincoln Rodeo Thursday through Friday at Lincoln Riding Club Arena just west of Lincoln on U.S. 62. Had he lived to see this day, surely Rex Blisard would have wanted it that way. MARK HUMPHREY IS A REPORTER FOR THE ENTERPRISE-LEADER. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE HIS OWN. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B HUMPHREY: Rodeo Brings Community Together Regardless Of Perceived Differences ANNUAL SHINDIG KICKS OFF RODEO WEEK PHOTOS BY MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Above: Couples dance during the 2017 Lincoln Riding Club Rodeo street dance on the Lincoln Square, which is always held on Wednesday, prior to the rodeo. This year the street dance starts at 8 p.m. on Aug. 8 with Lincoln Rodeo performances scheduled for Aug. 9-11. Top photo: Vocalist Heather Replogle Keenen (center) conducts a mic check prior to the first set performed by Howard Lester and the Boston Mountain Playboys during the Lincoln Rodeo street dance in this 2017 photo. Band members (from left): Jimmy Fields, guitar/vocals; Tyler Bottje, drums; Keenen; Howard Lester, guitar/vocals; Chris Lynch, bass/vocals; and Stacy Pixley, fiddle. Also on stage (second from right) is Braxton Blankenship, who has joined the band for rodeo street dances including the Lincoln Rodeo and Siloam Springs Rodeo. Louie Guess, 85, of Lincoln, strums his electric guitar. Guess wanted people to have a good time so he founded the street dance in 1967, which has been incorporated into the annual Lincoln Rodeo that began in 1954. This color drawing of a cowboy picking his guitar by Louie Guess hangs on the wall in Guess' backyard shop known as "Louie's Guitar Lounge," a gathering spot for musical jam sessions and Guess' home-cooked food. Guess founded the street dance in the 13th year of the annual Lincoln Rodeo. Now, 85, Guess still maintains an active membership in the Lincoln Riding Club. Braxton Blankenship (center), 2016 Lincoln Riding Club Lil' Mister, joined Howard Lester and the Boston Mountain Playboys on stage to provide a soundtrack for the street dance held from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the Lincoln Square in 2017. Band members shown with Braxton are Chris Lynch (left) bass/vocals and Stacy Pixley (fiddle). Braxton has played with the band in past years during the Siloam Springs Rodeo street dance and at other street dances. "Howard Lester came down to Lincoln to play music on the street. We were dancing out in the hot sun. I told myself, 'it could be better.' So, I went and talked to the mayor and talked to the mayor about it being a better thing next year to have the dance the night before the rodeo and that sounded like a good thing. So, the year 1967 that was what we did." Louie Guess Street Dance Founder Want to Make A Difference? It takes less than an hour and the one pint donated can save up to three lives. To learn more about the process just visit our website at www.cbco.org. Donate blood. NWA Newspapers LLC is a proud sponsor of Community Blood Center.