CENTERVILLE —
Pancake Day has always been a favorite celebration for politicians. Throughout the years, the Iowa governor has always been invited to attend Pancake Day, and many would then serve as the Parade Marshal during the Big Parade. In the early 1950s, Gov. William S. Beardsley attended and in the mid-1950s, Gov. Leo Heogh attended.
In 1956, Gov. Heogh arrived on the Square via helicopter, which provided political fodder for his opponent that year, Hershel Loveless, to criticize him. The Pancake Day Committee was quick to take responsibility for the helicopter ride, but Loveless used it to criticize Heogh, nonetheless. Loveless was the next governor, and he continued the tradition of visiting Pancake Day in the late 1950s.
In 1961, Gov. Norman Erbe attended the festivities, then in the mid-1960s, Gov. Harold Hughes came to town. Gov. Robert Ray was a favorite during the 1970s, and later, Gov. Terry Branstad found his way to Centerville a few times for Pancake Day. In 2001, Gov. Tom Vilsack from Mt. Pleasant was on hand.
Other politicians have also visited Pancake Day, sometimes making a few waves. In 1952, Estes Kefauver, the famous Democratic Tennessee senator who made a name for himself for attacking organized crime and campaigning often in a coonskin cap, was on hand to make a rousing political speech, as was Republican Dewey Short of Missouri. Kefauver had just lost his party’s nomination for president, so while at Pancake Day, he flipped a few pancakes and announced his endorsement of Adlai Stevenson. He would later go on to be Adlai Stevenson’s running mate in 1956, though they lost by a landslide to Eisenhower.
The New York Times reported on Sept. 25, 1964, “In this Republican town that looks as if it were designed by Norman Rockwell, W. Averell Harriman, sheepishly, and Mrs. Hubert Humphrey, expertly, flipped political pancakes.” Mrs. Humphrey was the wife of the democratic candidate for president, Hubert Humphrey, and W. Averell Harriman was the Under Secretary of State.
But not all of Pancake Day’s famous visitors were politicians. Several notable personalities have been parade marshals over the years, including J.C. Penny in 1961, boxer Rocky Marciano in 1965, Mike Lozano from WHO-TV in Des Moines in 1983, “Iowa Boy” Chuck Offenburger in 1986, and hometown success stories Simon Estes in 1997 and Morgan Cline in 2000.
Some lesser known, but notable visitors included Phillip Pillsbury of the Pillsbury Company, was here in 1962 to witness first-hand where all of the donated pancake flour was used. Taking a turn at flipping a few pancakes, he proved himself to be a better businessman than chef. He burnt the pancakes so badly they couldn’t be eaten. In 1958, the first runner-up in the Miss America pageant, Joanne McDonald was on hand, and in 1959, Mrs. America Margaret Priebe, and National Baton Twirling Champion, Joyce Rice came for the day.
Another famous visitor that came in 2001 and 2002 was not a person, but a car. Rubbermaid Home Products brought in one of the actual race car driven by Kurt Busch in the Nascar Winston Cup Series. While in Centerville, it was on standby in case it needed to replace the car being used in the Nascar race that same weekend at the Kansas Speedway. The car was driven around the square prior to the parade, because the engines weren’t designed to go at the slower pace of the parade and would overheat.
Who knows who you might see at Pancake Day? Keep your eyes open – you might see someone famous!
Local News
Related Photos
-
Steven Carter for Congress with Dr. Gleason riding shotgun. Photo courtesy of Teresa Kelly
Share your thoughts!
The Daily Iowegian welcomes your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
September 20, 2011
Famous flippers and memorable marshals
- Local News
-
-
Centerville flooring business has new owners
A 65-year-old business fixture in Centerville is changing ownership as the owner has decided to retire. Ron Mitchell, owner of Mitchell's Floor Covering, has decided to retire after guiding the family-run business since moving back home from Denver,
-
69-year-old leads deputies on high speed chase
A homeless man driving a stolen vehicle May 15 in Appanoose County at 2:30 a.m. in an attempt to elude law enforcement rammed the pursuing patrol car and is now facing five class D felony charges. Roy Steed Cope, 69, has been charged by the Appanoose
- Friends raise more than $450 Friends raise more than $450 The Friends of the Drake Public Library raised more than $450 to pay for new books for the Drake Public Library from the Bake Sale for Books event Saturday, May 11. May 22 'American Cancer Society Day' DES MOINES -- In h
-
UPDATE 11:42 p.m.: Customers without power now below 1,000
Severe storms moving through the area caused over a thousand to loose power Sunday night.
-
Severe weather expected today
OTTUMWA -- Southeast Iowa will likely see the return of severe weather Sunday. Forecasters say there is a very high chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and evening and some could become severe.
- BOB volunteers complete window installation at 18-80 Club The 18-80 Club in Centerville recently received new windows with the help of local volunteers. "Our windows are in and look great," said Carla Wahl, with the 18-80 Club. "With the temp today [May 14] being in the 90's maybe they will open them up. T
- City Council budget amendment public hearing tonight The Centerville City Council at tonight's regular meeting will hold a public hearing amending the fiscal year 2013 budget, which ends June 30. The budget amendment calls for an additional $3.5 million in total revenues and other sources and an additi
-
FFA trap competition
Southern Iowa FFA trapshoot held on Sunday, April 28 at the Bloomfield Izaak Walton League and hosted by the Davis County and Centerville FFA chapters. Winners included Gabriella Buban of Wayne County at Corydon, top female. The top team was Moulton
- Centerville City Council Agenda for May 20 Centerville City Council Centerville City Council will meet Monday, May 20 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. Items on the agenda include approval of May 6 City Council meeting minutes, approval of April 11 Appanoose County Service Agency meeting minutes, a
- Prison term settles seven criminal cases A Centerville man facing 17 criminal counts in seven different felony, aggravated and serious misdemeanor cases in two southeast Iowa counties entered a guilty plea to three of the counts and was sentenced to state prison. The other 14 counts were di
- AC fair queen contest notice AC fair queen contest notice Contestants must be 16 to 21 years old as of Aug. 8. Contestants must be an active member of at least one worthwhile organization and be a resident of Appanoose County. Contestants must be present for the photo session,
- Work on 150th Avenue The Appanoose County Secondary Road Department reports the following road travel restrictions for 150th Avenue from 15129 150th Ave. to approximately .20 miles north of 15129 150th Ave. for a crossroad culvert replacement. Work started May 14 at 7 a.
-
Sprouse next IHCC president
OTTUMWA — The Indian Hills Community College Board of Trustees this week tabbed Dr. Marlene Sprouse to be the next president of the college. She will take over when current president Dr. Jim Lindenmayer retires in the fall. Board president John Poth
-
Loebsack calls for 'swift dismissal' in IRS targeting
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Dave Loebsack has called on President Obama to fully investigate the allegations that the Internal Revenue Service illegally targeted non-profit organizations based on ideological criteria. He also called for the swift
-
Students start new adventure with raised beds
Students and staff at SIEDA’s Appanoose County Head Start program were excited to receive their new raised bed vegetable gardens from the SIEDA Seeds of Hope program. According to Head Start staff, the students had chosen "Plants and How They Grow" a
- More Local News Headlines
-
