Beautiful Day For a Parade

A banner at the Uniontown Park Gazebo welcomes the public to the picnic.
The Uniontown High School Class of 1959 wait to board their float for the Old Settlers Picnic Parade on Labor Day, 2019.

Sunshine prevailed for the 114th Annual Old Settlers Picnic activities in Uniontown on Sept. 2, 2019.

Vendors lined the city’s park, along with organizations and  onlookers trying to find a spot in the shade for the parade mid-morning.

The Uniontown High School Class of 1964 wait to board their float for the Old Settlers Picnic Parade.

This year’s grand marshalls are Alicia Jackson and Alan Shinn, both longtime educators in the Uniontown School District.

Alicia Jackson and Alan Shinn were honored as Grand Marshalls in the Old Settlers Picnic Parade.
Jackson and Shinn are long-time educators in the Uniontown High School District.

Jackson has taught English and Spanish at UHS for 44 years. She and her late husband, Dale, raised three daughters in Uniontown-Gretchen, Meaghan and Caitlin. Jackson is in the Kansas Teachers’ Hall of Fame and has been a runner-up for Kansas Teacher of the Year.

Shinn retired from teaching math in the district after 50 years, in May 2019. He and wife Becky have raised a son, Kevin and daughter, Melissa in Uniontown. Shinn has been recognized as Outstanding Young Educator by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Outstanding Secondary Educators of America, Central MO. State University Dept. of Math Certificate of Merit, and Distinguished Alumnus of Allen Community College.

The theme of the parade was “Learning From The Best At UHS”.

Uniontown High School Cheerleaders board their float for the Old Settlers Picnic Parade.

New this year was the baby parade at 9 a.m. and the Dale Jackson Memorial Car Show.

The baby parade: from left Bexley Shelton from Uniontown, Daxton Weaver from Girard, Holdin Bunnell from Uniontown, Quinn Hawkins from Fort Scott and Logan Ramsey from Overland Park.
The Dale Jackson Memorial Car Show was in honor of Dale Jackson, who passed away in 2017. Jackson was a long-time vehicle mechanic in Uniontown. Pictured are cars awaiting line up for the parade. Winners of the show will be announced at 1 p.m. Sept. 2

Cash drawings, a picnic in the park, kids and not-kids games were played and recognition of “Old Settlers”, were some of the traditions that have been continued through the years.

The Boy Scout Pack and Troup 114 and Girl Scout Troup 71650 lead the children’s parade in the Uniontown Old Settlers Picnic festivities.

Also as in years past, one could purchase smoked port dinners from the FFA, chicken dinners from the Methodists, pies from the Baptists,  homemade ice cream from Marmaton Community Church, along with soft drinks from the cheerleaders.

Uniontown High School Band lines up for the parade on Labor Day.
Uniontown Youth Football team members board their float for the parade.
Sara Roufs, Dale Jackson Memorial Car Show organizer, and son, stand in the line of 40 cars that participated in the show.
The Dale Jackson Memorial Car Show drew 40 participants. The cars were parked on the town square following the parade.
Community games took place following the parade. Here youngsters line up for an egg toss contest.

One thought on “Beautiful Day For a Parade”

  1. Uniontown band needs to know what is going on in the parade when to play and not play. They was playing the fight song during the national anthem and the prayer.

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