 "The number of trucks was
down," said organizer Jim Harris, "but
with the weather and the price of fuel, I think we had a good bunch
of trucks. Everybody had a good time and we raised money for St.
Jude's. That's what it's all about."
Harris said that after the final count, Saturday's event had
raised over $3,000. But that was only part of the donation Convoy
for Kids would be making to St. Jude's.
"When my dad (Daniel Harris) passed away in January, we asked
that memorials be made to Convoy for Kids," Jim Harris explained,
"and those memorials totaled over $4,000. So my dad actually brought
in the most money to this event."
The two amounts bring this year's donation from Convoy for Kids
to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to over $7,000.
Trucks lined up around Memorial Park, and people "voted" for
their favorite truck by dropping donations into a container sitting
in front of the truck. A penny was one vote. Several truckers
donated to their own containers and increased their number of votes,
but, as Harris said, "ballot stuffing is allowed, if not encouraged,
in this case."
Trophies were distributed generously, with categories that
included not only the truck with the highest number of votes -- a
Brandt tanker with a Kenworth tractor, driven by Tom Doolin, Ashland
-- but the truck considered the ugliest. An award was given for the
trucker who had his CDL the longest -- Bob Cochran, of Decatur, who
obtained his license in 1949 -- and to a young man who had his
commercial license the shortest time: since March 4. Cochran also
received the Steve Arnold Award for his 1956 antique Mack, a former
fire truck.
The Daniel Harris Memorial Award went to Randy Witmer, of Dixon,
for his miniature cattle hauler, Wiplash Express.
"I think if my dad could be here, that is the one he would like
the most," Jim Harris said in presenting the award.
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Harris, his brother Russ and their friend Troy Hines organized
the first Convoy for Kids in 2008 to provide an event that would
benefit St. Jude's. It was held in Russ' yard and attracted 21
trucks. It has since grown to as many as 51 trucks.
Saturday's dreary weather forecast, coupled with high gas and
fuel prices, probably affected the numbers, but Harris believes the
event will continue to draw a good crowd and attract truckers from
around the state, if not the country.
Lincoln residents John Barrick and Dan Pegram received awards for
their participation in this year's Convoy for Kids. Barrick received
a trophy for being in the top 15 for donations collected. Pegram
received the third-place trophy for his 1966 Hendrickson. He also
won the 50-50 drawing of $158 and donated a portion of his winnings
back to Convoy for Kids.
In the parade, Mason City Mayor Lois Rickard rode in the semi she
tapped for the Mayor's Choice Award. The parade of trucks left the
park, traveled west on Chestnut, looped through town and returned to
the park. It was the first time Rickard had ridden in a semi, and
she was as excited as the youngsters who were chosen to ride along
with several drivers. It seemed there was no age limit on the thrill
of sitting high above the road, watching scenery and traffic from
another vantage point.
After the parade, a free meal was provided by the sponsors. The
movie "Smokey and the Bandit" was shown at dusk, and ice cream
treats were provided to the audience.
[By MARLA BLAIR]
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