Yamboree

The East Texas Yamboree, a four-day event held annually during the third weekend of October in Gilmer, Texas, celebrates the sweet potato (called a "yam" in the United States) as a former cash crop, drawing thousands of tourists to the city for the occasion. The event has been held in Gilmer since 1935.[1][2] Festivities at the event include the Queen's Coronation and Pageant, a carnival, two parades, a barn dance, livestock shows and a marching contest.

History

To celebrate the Texas Centennial, counties around the state were tasked with having festivals. It was decided that Upshur County would celebrate the yam, once again thriving due to the recent lifting of a quarantine on the former cash crop. The quarantine had been put in place in the late 1920s as the result of a weevil infestation.[3] The festival proved to be so popular that the committee decided it would take place yearly from then on. It was temporarily suspended in 1941 due to World War II, and resumed in 1945; besides 2020 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

Past Yam Queens and Presidents [5]
YearPresidentQueen
1935R. C. BarnwellJane Tune
1936J. R. PennMarjorie Coe
1937W. C. BarnwellRuth Hogg
1938V. E. ToddErnestine Dedman
1939Fred ArnoldBobby Jean Warren
1940Fred ArnoldClarine Smith
1941Fred ArnoldGenice Graves
1942Fred ArnoldBetty Ann Quiz
1946John BrogoittiAnn Wilkinson
1947B. D. FutrellNell Brison
1948Royce HoggBarbara King
1949Ralph MichaelAngela Hogg
1950Don WilliamsLena Margaret Harper
1951Robert E. ParsonsJoyce Isbell
1952Wessel WilsonLinda Carroll
1953Looney E. LindseyDiane Dupree
1954F. L. GarrisonCarol Cox
1955B. L HoggMary Lou Ragland
1956Bill StevensonAnna Beth Jones
1957Mason ReardonSue Sorrells
1958Leon PresnellMary Laschinger
1959Melvin M. CrossAnn Buie
1960CroleyMargaret Ingram
1961Gordon FinneyPatricia Aldredge
1962Richard PotterKay Floyd
1963Tom DavisCathy Kurtz
1964Harlan ThackerKaren Clark
1965C. E. ElwellLinda Garrison
1966Phil WoodDonna Williams
1967Harvey ArnoldNancy Williams
1968Dr. Bob GlazeMary Jo Proctor
1969Kenneth WhiteLana Sisson
1970Dewitt AlexanderLaine Potter
1971Fred OdomCindy Clark
1972Steve DeanLaura Potter
1973Bill BeischDonna Stracener
1974Frank BreazealeMary Jane Ford
1975Byron SpencerStephanie Mayfield
1976Bill PattersonPhoebe Phillips
1977Don SmithEllizabeth Ann Patterson
1978Robert StracenerSusan Stracener
1979Bill TaylorAnn & Nan Poole
1980Steve WilliamsPam Yocom
1981Jack BairdKim Listenbee
1982Larry HensonDarrellene Wilson
1983Cranfill Cox, Jr/Larry HensonPeggy Lawler
1984Dr. Andy GlazeTeri Smith
1985Paul David WilliamsFran Traywick
1986Dr. Randy McDanielVictoria Mitchell
1987Elliott DeanAmy Dean
1988Pete HerrmannKay White
1989Tedd AustinJennifer Bishop
1990George DoddChristi Seahorn
1991Gary PattersonMary Jane Dean
1992Dr Jerald WaltonTracy Diane Williams
1993Kelly Cox WhiteAnna McDaniel
1994Steve StewartSarah Lenora Dean
1995David McQueenNatalie Young
1996A. L. Payne LesleyErin Glaze
1997Randy Hill AbigailElaine Stewart
1998Larry CowanHayley Carol Smithhart
1999Nat HarrisonElizabeth Anne Daniels
2000Dr. Dean BumsSummer Layne Weisinger
2001Joe Lynn TilleryAdrienne Lee Lindsey
2002W. Dennis DespainNancy Marie Warden
2003F. Wayne SkinnerCourtney De-An Bums
2004Brian WilliamsAnn-Marie Despain
2005Dr. David BullerKatie Mannis
2006Phil FowlerMary Carol Despain
2007Jeff DoddLeslie Taylor McQueen
2008Michael Leon MeltonStephanie Lynn Henson
2009Dr. Steve MurryLindsey Renee' Donaho
2010Judge Dean FowlerKaitlyn Blair Tackett
2011Randy HillDrew Danielle Henson-Hill
2012Richard (Ricky) HollowayMary Paige Linder
2013Ray CulbersonKarlie Carol White
2014Randy DukeAlexis Marie Williams
2015Edward WilliamsJayce Savanna Finch-Henson
2016Shayne WilsonRiley Mackayla Meritt
2017Brandon GarmonMadison Lee Dean
2018Troy MurrayBrinkley Grace Rash
2019Michael BlanksAudrey Scott Nolan
2020Audrey Scott NolanJustine Walker

See also

References
  1. Sewell, Ernestine P. (1989). Eats: A Folk History of Texas Foods. TCU Press. p. 169. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  2. "Families celebrate 74th East Texas Yamboree in Gilmer - KYTX CBS 19 Tyler Longview News Weather Sports".
  3. Laschinger Kirby, Mary (2009). Gilmer. Arcadia Publishing. p. 68. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  4. "Gilmer, Tex., Warms Up for Harvest at Yamboree Revival". The Billboard. 27 July 1946. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  5. 2019 East Texas Yamboree Catalogue

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