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 The XIT Rodeo parade will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 7th, 2010. The theme of the parade this year is "Boots & Buckles". The XIT Rodeo parade is Americana at its best! There are few like it left in America today. A tree-lined, 100-year-old street dotted with American flags, horses, antique cars, bands... There are lots of horses, rodeo queen contestants, and old farm equipment. Not to mention lots of candy for the kids!!!
Want to be in the parade? You may download your entry form below or you can pick up a entry form at the Dalhart Chamber of Commerce office. Entry in the parade is free, and the deadline to register is Friday, July 30, 2010 at 5:00 pm. Entry forms should be returned to the Dalhart Chamber of Commerce.
Parade Information Parade Entry Form |
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2010 XIT Rodeo Parade Marshall - Don Gilbert
 Don was born November 27, 1927 in Blue Ridge, TX. His father was a cotton farmer and Don spent many days chopping and picking cotton. He attended high school in Reagan and Marlin, TX. He graduated from Marlin High School in 1945 and entered the Army upon graduation.
From June 1945 to December 1945 he was in the Army Specialized Training Program at Texas A&M in Bryan, TX. In December 1945 he was transferred to the Manhattan District Project in Los Alamos, NM and was assigned to the Security Division of the atomic bomb project. In the summer of 1945 he participated in Operation Crossroads, Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific for the atomic bomb tests. Don was honorably discharged from the Army in November 1946 and moved to Oklahoma City and enrolled in Oklahoma City University.
In 1947 he moved to Dallas, TX and enrolled in Southern Methodist University. Don met his future wife, Lynn Spencer, at SMU. From the time he was discharged from the Army in 1946, Don had been an active member of the Military Intelligence Unit in the Army Reserve and in 1951 he was recalled to active duty. He was assigned to the Counter Intelligence Corp School in Baltimore, MD. He graduated from the CIC School in November 1951 and was assigned to the CIC Detachment in Anchorage, Alaska. En route to his assignment in Alaska, Don took a fifteen day furlough and married Lynn Spencer, the smartest decision he ever made.
Don worked in Anchorage, Fairbanks and in the summer of 1952 was assigned to Juneau, Alaska as Agent-in-Charge of the Field Office for Southern Alaska. He worked in Southern Alaska until re-assignment to Ft. Bragg, NC in January 1954. He worked as a CIC Agent in Raleigh, Greensboro, and Winston Salem, NC until July 1957 when he was honorably discharged as a Master Sergeant. Lynn and Don moved back to Dalhart and bought the Mission Theatre and the El Rancho Drive-In Theatre. They operated the shows for 40 years from 1958 to 1998. Don bought Mission Auto Supply in 1981 and converted the El Rancho Drive-In into a fifty one unit mobile home park in 1983. He was active in civic organizations and was President of the JAYCEES in 1962, President and founder of the Golden Spurs in 1967, and President of the Lions Club in 1968. Don’s participation in the XIT Rodeo and Reunion began in 1964 as a helper to Jimmie Pigman with the barbeque. He continued to help other XIT Directors until 1966 when he was elected to the board. He served on the board in 1966-1968. He was President in 1967. Don was appointed to the Board of Directors of Dalhart Federal Savings and Loan in April 1973 and has served continuously until the present.
He has sold Mission Auto Supply and the El Rancho Mobile Home Park and is thoroughly enjoying retirement. |
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