[Desoto's 76th Birthday Celebration on March 29th 2025]
[00:00:31]
GOOD MORNING DESOTO. OH WAIT A MINUTE. AM I ON THE RIGHT CITY? I SAID, GOOD MORNING, DESOTO.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. LET'S GIVE YOURSELVES ANOTHER GREAT BIG HAND CLAP. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE 76 YEARS OF AN AMAZING, AMAZING COMMUNITY THAT WE ALL LOVE SO DEARLY. AND SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT TODAY'S EVENT AND SHARING. WE ALSO, I BELIEVE WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE WATCHING ONLINE AS WELL. WE ARE STREAMING THIS SO THAT IT CAN BE WATCHED. YOU CAN GO BACK AND WATCH. SO WE WANT TO SAY WELCOME TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY BE WATCHING ONLINE OR THAT MAY WATCH THE REPLAY TO THIS EVENT. AND SO I WANT TO SAY WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY IT IS TO GATHER AND CELEBRATE WITH YOU AGAIN. I'M MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR, AND IT IS AN ABSOLUTE HONOR TO WELCOME EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO OUR EVENTS, OUR RESIDENTS, OUR GUESTS, OUR DISTINGUISHED DIGNITARIES TO THIS 76 HOMECOMING CELEBRATION. YOU CAN CLAP RIGHT THERE. AND SO IT'S MORE THAN JUST A CELEBRATION, BUT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT HONORING THE RICH LEGACY OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE BUILT TOGETHER. IT'S ABOUT RECONNECTING WITH THE HEART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND CREATING ADDITIONAL MEMORIES IN ADDITION TO THE ONES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE MADE TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. YOUR PRESENCE MAKES THIS EVENT EVEN MORE MEANINGFUL AND YOU HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE AN UNFORGETTABLE DAY AS WE CELEBRATE THE SPIRIT OF DESOTO. AND SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK OVER INTO THE HANDS OF MISS ROLANDA BRIGHAM. AND SHE IS GOING TO TAKE US FURTHER IN OUR PROGRAM.
LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR HER. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MAYOR, TO HELP US BEGIN WITH REVERENCE AND PRIDE, I'D LIKE TO INVITE COUNCIL MEMBER PASTOR ANDRE BYRD TO LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF PRAYER, FOLLOWED BY OUR FORMER HOMECOMING QUEEN, MISS CATHY JONES, JEWEL OF DESOTO. RAISE YOUR HAND, CATHY. YAY! TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. AFTERWARDS, PLEASE REMAIN STANDING. IF IT'S SO. IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT. FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM PERFORMED SOULFULLY BY OUR TALENTED SAXOPHONIST, MR. ALEX ALLEN. COUNCIL MEMBER PASTOR ANDRE BYRD. SHALL WE BOW? OUR FATHER, WHICH ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME. THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. WE GIVE THANKS TODAY FOR YOUR WILL BEING MANIFESTED IN THIS PLACE CALLED DESOTO FOR 76 YEARS. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE FOUNDING FATHERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO BELIEVED AND TRUSTED YOUR WORD, GIVEN IN GENESIS, TO GO AND SUBDUE THE LAND. NOW WE CAN CELEBRATE WHEN MEN'S OBEDIENT. MEET GOD'S PROVIDENCE. THANK YOU MASTER, FOR 76 YEARS OF ENERGIZED GROWTH AND POPULATION. WE THANK YOU FOR 76 YEARS OF ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. WE THANK YOU FOR 76 YEARS OF EXCEPTIONAL PLANNING. NOW WE ASK THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS DESOTO WITH VISIONARY LEADERSHIP. WE DECLARE PSALMS 127 AND ONE EXCEPT THE LORD BUILD THE HOUSE THEY THAT LABOR IN VAIN THAT BUILD. EXCEPT THE LORD KEEPS THE CITY. THE WATCHMAN WALKETH BUT IN VAIN BUILD GOD FEARING HOMES. AND PLEASE KEEP WATCH OVER OUR CITY IN THE NAME. ABOVE ALL OTHER NAMES WE PRAY. AMEN, AMEN. CAN YOU PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? LED BY MISS CATHY JONES? THANK YOU. EVERYONE. JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. DO YOU WANT TO DO TEXAS, TOO? YES. LET'S DO IT. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE. TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER
[00:05:05]
GOD, INDIVISIBLE. THANK. WE KIND OF KNOW THAT ONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ALEX, TAKE IT AWAY.LET'S GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL RENDITION OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. NOW, I BRING BACK TO YOU OUR HONORABLE MAYOR PROCTOR, TO RECOGNIZE OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS AND DIGNITARIES. THERE WE GO. THEY HAVE SO MUCH INFORMATION FOR ME UP HERE, AND I DON'T HAVE MY GLASSES TODAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE IT WORK. PAUL IS TRYING TO LEND ME HIS GLASSES. ALL RIGHT. AGAIN, IT'S MY HONOR TO BE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE A VERY DISTINGUISHED DIGNITARIES, ALL OF OUR GUESTS. I'M GOING TO I DON'T SEE ANY OF OUR OTHER HIGHER UP ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE ROOM. IF. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS OTHER THAN THE DESOTO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY? I DON'T SEE THEM AT THIS TIME. I'M GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES. IF YOU ALL COULD PLEASE STAND AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE MAYOR PRO TEM LETICIA HUGHES, WHO REPRESENTS PLACE SEVEN. AND WE HAVE COUNCILMAN ANDRE BYRD, WHO REPRESENTS PLACE FOUR. AND I DO BELIEVE OTHERS ARE ON THEIR WAY. AND SO WE WILL DEFINITELY CONTINUE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS THEY ARRIVE, IF WE HAVE ANY BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS, PLEASE STAND AT THIS TIME, ANY BOARD OR COMMISSION MEMBERS, WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO DESOTO. WE CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOU ALL. AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THAT YOU VOLUNTEER IN THE HOURS THAT YOU PUT IN TO HELP KEEP OUR CITY MOVING FORWARD.
ALSO, IF WE HAVE ANY CLERGY IN THE BUILDING, PLEASE STAND. IF YOU ARE CLERGY, PLEASE STAND.
ARE THERE ANY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DESOTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN THE BUILDING TODAY? AND AGAIN, WE WILL. PREVIOUS FORMER ELECTED OFFICIALS. I SEE SEVERAL ONE OF OUR FORMER MAYORS. HE WILL BE WE'LL HEAR FROM HIM LATER AS WELL AS FORMER MAYOR PRO TEM PATRICIA LEDBETTER. COUNCILMAN DICK NORTH IS HERE. PLEASE STAND SO THAT WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND SO AGAIN, I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO MISS ROLANDA BRIGHAM, WHO IS OUR CITY'S ART, CULTURE AND HERITAGE MANAGER. I'M STILL TRYING TO GET ALL OF THAT IN.
AND SHE DOES SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. BUT THAT'S HER OFFICIAL TITLE TO SHARE SOME EXCITING NEWS ABOUT THE ARTS AND CULTURE HAPPENINGS IN DESOTO. LET'S GIVE HER A GREAT BIG HAND CLAP. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I'M TRULY HONORED TO STAND BEFORE YOU TO SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S INCREDIBLY CLOSE TO MY HEART.
OUR COMMUNITY'S HISTORY, CULTURE, AND POWER OF THE ARTS IN SHAPING WHO WE ARE. DESOTO, TEXAS, HAS A RICH AND BEAUTIFUL HISTORY. FROM ITS CONCEPTION AS AN EARLY SETTLEMENT IN THE LATE
[00:10:01]
1800S THAT GREW FROM THE CROSSROADS AT HAMPTON AND BELTLINE, THIS CITY HAS EVOLVED, BUT ONE THING REMAINS CONSTANT THE SPIRIT OF TOGETHERNESS AND PRIDE IN OUR SHARED HISTORY.HONORING OUR HISTORY IS ESSENTIAL BECAUSE IT CONNECTS US TO WHERE WE'VE COME FROM AND GIVES US A SENSE OF DIRECTION AS WE LOOK TOWARD THE FUTURE. BY UNDERSTANDING THE STRUGGLES AND TRIUMPHS OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US, WE GAIN A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR WHAT WE HAVE TODAY, CELEBRATING OUR PAST ISN'T JUST ABOUT REMEMBERING. IT'S ABOUT BUILDING A STRONGER FUTURE. IT'S ABOUT ENSURING THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL CARRY FORWARD THE LESSONS, VALUES AND STORIES THAT HAVE HELPED SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL WAYS TO HONOR OUR HISTORY IS THROUGH THE ARTS. ART IS MORE THAN JUST SOMETHING WE ADMIRE. IT'S HOW WE SHARE OUR STORIES, EXPRESS OUR CULTURE, AND CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER. THROUGH ART. WE FIND COMMON GROUND EVEN WHEN OUR EXPERIENCES MIGHT BE DIFFERENT. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING ON A FEW PROJECTS THAT HELP PRESERVE AND CELEBRATE THE RICH CULTURE AND HISTORY OF DESOTO. THE RESTORATION OF NANCE FARM IS ONE SUCH PROJECT, WHICH AIMS TO PRESERVE AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF DESOTO'S PAST FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. IT IS A PIECE OF HISTORY THAT DESERVES TO BE REMEMBERED AND APPRECIATED. I'M SO PROUD TO SHARE THAT THE CITY IS IN THE PROCESS OF RESTORING THE HISTORICAL SITE, AND ADDING AN ARTIST HUB THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BRING QUALITY ARTS PROGRAMING TO OUR CITY. THERE ARE PICTURES IN THE LOBBY SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE'RE GOING. ANOTHER INITIATIVE CLOSE TO MY HEART IS THE DESOTO ARTIST LAB RESIDENCY PROGRAM, WHICH GIVES LOCAL ARTISTS THE SPACE AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO CREATE AND SHARE THEIR WORK.
THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE NOT ONLY SUPPORT OUR ARTISTS, BUT ALSO ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY WITH FRESH PERSPECTIVES AND CREATIVITY. ALONG WITH THIS, OUR CALL FOR PUBLIC ART, SCULPTURES AND MURALS IS A WAY FOR US TO BRING ART DIRECTLY INTO THE HEART OF OUR CITY. THESE PUBLIC WORKS MAKE DESOTO FEEL MORE ALIVE AND WELCOMING, TURNING ORDINARY SPACES INTO PLACES OF REFLECTION, BEAUTY, AND CONVERSATION. NEW THIS YEAR IS THE AAPI FESTIVAL, A CELEBRATION OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY. THIS EVENT HIGHLIGHTS THE DIVERSITY THAT MAKES OUR CITY SO SPECIAL, REMINDING US THAT WE ARE ALL PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER. WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT THRIVES ON INCLUSION AND RESPECT FOR EVERY CULTURE, AND THE ARTS PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN BRINGING US TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THAT DIVERSITY. AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO. IT'S CLEAR TO ME THAT THE ARTS ARE A LIFELINE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THE ARTS GIVE US A VOICE. THEY HELP US HEAL. THEY UNITE US IN WAYS THAT WORDS ALONE CANNOT. AS I ALWAYS SAY, THE ARTS SAVES LIVES AND BRINGS US TOGETHER. THEY ALLOW US TO CONNECT ON A DEEPER LEVEL, UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER BETTER, AND FIND COMMON GROUND EVEN IN OUR DIFFERENCES. THE ART BRINGS LIGHT, COLOR, AND JOY INTO OUR LIVES AND THEY ARE THE HEART OF A STRONG, THRIVING COMMUNITY. IN CLOSING, SO LET'S CONTINUE TO HONOR OUR HISTORY, CELEBRATE OUR CULTURE, AND SUPPORT THE ARTS IN DESOTO. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THE LEGACY OF OUR PAST IS ALIVE AND WELL, AND THAT THE ARTS CONTINUE TO SHAPE AND ENRICH OUR FUTURE. TOGETHER, WE CAN BUILD A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE FEELS VALUED, CONNECTED, AND INSPIRED. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT SEGMENT, I'D LIKE TO BRING BACK TO THE PODIUM OUR HONORABLE MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR, TO INTRODUCE. OH NO, I SKIPPED.
OKAY. NEVER MIND. ALL RIGHT, NOW LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED. I GET SO EXCITED. I JUST LIKE TO JUMP PAGES. IT'S TIME FOR OUR FIRST ROUND OF TRIVIA AND RAFFLES. SO GET THOSE THINKING CAPS ON. AND YES, WE'VE GOT SOME AWESOME PRIZES UP FOR GRABS. BIG SHOUT OUT TO OUR AMAZING VOLUNTEER, MISS PAMELA SPOONER, AN EXTRAORDINARY BOARD MEMBER OF THE DESOTO, TEXAS CULTURAL ARTS FOUNDATION. SHE'LL BE COMING AROUND TO PASS OUT GOODIE BAGS. KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED. LET'S DIVE RIGHT IN. ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, PULL OUT YOUR RAFFLE. AND NOW, IF YOU. HAVE A RAFFLE TICKET BEFORE WE DO THIS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY RAISE YOUR HAND. RAISE YOUR HAND IF
[00:15:01]
YOU DON'T HAVE A RAFFLE TICKET. ALL RIGHT. SO IF YOU KNOW. ALL RIGHT. AND THE WINNING NUMBER IS. WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER RAFFLE DRUM ROLL, PLEASE. MA'AM. OKAY. AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, OUR GIFTS ARE PROVIDED BY THE LINK CHURCH IN THE LOBBY. LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR THE LINK. AND FOR MISTER DOUG HUNT. AND MENU SIX. ALL RIGHT. OUR FIRST RAFFLE PRIZE IS. THE WINNING NUMBER IS. AND I'M GOING TO CALL OUT THE LAST THREE NUMBERS NINE, EIGHT, EIGHT. IF YOU HAVE NINE, EIGHT, EIGHT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. AND OUR WINNER IS MISS LINDA LEE, FORMER DAL ARTIST AND HER BEST FRIEND BARBARA. EVERYBODY, CAN WE GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO BARBARA? ALL RIGHT. AND LET'S KEEP THE ENERGY GOING. WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME TRIVIA NOW. TRIVIA QUESTIONS.ALL RIGHT. WATCH THE BOARD. WHAT IF YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? I JUST NEED YOU TO CLAP OUT LOUD. WHAT HISTORIC SITE IN DESOTO IS ONE OF THE OLDEST PRESERVED HOMESTEADS IN NORTH TEXAS ON ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION. MAYOR, YOU GET TO CHOOSE A HAND. I'M TRYING TO SEE WHO. YES, MA'AM. WHO CLAPPED FIRST? NANCE FARM. NOW WE GOT TO LET THEM FOLLOW THE RULES. MISS ROLANDA, YOU SAID THEY HAVE TO CLAP OUT LOUD. WHO CLAPPED? I SAW MISS, MISS BAYLOR. I SAW MR. RAVENEL BACK THERE. CLAP HIS HANDS. SO WHAT'S STAND UP FOR ME, YOU TWO? I THINK THE ANSWER IS ALREADY BEEN SAID. YEAH, WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY. SO IF YOU KNOW THE ANSWERS, RAISE YOUR HAND AND YOU'LL ALL GET A PRIZE. WE'RE LIKE OPRAH, YOU KNOW. NO, WE DON'T HAVE A WE ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY. BUT WE DO HAVE GOOD SPORTS IN HERE. RIGHT? OKAY. SO WHO DID YOU ALREADY COMMIT THE PRIZE TO, MISS SPURGEON? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SPURGEON. THANK YOU. RAISE YOUR HAND. SO NOW WE KNOW THE RULES IS YOU HAVE TO CLAP FIRST. SO I'M GOING TO TURN AROUND AND I'M GOING TO WATCH COUNCIL. CAN YOU ALL HELP US WATCH TO SEE WHO'S ALL RIGHT COUNCIL CLAPPING FIRST. ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT TRIVIA QUESTION. WHAT ARE WE WATCHING. ALL RIGHT. WHAT IS THE NAME OF DESOTO CITY OWNED PERFORMING ARTS CENTER THAT HOSTS CONCERTS? YOU CAN'T CLAP UNTIL I FINISH THEATER PERFORMANCES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. MISS ALMA, MISS ALMA, SHE DID ALL RIGHT, MISS EMMA. YEAH. OH, YOU GOTTA TELL THE ANSWER. NO. SO? SO SHE'S PARTLY RIGHT. SHE'S PARTLY RIGHT. WHAT'S THE. WHAT'S THE OFFICIAL NAME FOR THE BLACK BOX? SHE DON'T KNOW. SHE DOESN'T KNOW. WELL, SHE HAS IT, THOUGH. OKAY. THE BLACK BOX. THAT IS CORRECT.
SHE SHE HAS IT. SHE HAS IT. CORRECT. ALL RIGHT. THE BLACK BOX INSIDE THE CORNER THEATER.
SO YES, YOU GET IT, YOU GET A PRIZE. WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE. SO SHE GETS A PRIZE. THANK YOU.
THE BLACK BOX THEATER. IT IS A FORM OF THEATER. IT'S A TYPE OF THEATER. IT IS CALLED A BLACK BOX THEATER. SO SHE DOES HAVE IT. CORRECT? ALL RIGHT. SHE JUST NEEDED THE REST. THANK YOU.
MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. WAIT. ARE THEY CLAPPING AFTER THE QUESTION? YES. THEY HAVE TO WAIT TILL THE QUESTION IS COMPLETED. ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE, PLEASE WAIT UNTIL THE QUESTION HAS BEEN COMPLETELY READ AND THEN YOU CAN CLAP. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS TOGETHER BEFORE WE. WE MIGHT BE ON THE LAST TRIVIA QUESTION BEFORE WE DO, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET IT TOGETHER. SO PLEASE WAIT TILL THE QUESTION IS COMPLETED. THEN CLAP. ALL RIGHT THEN THEN WE'LL CALL YOU, WE'LL ACKNOWLEDGE YOU, AND THEN YOU WILL GIVE US THE ANSWER. AND IT MUST BE THE CORRECT ANSWER. ALL RIGHT. IN ORDER TO GET THE PRIZE. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT. WHAT DESOTO RECREATIONAL FACILITY IS BEING DEVELOPED TO INCLUDE A COMPETITIVE SWIMMING POOL, OLYMPIC TRAINING DORMS, AND OTHER FITNESS AMENITIES. NOPE. Y'ALL DIDN'T LET HER. DID Y'ALL NOT HEAR WHAT I SAID? I SAID LET HER FINISH THE QUESTION. ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA DO THIS AGAIN. I'M GONNA MISS ROLANDA BECAUSE THEY. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY. LET ME SEE IF I CAN. I'LL LET YOU DO THIS. ALL
[00:20:01]
RIGHT. DESOTO. WHAT? DESOTO RECREATIONAL FACILITY IS BEING DEVELOPED TO INCLUDE A COMPETITIVE SWIMMING POOL, OLYMPIC TRAINING DORMS, AND OTHER FITNESS AMENITIES. LET'S SEE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THIS. ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS? WE'RE GOING TO STAND.WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THEM STAND. IS EVERYBODY ABLE TO GET UP IF THEY NEED TO? YES. I DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT. I WANT TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD IS EVERYBODY IS EVERYBODY THAT HAS A THAT WANTS TO ANSWER TRIVIA, ABLE TO GET UP, POP UP FIRST. WE GOTTA WE GOTTA DO SOMETHING BECAUSE THIS CLAPPING IS PROBLEMATIC. OKAY I SAW MISS I SAW HER FIRST. HER AND MISS SOPHIA. ARE Y'ALL GONNA TAG TEAM I KNOW, OKAY, THEY GONNA TAG TEAM. WHAT'S THE FIRST RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY? NOW, WE DID. LET ME TELL ME. THAT'S NOT ALL OF IT. WELL, THAT'S THAT'S HER NAME, BUT IT IS A IT IS THE RECREATION CENTER, BUT IT IS ALSO THE AQUATIC CENTER. SO THE AQUATIC RECREATION CENTER, AND WE CALL IT THE ARK AT MCCOWN PARK. SO THAT'S WHERE SHE GOT IT. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND LET THEM HAVE IT. SINCE WE'VE BEEN WE'VE BEEN LENIENT IN OUR RULES TODAY. SO THE NEXT ROUND OF TRIVIA HOW MANY MORE WE HAVE FOR THIS ROUND. WE HAVE TWO MORE FOR THIS ROUND. OKAY. SHE'S GOING TO LET ME READ THEM. THIS IS HOW IT'S GOING TO GO. ALL RIGHT. WHEN I COMPLETE THE QUESTION, THE FIRST PERSON TO POP UP THAT MEANS GET OUT OF YOUR SEAT. YOUR BODY MUST BE OUT OF THE SEATS. WE WILL.
WE'RE WATCHING COUNCIL RIGHT, TO SEE WHO POPS UP FIRST. AND THEY WILL BE CALLED ON TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. YES, MA'AM. YOU CAN IF YOU. WELL. OH I MEAN YES YES YES YES YOU CAN IF YOU KNOW THE ANSWER BECAUSE YEAH, YOU MAY KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. NEXT QUESTION. YES. WHAT IS THE NAME OF DESOTO'S CURRENT CITY HALL BUILDING? WHERE, COUNCILMAN. NOW YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE THIS ONE. CORRECT. YOU GOT TO HAVE THE NAME. WHAT IS THE NAME OF DESOTO'S CURRENT CITY HALL BUILDING WHERE COUNCIL MEETINGS AND CITY BUSINESS TAKES PLACE? WHO WAS FIRST COUNCIL? YOU STAYED WHERE YOU WERE? YOU WERE DELAYED, KATHY AND YOUR STANDING. OKAY, I'M GOING TO LET COUNCILMAN. WELL, MISS, BETWEEN MISS BILLIE JEAN AND COUNCILMAN NORTH WHO WHO POPPED UP FIRST IN. LOOK, SHE WAS UP FIRST, MISS BILLIE JEAN. WHAT'S THE NAME? JIM. JIM? BOB. THAT'S RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. AND WE HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION FOR THIS ROUND OF TRIVIA. DOCTOR E HIT US. DESOTO.
DESOTO WAS NAMED AN OFFICIAL ALL-AMERICA CITY. IN WHICH YEAR? OH. MR. WATERS, MR. WATERS, 2006. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THAT'S OUR LAST TRIVIA. NOW Y'ALL GOING ARE Y'ALL GOING TO DO RIGHT FOR ROLANDA? ON THE NEXT ROUND OF TRIVIA? WE GOT THE RULES. WE GOT IT DOWN PACKED.
THEY PRACTICING IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ENERGY AND PARTICIPATION. ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S KEEP OUR THINKING CAPS ON BEFORE WE MOVE INTO OUR NEXT SEGMENT. MAYOR, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE SET OUT. I'LL BRING BACK TO THE PODIUM OUR HONORABLE MAYOR TO INTRODUCE OUR PANEL OF DISTINGUISHED GUESTS FOR A LOOK BACK AT WHERE WE'VE COME FROM IN THE CITY OF DESOTO THIS YEAR. RIGHT HERE. ALL RIGHT. GIVE YOURSELVES A GREAT BIG HAND CLAP. I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEXT PART. I'M GOING TO ASK AGAIN. THIS GROUP OF PANELISTS REPRESENT EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP, SERVICE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. NOW, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO FORMALLY INTRODUCE OUR HOMECOMING PANEL. EACH INDIVIDUAL BRINGS UNIQUE STORIES AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE FORMER MAYOR AND VETERAN AND ALL AROUND GOOD GUY MISTER BOBBY WADDLE. LET'S GIVE HIM A HAND CLAP. WE ALSO HAVE OUTSTANDING RESIDENTS AND PARKS BOARD MEMBER PARTICIPANT AND YOU MAY HAVE SEEN HIS NAME AROUND THE CITY ON THE PAUL DREYER NATURE PRESERVE. THEY'RE OFF OF WHAT IS AT COCKRELL HILL, DUNCANVILLE ROAD AND YES, I, YES, DUNCANVILLE ROAD, MISTER DREYER, COME ON UP. WE ALSO HAVE OUR VERY OWN JEWEL OF DESOTO AND REIGNING HOMECOMING QUEEN, MISS CATHY JONES WITH US TODAY. AND WE HAVE ONE OF MY BUDDIES WHO I
[00:25:04]
SERVED WITH ON THE LIBRARY BOARD MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, MISS LEON KORNEGAY. SHE IS A, WHAT, 50 PLUS YEAR EDUCATOR IN DESOTO ISD, 50IN TEXAS, 49 HERE, 49 HERE. WOW. AMAZING. SO WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO A FEW QUESTIONS. IS EVERYBODY GOOD SEATED. YOU GOT YOUR MICROPHONES READY. SO GIVE HIM A LITTLE TRAINING FOR SURE. THIS IS HOW YOU TURN YOUR MICROPHONE RIGHT THERE. LET GO. CAN YOU KNOW KATHY KATHY CAN'T LET GO I ALWAYS WHENEVER I SEE HER I STILL FEEL LIKE SHE WORKS HERE. I'LL BE ASKING HER TO DO STUFF AND SHE'S LIKE, I DON'T WORK HERE ANYMORE. THAT'S ONE TWO TEST, TEST. SHE'S BEEN HERE SO LONG. I LOVE KATHY. ALL RIGHT.SO WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO OKAY. TURN YOUR MIC ON. THERE YOU GO. AND WHERE IS HE. JUST THERE.
OKAY. IT'S ON RIGHT NOW. OVER ON THE LINE. YEAH. SO WE HAVE SOME WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS JUST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. WE GOT SOME QUESTIONS BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOME PHOTOS. BUT I'M GOING TO GET INTO SOME QUESTIONS KIND OF TO GET OUR OUR I'M GOING TO SEE CAN SOMEBODY TURN THIS WHO KNOWS HOW TO TURN THIS AROUND. I GOT YES. SO I CAN LOOK AT OUR PANEL OKAY. YES. SO WE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO THAT. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE TIME. LIKE I SAID WE HAVE SOME PHOTOS WE'RE GOING TO RECALL. BUT I WANT YOU ALL TO I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU JUST A SECOND TO THINK ABOUT THIS QUESTION. WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR EARLIEST MEMORIES OF LIVING IN THIS CITY, AND HOW HAS THAT SHAPED YOUR VIEW OF THE COMMUNITY TODAY? WHAT'S ONE OF YOUR EARLIEST MEMORIES OF LIVING IN DESOTO? I'LL GO. SO WE MOVED HERE, I GUESS THE SUMMER OF 66, 67, AND WE CAME FROM RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF OAK CLIFF. WHICH TO US WAS THE CITY. BUT WHEN WE CAME HERE, JUST WHAT WAS JUST COMPLETELY THREW US OFF. MY, MY, MYSELF AND I HAVE THREE SISTERS THAT GREW UP HERE TOO. IT WAS JUST THE SHEER FREEDOM OF THE LAND. WE HAD SO MUCH LAND, LITERALLY FROM OUR HOUSE TO OUR SCHOOL WAS ACROSS FIELDS. WE HAD CREEKS. WE HAD, YOU KNOW, FISHING. WE HAD ALL KINDS OF THINGS. YOU KNOW, OUR BOY SCOUT TROOP DIDN'T HAVE TO GO ANYWHERE TO GO CAMPING. WE DID IT IN DESOTO, ACTUALLY, ON THE SOUTH SOUTH SIDE. SO THAT WAS THAT WAS THE ONE THING THAT WE ALL HAD TO WRAP OUR HEADS AROUND WAS JUST LITERALLY, MOM COULD LET US GO AND WE JUST SHOWED UP AT SUPPERTIME. IT WAS A SAFE PLACE. WE HAD A GOOD TIME, MAYOR KATHY, I THOUGHT I KNEW HOW TO DO THIS. I WANT TO GO NEXT BECAUSE WE MOVED TO DESOTO ABOUT MAYBE SIX MONTHS AFTER YOU GUYS DID IN 1967. I WAS IN THE SEVENTH GRADE, AND ONE OF MY EARLIEST MEMORIES WAS MISS LYNN CARNEGIE WAS MY LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHER, AND WE HAD THAT WAS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS IN WHERE THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING IS NOW. AND SHE WAS AN AMAZING TEACHER.
AND YOU CAN GO. YEAH, REALLY, THERE ARE TOO MANY STORIES TO TELL, BUT I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU ONE FIRST IMPRESSION AND THEN ANSWER THE QUESTION. I WAS 21 YEARS OLD, 1956, BACK WHEN THEY STILL STARTED SCHOOL AFTER LABOR DAY. SO HERE I WAS IN SEPTEMBER IN MY. DO YOU REMEMBER THE OPERA PUMPS THAT TEACHERS WERE STILL WEARING THEN? IT WAS WOODEN FLOORS AND IT DIDN'T KILL US.
BUT THE SCHOOL WAS JUST THE ONLY HIGH SCHOOL WE HAD WAS THE NINTH GRADE, WHERE WE KEPT THE EIGHTH GRADERS FROM THE LAST YEAR, AND IT TOOK US FOUR YEARS TO GET A DESOTO HIGH SCHOOL. BUT I WAS CLIPPING ALONG 21 YEARS OLD, AND YOU HAD TO BE 21 TO GET A TEACHING CERTIFICATION IN TEXAS.
AND I BARELY MADE IT. SOMEONE WOLF WHISTLED. I WAS HORRIFIED, I WAS A DIGNIFIED, GROWN UP LADY HIRED TO TEACH THESE PEOPLE THAT WERE TALLER THAN I WAS. AND IT WAS QUITE INTERESTING AT THE TIME. NOW SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE. NIKKI, WHERE ARE YOU? ARE YOU STILL HERE? SEE, NIKKI? SHE HAS A PICTURE OF ME AT AGE 21. IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED, GRAB HER BEFORE YOU LEAVE. IT'S PRETTY FUNNY. AND THE OTHER THING I REMEMBER IS THE INCREDIBLE HEART OF THIS
[00:30:04]
COMMUNITY. I CAN NAME SO MANY STORIES. I COULD KEEP YOU HERE ALL DAY. NAMING FAMILIES, THE ESTES FAMILY, THEIR DAUGHTER ANNE. I WAS TAKING A CLASS AT DENTON AT MY ALMA MATER, TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY, AND I GOT DEADLY SICK AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL THERE ON THE CAMPUS.AND SOMEBODY HERE NAMED JUDAH. SALIH JUDAH GOT IN TOUCH WITH THE ESTES AND TOLD THEM THAT WE NEEDED TO CONTACT ANNE, THAT MISS LYNNE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL IN DENTON, AND NOBODY WAS WHERE THEY COULD BE REACHED. WOULD THEY PLEASE GET ANNE? THEY GOT HER. SHE DROVE MY CAR WITH ME IN IT BACK TO DESOTO AND WENT BACK THROUGH THE JUDAS AND GOT EVERYBODY ALL TOGETHER, AND I WAS TAKEN CARE OF. I HAD A VIOLENT REACTION TO A MEDICATION. BOY, I WAS SCARED TO DEATH OF THAT ONE. BUT MRS. JUDAH WAS ONE OF THOSE. THAT WAS A FINE EXAMPLE. AND I KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. WHEN DOCTOR WATERMAN, MY FATHER IN LAW, DIED, SHE WAS THE ONE THAT TOOK OVER EVERYTHING. AND SHE GOT ALL ORGANIZED. SHE LET THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED THERE TAKE CARE OF THE SCHOOL, AND SHE TOOK CARE OF THE FAMILY. SHE TOOK CARE OF US AND SAW TO IT THAT EVERYTHING WAS TAKEN CARE OF. THIS WAS BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN NO ONE WOULD HAVE DARED BRING ANYTHING BUT HOMEMADE GOODIES TO THE SCHOOL PARTIES. IT WOULD BE THE END OF A MOTHER'S REPUTATION IF SHE BOUGHT THE COOKIES. THIS SIMPLY WAS NOT DONE. I RECALL WHEN MRS. CHESHIRE, ONE OF MY ROOM MOTHERS, HARRY CHESHIRE, WAS ON MY BOARD. BARBARA CHESHIRE WAS ONE OF MY STUDENTS AND GREW UP TO BE A FOURTH GRADE TEACHER IN OKLAHOMA. BUT THE INTERESTING PART ABOUT THE SANDWICHES THEY WERE MAKING, SHE CALLED THE SCHOOL ONE DAY AND SHE SAID, ASK MISS LINDA, HAVE THE CHILDREN VOTE ON WHICH OF THESE COOKIES AND WHICH OF THESE SANDWICHES THEY WANT? AND HERE'S WHAT THEY VOTED FOR. THEY HAD A CHOICE BETWEEN PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY AND TUNA FISH, PEANUT BUTTER AND GRAPE JELLY, ONE SHOCKING FOR THEIR COOKIES CHOCOLATE CHIP.
THERE WAS NEVER ANY DOUBT. BUT FOR THEIR DRINK, THEY WANTED GRAPE KOOL-AID WITH REAL SUGAR.
THAT WAS DURING THE TIME THAT THEY WERE EXPERIMENTING WITH THE FAKE SUGAR. LORD, IT WAS AWFUL.
YEAH, IT WAS. PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY KNEW HOW TO COME TOGETHER, AND THEY HAD A JUNGLE DRUM THAT WAS BEATING CONSTANTLY. THEY KNEW HOW TO TAKE THEIR PEOPLE. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S STILL THERE. OH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND ALL WHO HAD TO PLAY IN THIS TODAY. AND I'M BOBBY WADDLE, A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF DESOTO. IN FACT, WHERE I LIVE TODAY HAS BEEN IN MY FAMILY 133 YEARS THAT WE KIND OF GO BACK THERE. AND MY GREAT GRANDPARENTS WERE EARLY SETTLERS OF DALLAS COUNTY, AND THEIR MARRIAGE LICENSE, THEY WERE THE FIRST COUPLE TO GET A MARRIAGE LICENSE IN DALLAS COUNTY. AND SO FAMILY HISTORY GOES WAY BACK. BUT I COMMEND YOU FOR IF WE DON'T KEEP OUR HISTORY, YOU KNOW, AND, AND LOOK AT IT AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT WE'VE DONE, WE'VE PROGRESSED AND IT'S A REAL MESS FOR ANY, ANY ENTITY THAT FAILS TO DO THAT. SO I COMMEND ALL OF YOU WHO ARE PART OF THIS. I KNOW A LOT OF YOU IN THE ROOM, AND I'M VERY BLESSED TO BE ASKED TO COME TODAY AND JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT AND. BUT, YOU KNOW, I WATCHED A SODA FROM JUST A WIDE PLACE IN THE ROAD CHANGE OVER TIME. IT CHANGED TODAY. WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT A LOT OUT THERE TODAY, AND IT'S ON THE BEHALF OF A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WORKED HARD IN THIS COMMUNITY AND SERVED THIS COMMUNITY WELL TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT PUT YOU IN OFFICE. AND THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, NOT NOT FOR YOUR PERSONAL GAIN, BUT TO DO SOMETHING IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE
[00:35:03]
YOU LIVE AND ENHANCE IT. SO THAT'S KIND OF MY TAKE ON ALL THAT, AND I HAVE BEEN HONORED TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. AND I SPENT RIGHT AT 30 YEARS IN THE AIR FORCE AND SO SERVED MY COUNTRY, BUT ALSO GOT SOME TIME TO SERVE THE CITY. AND HOPEFULLY WE DID WELL WITH THAT. I THINK ONE OF THE AND I KNOW MAYOR PROBABLY ASKED LATER ON, BUT ONE OF THE GREATEST YESTERDAY, I WANTED TO COMMEND ALL OF YOU FOR THE DAY IN RECOGNIZING THE VIETNAM VETERANS, AND THAT WAS REALLY GREAT. AND ONE THING THAT KATHY WILL REMEMBER IS THAT WE BROUGHT THE VIETNAM WAR TO DESOTO, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS, I THINK, IN MY ACTIVE TOUR THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BRING, BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE CAME TO SEE THAT WALL, 58,000 NAMES ON THE WALL.AND WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT. IT WAS NOT ONLY DESOTO, BUT THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. SO I KIND OF LOOK AT THAT, AS YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE'VE SUPPORTED OUR VETERANS, WE SUPPORT OUR COUNTRY, AND I NEED TO QUIT RAMBLING UP HERE BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS TO COVER THERE. BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO PRESERVE OUR HISTORY. GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR WADDELL, WE HAVE A PHOTO. I WANT TO SEE IF THIS EVOKES ANY MEMORIES FOR ANYBODY ON THE DAIS. YEAH. YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY GREAT GRANDFATHER AND GRANDMOTHER. WOW. WITH A MARRIAGE LICENSE OUT OF DALLAS COUNTY, I THINK IT'S IN THE IN THE CORNERSTONE OF THE COURTHOUSE, TOO. YEAH, BUT THEY CAME DOWN IN 18, I BELIEVE IT WAS 1843. CAME TO THIS PART OF THE THEY CAME FROM ILLINOIS, I BELIEVE, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, AND ESTABLISHED A HOMESTEAD HERE AND THAT ORIGINAL HOMESTEAD WAS NOT IN DESOTO PER SE. IT WAS THOUGH FAMILY EXPANDED LATER ON. THEY IT WAS IN DUNCANVILLE IN THAT AREA UP THERE THAT WE HAVE A FAMILY CEMETERY OF THE TREES, CEMETERY UP THERE, WHICH IS ADJACENT TO LITTLE BETHEL. AND I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU KNOW WHERE THAT WHERE THAT CEMETERY IS. THERE'S A FAMILY CEMETERY IN THERE. THEY'RE BURIED THERE. AND SO AND THEN EVENTUALLY, AND JUST TO SHARE A LITTLE HISTORY WITH YOU, TOO, MY GREAT GRANDFATHER WENT TO THE GOLDFIELDS AND IN CALIFORNIA AND RETURNED A FEW YEARS LATER. TWO OR 3 OR 4, I DON'T KNOW, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT BUSINESS IF HE REALLY FOUND GOLD OR IF HE WAS IN BUSINESS OR WHAT. BUT THEY HAD TEN CHILDREN AND HE HAD A HE, HE, HE TOOK CARE OF EACH CHILD WITH A, YOU KNOW, ACREAGE FOR HIM. AND SO A LOT OF WHAT YOU SEE IN DESOTO TODAY, AT ONE TIME WAS PART OF THE FARM. AND WHERE THE HIGH SCHOOL IS, THAT WAS PART OF TREES COUNTRY. AND SO THE FAMILY GOES, GOES WAY BACK. AND I'M JUST HONORED TO BE WHAT CONTRIBUTE WHAT I CAN CONTRIBUTE TO IT BECAUSE IT IS IT'S HISTORY. AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS WHAT IT SAYS. BOTH OF THEM WERE CITIZENS OF REPUBLIC OF TEXAS. AND THEN LATER ON, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT WAS RECOGNIZED AS A STATE. THAT'S JUST A LITTLE I WANTED TO THROW OUT THERE. MAYOR, WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, AND SO IF YOU SEE WHAT IS THAT, COCKRELL HILL AND PARKERVILLE ROAD, THERE IS THERE'S A COUPLE OF DEVELOPMENTS OVER THERE, BUT ONE SPECIFICALLY TREES FARM. SO IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHERE THAT NAME. YES, THAT WAS ALL PART OF IT. YES, THAT NAME IS. AND YOU'LL SEE SOME CROSS STREETS IN THERE. ONE OF THOSE IS WINONA AND BULLARD CROSS STREET IN THAT DEVELOPMENT, WHICH SHE COULD NOT BE WITH US TODAY. THAT IS YOUR COUSIN, CORRECT, MAYOR MISS WINONA BULLARD, SHE COULD NOT BE WITH US TODAY. BUT SO IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHERE SOME OF THE NAMES OF SOME OF OUR SUBDIVISIONS ARE, TREES FARM, I KNOW FOR SURE IS IN THAT AREA CLOSE TO WHERE YOU ARE, MAYOR. AND SO I WANT TO GO TO THE NEXT PHOTO. DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER ON THE PANEL WHAT THIS IS AND WHERE THIS IS AND WHAT'S HERE NOW? YES, MR. DRYER, IT WAS RIGHT THERE. AMY MOSES, MY SISTERS WORK THERE. THIS WAS STARTED OUT AS AN A&P AND THERE WAS A SAFEWAY RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, WHICH EVENTUALLY MOVED OVER TO HERE. SO, YEAH, THIS WAS A
[00:40:05]
SHOPPING CENTER. TELL US, WHAT YEAR ARE WE AT NOW? YEAH. WELL, RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE GROCERY STORE PART THE A&P, SAFEWAY, TOM THUMB. YOU'RE IN THE PRODUCE SECTION RIGHT NOW. YEAH, PROBABLY. YEAH. WE USED TO JOKE IT'S REALLY COLD DOWN IN ADMINISTRATION IN THE BACK PART.AND WE THINK WE WERE IN THE MEAT DEPARTMENT AT THAT TIME. IT'S COLD BACK THERE. WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT ON THESE PHOTOS. YEAH. WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT ON THIS PHOTO IS ACTUALLY WHERE CITY HALL IS. AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHEN DID THEY TEAR THIS SHOPPING CENTER DOWN. IT'S STILL THERE. IT'S THIS THE LIBRARY. SO DO YOU HAVE THE OTHER PICTURE? YEAH. DO WE HAVE I THINK IT'S A LIBRARY NOW. NO, ACTUALLY, EMMY MOSES IS THE REC CENTER. OH, IT'S BACK UP HERE. OKAY. RIGHT HERE. YEAH. YOU'RE RIGHT. AND THIS OTHER PICTURE THAT SHE HAS. OH, YEAH. ON IS ACTUALLY WHERE THE BUILDING WE'RE SITTING IN BECAUSE WE HAVE THE PICTURE. ESTHER, DO YOU HAVE STRAIGHT AHEAD. THAT'S WHERE THE CORNER THEATER IS. AND THEN THE LIBRARY IS DOWN HERE. THAT WAS REVCO, RIGHT? IT IT WAS. THERE WERE TWO PICTURES AT ONE POINT IN TIME. MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE THAT ONE.
THAT'S OKAY. WE HAD IT. YEAH, WE HAD ANOTHER ONE. SO YEAH. THAT PICTURE THERE, THE PICTURE ON YOUR ON MY LEFT THAT THE TALL PART. THAT'S THIS BUILDING RIGHT HERE. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. WELL WHILE THEY'RE FINDING THAT PICTURE BUT YES. SO WE'RE IN THE AREA WHERE THAT WAS AND WHAT THE. WE'RE IN THE GROCERY STORE. WE'RE IN THE GROCERY STORE PART. AND SO SHE HAS SOME PICTURES WHERE YOU CAN KIND OF SEE IT FROM ANOTHER ANGLE, BUT THERE'S ANOTHER PICTURE OF THE ACTUAL CITY HALL WHEN IT WAS BUILT INITIALLY BEFORE A TOWN CENTER APARTMENTS WERE BUILT. IT'S THE PHOTO THAT I'M LOOKING FOR WHERE YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE REC CENTER IS, AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE LIBRARY WAS, AND THERE WAS A KIND OF A PILLAR IN THE MIDDLE. YEAH, THAT WAS THE FIRST ITERATION OF WHAT THIS LOOKED LIKE BEFORE THEY PUT THE APARTMENTS IN. OKAY. WE CAN GO TO THAT NEXT SLIDE. ESTHER. IT'S THE ONE AFTER THIS ONE. 15. PRESENT. OH, DEAR. OKAY. YEAH.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY MEMORIES OF THIS ONE? THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I MENTIONED WHEN I FIRST SPOKE EARLIER IS WHEN WE CAME TO TOWN FROM MILES AROUND, PEOPLE WOULD COME TO DESOTO TO SEE THE CATFISH HEADS THAT HANG OUT IN FRONT OF THIS PLACE. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY REMEMBER THIS. I DON'T YOU SAY CATFISH HEADS. HE USED TO HANG THEM ON THE ON THE. YEAH, IT WAS, IT WAS THESE HUGE CATFISH HE WOULD CATCH. THIS IS JUDAH BROTHERS GENERAL STORE. AND AS KIDS MOVING HERE WE ONLY HEARD OF GENERAL STORES ON PETTICOAT JUNCTION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT THEY HAD A REAL ONE. YOU COULD BUY DYNAMITE AT THIS PLACE IF YOU. I MEAN, IT WAS IT WAS A REAL GENERAL STORE. BUT THAT WASN'T THE ATTRACTION. THE CATFISH HEADS OUT FRONT WAS THE ATTRACTION. EVERYBODY CAME FROM MILES AROUND TO SEE THE CATFISH HEADS. IT SOLD. TO ADD SOME CONTEXT TO IT, TELL US EXACTLY WHERE IT IS TODAY. BECAUSE I KNOW WE WENT OUT ACTUALLY. YEAH.
THE MAYOR AND I WENT FOR A FOR A TOUR OF DESOTO OF OLD DESOTO LAST WEEK. THIS IS AT THE CORNER OF BELTLINE AND HAMPTON. SO BEHIND WHERE THE DONUT SHOP IS BEHIND THE DONUT SHOP, MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. IT'S KIND OF THERE'S A SPACE IN BETWEEN WHERE IT WAS TECHNICALLY ON THE LAND RIGHT IN THERE. YEAH. KATHY MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO ADD TO BELTLINE AND HAMPTON.
THAT WAS WHERE THE HEART OF THE CITY. BUT AND THEY CALLED IT THE CROSSROADS BACK IN THE 1800S BECAUSE IT WAS ON THE CHISHOLM TRAIL. AND THAT'S WHY THAT'S WHY, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR BIG TOWER, THERE'S A PICTURE OF TEXAS AND THERE'S A LINE, A LITTLE STAR, BECAUSE WE WERE ON THE CHISHOLM TRAIL. WOW. BECAUSE WE WERE AT THE CROSSROADS RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THIS. I MEAN, ACTUALLY NOT NEXT DOOR, BUT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER UP. HAMPTON. WE HAD A BLACKSMITH SHOP, TOO, BECAUSE MY DAD, ALL OUR FIREPLACE TOOLS THAT GUY MADE AND HE HAD BASHAM'S WELDING.
THERE WAS A LOT OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON, BUT WE FOUND. THERE IT IS. OH, SO THAT WAS AFTER MAYOR.
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS FOR THIS ONE? THIS WAS OUR KATHY, ONE OF YOU. WELL, THIS WAS USED TO, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THIS WAS A SHOPPING CENTER WITH A GROCERY STORE. IT WAS A GREAT BIG SHOPPING CENTER. THAT WAS A PARKING LOT WHERE THE APARTMENTS ARE. AND SO IT WAS A GREAT BIG PARKING LOT AND WE USED IT FOR EVENTS. I WAS SO SAD WHEN THEY PUT THOSE APARTMENTS OUT THERE, BECAUSE IT REALLY IMPACTED WHAT WE COULD DO. BUT OF COURSE WE LOVE IT. BUT THAT'S THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE PROBABLY IN 2005 OR 10. WAS IT THAT THIS WAS IN THE 90S? THAT WAS IN THE 90S WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY REMODELED AS TOWN CENTER. THAT WAS IN 1993 BECAUSE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MET IN THE THERE WAS A PIZZA HUT RIGHT OVER HERE IN THE RIGHT OVER THERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE APARTMENT. WE DON'T HAVE A PICTURE OF THAT, BUT DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER THE PIZZA HUT
[00:45:04]
THAT WAS IN THE PARKING LOT OUT HERE? THERE YOU GO. AND THEN IT WAS THE CHAMBER OFFICE AFTER IT WAS PIZZA HUT. YEAH. THE DESOTO TEENS AT THE TIME WERE VERY DISTRAUGHT ABOUT THE PARKING LOT AS WELL. AFTER EVERY GAME ON FRIDAY NIGHTS, AFTER FOOTBALL GAMES, WE WOULD GO TO THE WHATABURGER AND LITERALLY THAT PARKING LOT WOULD BE A SEA OF TEENAGERS. YES, TILL CURFEW TIME WE WOULD HANG OUT THERE. SO WE WERE WE WERE DISAPPOINTED TO THIS. THIS PARKING LOT IS WHERE MY MISTER ROGERS WAS. HE SAID YOU WERE IN THE YOU WERE IN THE PARKING LOT HANGING OUT. WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PARKING LOT STAYS IN THE PARKING LOT, RIGHT? OH, NO, I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO OUT ONE OF MY SISTERS. MY DAD HAD HAD REBUILT THIS FORD PINTO. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. AND I CAUGHT MY SISTER LEARNING HOW TO DO DONUTS IN THIS PARKING LOT, AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND, AND BLEW THE CAR UP. MISS LEON, I JUST WANTED TO BACKTRACK A MOMENT TO THAT CORNER THAT NOW HAS DOMINO'S. I STARTED TEACHING HERE IN THE 5657 SCHOOL YEAR, AND THAT WAS GALLAGHER'S GROCERY STORE. OH, WOW. AND GALLAGHER WAS AT THAT TIME ON MY SCHOOL BOARD, AND THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL NEW DALLAS LIBRARY HAD ITS GRAND OPENING. AND IT HURT MY FEELINGS THAT WE WEREN'T INCLUDED BECAUSE WE DON'T PAY TAXES THAT PAY FOR THE DALLAS LIBRARY. BUT I HAPPENED TO FOR A SHORT TIME HAD WAS LIVING IN DALLAS BEFORE I MOVED OUT HERE. SO IT WAS LEGAL FOR ME TO GO IN AND TALK TO THE HEAD LIBRARIAN AND TELL HER THAT I HAD A GROUP OF FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADERS THAT HAD A WONDERFUL PROJECT GOING THAT I THOUGHT THEY OUGHT TO DISPLAY DOGGONED IF THEY DIDN'T DO IT. WE HAD A BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY WITH A WOOD BURNED BOOK WITH WOOD FRONT AND BACK, AND THEIR STORIES OF THE EXPLORERS THAT HAD COME INTO THIS AREA. AND THE CHILDREN HAD A WONDERFUL MEMORY. AND WHAT I REMEMBER IS MR. GALLAGHER TURNING THE STORE OVER TO SELMA AND DRIVING US DOWN THERE. SO HERE WAS A 21 YEAR OLD TEACHER, SCARED TO DEATH THE FIRST TIME SHE HAD EVER BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR A BUS LOAD OF KIDS BY HERSELF, BECAUSE, OF COURSE, HE HAD TO STAY WITH THE BUS AND I TOOK THEM THROUGH. AND WHEN I'VE TALKED TO THOSE GROWN UPS NOW, GRAY HEADED, IF THEY HAVE ANY HAIR AND THE MEMORY THAT REALLY STANDS OUT WAS HOW IMPORTANT THEY FELT WHEN THEY WENT THROUGH. AND THERE WAS A PLAQUE. DESOTO SCHOOL DISTRICT, MY NAME, AND FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADE, AND THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES NOT FROM DALLAS. I MOVED OUT HERE SHORTLY THEREAFTER. SO THAT ENDED THAT. GREAT. WE HAVE ONE MORE. WELL, WE HAVE ONE MORE PHOTO THAN WE HAVE A VIDEO DOES THIS. DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER BETTY'S BEAUTY SHOP? YEAH, SHE DID MY HAIR FOR YEARS. AND MY MOM REALLY MISS LYNN. SHE WAS SHE HAD HER HUSBAND HAD JUST BUILT HER THE BUILDING RIGHT BEHIND WHERE. THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. WHERE WAS THE BEAUTY SHOP? IN THE HILLTOP CHURCH, HAMPTON ROAD, HAMPTON ROAD. AND THAT HOUSE HAD A DEEP DIP THAT WHEN IT GOT ICY, I GOT DOWN THERE AND GOT STUCK ONE DAY AND HAD TO BE HAULED OUT, BUT I HAD TO HAVE MY HAIR DONE. IT WAS IMPORTANT, BUT SHE DID. ALL THE LADIES, I'M SURE AT I KNOW SHE DID ALL THOSE THAT WORKED FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE IN TOWN FOR A WHILE, BUT THAT WAS ANOTHER VERY FINE FAMILY THAT WAS QUICK TO VOLUNTEER. WE HAD PHONE NUMBERS. WE KNEW WE COULD CALL FOR QUICK HELP AND THAT WAS ONE OF THEM. GREAT. ALL RIGHT. SO NOW WE HAVE A VIDEO AND I WANT TO SEE IF ANYONE ON THE PANEL OR EVEN ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. IF ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE REMEMBERS THIS, BECAUSE WE HAVE SHOWED THIS VIDEO TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND NOBODY SEEMS TO REMEMBER THIS HAPPENING IN DESOTO, DO WE HAVE THE VOLUME WHERE WE CAN TRY? LET'S SEE IF WE CAN HEAR THE VOLUME. I'M NOT HEARING. SO I DON'T KNOW. IT'S NOT ON YET.NO, IT'S NOT ONE OF THE LOCATIONS. IT'S THE PRICE TAG. THE IDEA OF THE HOME WAS TO DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD LET THE EYES OF THE PEOPLE IN NORTH DALLAS AND THE MID-CITIES AND EAST DALLAS LOOK OUR WAY. THE IDEA WORKED. MORE THAN 8000 PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR THE DRAWING IN. THIS CROWD IS MADE UP OF THE 100 FINALISTS. BUT EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE HERE IS GOING TO WALK
[00:50:04]
AWAY WITH A BRAND NEW HOME, EVERYONE REMAINED COOL. VERY NERVOUS. I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT SINCE WEDNESDAY WHEN WE RECEIVED THE LETTER IN THE MAIL, AND I'VE JUST BEEN ON EDGE THE WHOLE TIME. YOU NEED A HOUSE? OH YES, YES, I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN AND WE'RE HAVING TO MOVE. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH FURNITURE TO FURNISH THIS THING SHOULD YOU WIN IT. WELL, I'LL DEAL WITH THAT PROBLEM. THAT'S THE PROBLEM I'D LIKE TO HAVE. YOU CAN SEE THE ANTICIPATION IN EVERYONE'S EYES AS COWBOY LINEBACKER EUGENE LOCKHART PICKED OUT THE WINNING TICKET. WELL, THE GOVERNMENT WAS RIGHT. EUGENE LOCKHART IS THE WINNER. OKAY? NOW, MISS KELLY ALDRIDGE, COME ON UP. BEFORE SHE KNEW WHAT HIT HER, KELLY ALDRIDGE WAS HOLDING THE DEED TO HER BRAND NEW HOME. IF YOU COULDN'T TELL BY THE LOOK ON HER FACE, SHE WAS IN TOTAL SHOCK. WE WERE LOOKING FOR MAYBE A TOWNHOME TO RENT OR SOMETHING, OR A HOUSE TO RENT, AND WE DECIDED TO COME OUT HERE. AND NOW YOU'VE GOT $125,000. YEAH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT YET. SOMEHOW I THINK KELLY WILL FIGURE OUT SOMETHING. WHY ARE SO MANY PEOPLE FLOCKING TO GET A LOOK AT THIS HOUSE? THAT'S IT.SO THIS VIDEO IS A VIDEO OF A HOME GIVEAWAY IN DESOTO. AND THEY THEY HAD A RAFFLE DRAWING AND THEY SAID 80,000 PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR THE RAFFLE. I THINK IT WAS IN 1985, 1986, I THINK IT SAID 1986 ON THE VIDEO, AND IT WAS IN 1986. AND WE WANT TO KNOW WHERE THIS HOUSE IS. HOW IS MISS ALDRIDGE DOING? RIGHT. BUT NOBODY SEEMS TO. DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER THIS HAPPENING IN THE CITY. AND WE WERE TRYING TO EVEN SEE IF LIKE MAYBE IT WAS THE CHAMBER THAT HELPED SPONSOR IT AND WHO THE GENTLEMAN WAS THAT WAS SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. BUT NOBODY SEEMS TO REMEMBER THIS HAPPENING. AND IT WASN'T I MEAN, IT'S IN THE RECENT PAST. IT WAS 1986. MAYOR, YOU DON'T REMEMBER? IT OCCURRED TO ME AFTER WE LOOKED AT THAT VIDEO THAT NOBODY IN THAT VIDEO LIVED IN DESOTO AT THE TIME. AND ALL OF US WHO ALREADY LIVED HERE ALREADY HAD A HOUSE OR SOMEPLACE. SO TRUE. NO IDEA. YEAH, I THOUGHT IT WAS. IT WAS $125,000. THE FOOTBALL FIELD IT WAS. DESOTO, TEXAS. AND THE COMMUNITY RIGHT ON LINE. RIGHT IN THERE. YEAH. COULD BE, BUT THAT WOULD BE AN EDUCATED GUESS. YOU SAID WHAT, MISS LEON. YOU SAID. YOU SAID IT WAS THE COMMUNITY. WHERE? BE AN EDUCATED GUESS. BUT I KNOW THAT THERE WAS ONE IN THERE THAT ALL OVER DESOTO WORKMEN WERE DONATING. THEY DID THE TILE AND THE BATHROOM, AND THEY DONATED LEFTOVER TILE. AND SO IT WAS A DESIGN WITH DIFFERENT TILES BECAUSE IT WAS WHAT HE HAD LEFT OVER FROM DIFFERENT JOBS. AND IT WORKED OUT TO BE RATHER AN INTERESTING THING, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT'S THE ONE THAT WAS RAFFLED. I JUST KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN AWFUL LOT OF FREE LABOR THAT WENT INTO THAT HOUSE. THAT HOUSE. OKAY, WELL, MAYBE WE'LL NEVER KNOW. YEAH. SO WE DECIDED WE'D SHOW IT, TRYING TO SEE IF SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE REMEMBERED IT. BUT AT THIS TIME, I WANT TO GIVE ONE PARTING COMMENT. GIVE US 30S OF. LET'S SEE WHAT WHAT THAT IS. HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE THE CURRENT GENERATION TO ENGAGE IN CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN SHAPING OUR CITY'S FUTURE? 30S. HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE THEM TO GET ENGAGED? I TRY TO GET OUR YOUNG FOLKS TO LITERALLY TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR COMMUNITY, NOT EVEN AS TAXPAYERS. THEY LIVE HERE AND THEY, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE YOU WOULD OWN YOUR OWN HOME. TAKE OWNERSHIP. MY, MY PASSION HERE IS PARKS AND OPEN SPACES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND WHEN I FIRST STARTED SERVING ON BOARDS, THE DALLAS COUNTY BOARD AND THE DESOTO PARK BOARD, IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT I LOVE THIS PLACE. I THINK EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM DOES, TOO. AND JUST JUST LITERALLY TAKING OWNERSHIP AND PUTTING YOUR FINGERPRINTS ON IT BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE THE RIGHT AND ABILITY TO DO THAT. I, I'D LIKE TO JUST EXPAND ON WHAT YOU SAID AND JUST LEAD BY DOING, IF YOU'RE AN EXAMPLE TO EVERYBODY ELSE, PAUL, YOUR VOLUNTEERISM ON THE PARK BOARD AND TAKING CARE OF THE WINDMILL HILL TRAIL, YOU'RE A GREAT EXAMPLE TO THE YOUTH. I THINK WE'VE GOT TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE. THERE WERE A GREAT MANY STORIES THAT HAD TO BE KEPT QUIET BECAUSE THERE WAS SOMEONE THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. I SAW SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS DONE BY CHILDREN THAT WERE PROTECTING SOMEONE IN THE CAFETERIA THAT DIDN'T HAVE LUNCH AND HAD BEEN
[00:55:01]
WARNED WITH THEIR VERY LIVES AT HOME. YOU WILL NOT LET ANYONE KNOW WE RAN OUT OF FOOD. IT'S EMBARRASSING. WE DON'T WANT THEM TO KNOW IT. AND SO THERE WOULD BE A CHILD IN THE LUNCHROOM AND OTHER CHILDREN HAD SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WAYS OF HANDLING THINGS. OH GOOD GRIEF, MY MAMA PACKED TOO MANY SANDWICHES. SOMEBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO EAT ONE OF THESE BECAUSE I GET IN TROUBLE IF I THROW AWAY FOOD. AND HERE WOULD GO A SANDWICH DOWN TO SOMEONE THAT NEEDED IT BUT COULDN'T SAY IT. AND THE OTHER KIDS KNEW IT. THOSE KIDS GREW UP TO BE PRETTY NEAT ADULTS. THIS IS WHERE THE BACKGROUND IN DESOTO CAME FROM. THE EXAMPLE THAT THE PARENTS WERE GIVING. I'VE WORKED WITH SOME OF THE BEST VOLUNTEERS. I'VE BEEN ON MORE BOARDS THAN I CARE TO COUNT. THE CHIEF AND I WERE TRYING TO ADD UP HOW MANY YEARS I HAD. I PUT IN 18 WITH HIM UP AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT UNTIL I GOT SO DEAF I COULDN'T HANDLE THE TELEPHONES. AND IT IT WAS SAD BUT TRUE. I JUST HAD TO GO FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO. BUT I REMEMBER THAT CORE THAT I SAW IN CHILDREN. IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE A VON MILLER THAT WAS IN THE HEADLINES AND WAS MAKING US WELL KNOWN BECAUSE, HEY, WE TAUGHT PEOPLE TO PLAY FOOTBALL HERE. WOW. BUT IT WAS SOME OF THE PEOPLE AND THE BACKGROUND. I HAD ONE MOTHER THAT CAME TO ME WHEN SHE KNEW THERE WAS A TRANSIENT PAIR OF TWINS THAT MOVED IN THIS AREA, AND SHE SAID, MISS CORKY, I UNDERSTAND THEY DON'T HAVE WARM CLOTHES AND THE SEASON IS CHANGING. SHE SAID, IF YOU'LL GET ME SOME SIZES, I'LL SEE TO IT. MY CHILDREN DO NOT KNOW THAT I HAVE MADE THE CLOTHES. SHE MADE A MATCHING OUTFIT, WENT OUT AND BOUGHT A SWEATER TO GO WITH BOTH OF THEM, AND DID IT AFTER HER CHILDREN WENT TO SLEEP EVERY NIGHT UNTIL SHE GOT IT DONE AND SLIPPED THEM TO ME, AND I SLIPPED THEM TO THEM. AND WHEN THERE WERE QUESTIONS, OH, YOU DIDN'T HEAR THEY WON IT. AND WE MANAGED TO KEEP THINGS QUIET. BUT YOU'VE GOT A BUNCH OF REALLY GOOD PEOPLE IN DESOTO AND BOBBY.THEY COME FROM GOOD STOCK. THANK YOU. I WANT TO ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ON THAT. MAYOR. I THINK, YOU KNOW, GROWING UP HERE IN DESOTO AND WHEN IT WAS ALL RURAL AND ALL ALL OF IT WAS RURAL, CEDAR HILL WAS RURAL. ALL OF US WERE RURAL AND TIMES WERE TOUGH. WE WERE JUST COMING OUT OF A RECESSION. AND THEN WE GOT INTO A WAR. AND, YOU KNOW, YOUR FAMILY WAS VERY CLOSE KNIT. AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WITH OTHER FAMILIES BECAUSE WE ALL WERE BASICALLY IN THE SAME BOAT. YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING AND GET THE KIDS IN SCHOOL AND GET A GOOD EDUCATION.
AND THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, AND AS TIME CHANGES WITH A LOT OF OTHER THINGS, THE ENVIRONMENT AND ALL THINGS DO CHANGE, BUT I THINK BY IF YOU CAN GET MORE PARTICIPATION INTO THINGS THAT ARE, THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, MORE CONCRETE, IT'S JUST A TOUGH GO TODAY BECAUSE THE WORLD WE LIVE IN, THERE'S SO MANY THINGS GOING ON AND WE WANT TO BE INVOLVED. BUT OUR, OUR, OUR YOUNG CHILDREN AND ALL AND THAT ARE GROWING UP HERE. IT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY COULD JUST EXPERIENCE A LITTLE BIT OF SOME OF WHAT WE EXPERIENCED. BUT THAT'S NOT GONNA THAT'S NOT LIKELY BECAUSE THE CITY IS GROWING AND BIG TIME. IT'S JUST LIKE THE PLACE I LIVE ON. YOU KNOW, I LIVE ON 145 ACRES AND I'VE GOT SPACE, AND THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME. BUT I ALSO LIKE TO THINK WHEN SOMEBODY COMES BY MY PLACE, THEY SAID, THAT'S NOT ALL GROWN UP IN HOUSES. I CAN SEE WHAT'S OUT THERE. AND, YOU KNOW, THEN IT MAKES YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED WHEN WE WORK CATTLE OR WHATEVER ON MY PLACE, OR THE PEOPLE THAT STOP BY AND JUST SAY, WHAT'S GOING ON. THEY'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED IT BEFORE. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST IT'S THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT BACK IN THE OLD DAYS. YOU KNOW, I'LL USE OLD VELAS AN EXAMPLE. OVELHA HAD A COTTON GIN AT ONE TIME DOWN THERE WHERE THAT MEDICAL CENTER IS DOWN BELOW THE HILL THERE. IT WAS A BIG DEAL JUST TO GET TO GO TO THE GIN.
YOU KNOW, FOR A KID IN THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, AND TODAY, THERE'S SO MANY CHOICES OUT
[01:00:07]
THERE AND THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON THAT IT IS DIFFICULT AND IT HAS TO BE DIFFICULT FOR THE PARENTS OUT THERE TODAY AND THE CHILDREN THAT THAT THEY HAVE AND WON'T EDUCATED AND WANT TO DO WELL. AND SO BUT IT KIND OF BEHOOVES US AS A COMMUNITY TO, TO STEP IN THERE WHERE WE CAN AND BE A PART OF THAT, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS WHATEVER WE CAN DO. SO THAT'S THAT'S KIND OF MY TAKE ON IT FROM THE EARLY DAYS TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, AND WE GOT OUR WORK CUT OUT FOR US. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR PANELISTS. WE HAVE TO WRAP UP SO WE CAN GET TO OUR CROWNING AND SOME MORE TRIVIA, BUT CAN WE GIVE OUR PANELISTS A GREAT BIG HAND CLAP? THANK THEM ALL FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN OUR PANEL. WE ENJOYED THOSE STORIES AS AS MISS LYNN SAID, WE KNOW THAT WE COULD BE HERE ALL DAY, BUT WE WON'T. BUT THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. I THINK LATOYA IS TRYING TO GET A PICTURE OF EACH OF YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. LET'S GIVE THEM ANOTHER HAND CLAP. AT THIS TIME. I'M GOING TO GIVE IT BACK OVER INTO OUR MY CO-HOST, MISS ROLANDA BRIGHAM, IF WE CAN TURN THIS BACK AROUND, HOW DO WE TURN THIS AROUND? ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. LET'S KEEP THIS PARTY GOING. YES YES YES, YES. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE BACK FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF TRIVIA. MAESTRO, I NEED MY I NEED MY THEME MUSIC. I NEED MY THEME MUSIC. AND MORE CHANCES TO WIN. NOW, LET'S SEE WHO WHO'S BEEN PAYING ATTENTION. OR MAYBE JUST HAVE SOME GOOD OLD FASHIONED LUCK. MISS PAMELA, ARE YOU READY FOR SOME RUNNING? YOU READY? YES. ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO. TRIVIA NUMBER SIX. THE NEXT ONE.WHO WAS. ALL RIGHT, NOW WE'RE GOING TO. WE'RE GOING. COME ON. MAYOR, BECAUSE THEY LISTEN BETTER TO YOU. AFTER I READ THE QUESTION, WHOEVER POPS UP. WHO. IT'S OKAY. WHO WAS THE FIRST MAYOR OF DESOTO? YES, MA'AM. WAYNE CHOWNING. LET'S GIVE IT UP. WAYNE CHOWNING. YES. YOU GET A PRIZE NEXT. OKAY. I NEED MY THEME MUSIC IN THE BACK. UNDERNEATH. YEAH. YES. THERE WE GO. OKAY. NOW I FEEL AT HOME. WHAT YEAR DID DESOTO BECOME INCORPORATED? YES, SIR. 1949.
LET'S GIVE IT UP. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE CLAP FOR EACH OTHER, THAT MAKES US FEEL GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES. LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THAT'S WHAT MY MOM USED TO SAY WHEN WE WERE GETTING WHOOPINGS. CLAPPING MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER. ALL RIGHT, NEXT QUESTION. WHO WAS THE FIRST FEMALE MAYOR OF DESOTO? YES, MA'AM. WHAT'S HER NAME? KIRSTIN MCCOWAN. YES, THAT IS CORRECT. ALL RIGHT. NEXT. ALL RIGHT. NOW, THIS IS A HARD ONE. WHAT NUMBER? FIRE STATION WAS PARTIALLY BUILT BY FIREFIGHTERS. WHAT NUMBER? FIRE STATION WAS PARTIALLY BUILT BY FIREFIGHTERS.
OH, HERE'S HERE'S SOME CLUES. WE HAVE THREE FIRE STATIONS. SO IT COULD BE ONE, 2 OR 3. OKAY. YES, SIR. FIRE STATION NUMBER TWO. THAT IS CORRECT. AND IT WAS ORIGINALLY LOCATED BEHIND WHERE? ON HAMPTON ROAD, BEHIND DOMINO'S. KIND OF IN THAT AREA BEFORE WE TORE IT DOWN AND BUILT THE NEW FIRE STATION NUMBER TWO. YES, MA'AM. AND NOW LET'S PULL OUT OUR RAFFLE TICKETS. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE PARTY GOING. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE. ALL RIGHT. THE WINNING RAFFLE NUMBER IS ALL RIGHT. YOU READY, MISS PAMELA, THE LAST THREE NUMBERS ARE. NINE, EIGHT, NINE, NINE, EIGHT, NINE. RAISE IT UP. YAY! WE HAVE A WINNER! ALL RIGHT, RAFFLE NUMBER THREE. THE LAST THREE NUMBERS. 9919919. RAISE IT UP. RAISE THE ROOF. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. HERE, STAN. SHE'LL COME TO YOU. ALL RIGHT. THE FOURTH RAFFLE PRIZE. OH. LET ME. ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO. THE WINNING NUMBER IS 984984. ALL RIGHT. YES, SIR. STAND UP. NINE. EIGHT FOUR. ALL RIGHT. YOU HAVE
[01:05:10]
TO STAND UP SO THEY CAN BRING IT TO YOU. WE'RE TRUSTING YOU. WE'RE NOT TAKING. WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT YOUR NUMBERS. ALL RIGHT, OUR NEXT WINNING RAFFLE IS. NINE, SIX, SEVEN. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A WINNER UP FRONT. OKAY. HOW MANY MORE DO WE HAVE? OKAY, WE HAVE THREE MORE. ALL RIGHT.OUR NEXT. THAT'S AT THE END. THAT'S IT. OUR NEXT WINNING RAFFLE IS 981981. GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE. WE'RE MOVING ON. THE NEXT WINNING RAFFLE NUMBER IS 0981. YAY. YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT. GOING TO THE NEXT 19749. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A WINNER RIGHT HERE. 974. ALL RIGHT. NINE 968968. DO WE HAVE A NINE, SIX EIGHT WINNER. OH, OKAY. AND OUR FINAL GRAND PRIZE. MAYOR I'M GOING TO LET YOU CALL THIS ONE OUT HERE. DON'T MIND IF I DO. OH THEY SAID SHAKE IT UP HERE.
LOOK, I'M GONNA SHAKE IT UP. HERE WE GO. SHAKE IT UP, SHAKE IT UP. ALL RIGHT? I'M GOING TO BE GOOD. ALL RIGHT. THE LAST THREE DIGITS OF THAT NUMBER IS. Y'ALL KNOW YOU. YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLD WHEN YOU GOT TO HOLD IT BACK LIKE THAT. 980. YAY! MISS AMELIA, OUR GRANDFATHER, OUR GRAND PRIZE WINNER. LET'S GET A PHOTO WITH HER. LATOYA, CAN WE GET A PHOTO WITH HER THAT WAS DONATED BY THE LYNX AND THAT WAS DONATED BY THE LYNX ORGANIZATION. LET'S GIVE THEM A HAND CLAP FOR THEIR DONATIONS. ALSO, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SEVERAL OF THE COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE MADE THEIR RIVAL DOCTOR DINAH MARKS REPRESENTS PLACE FIVE. WE ALSO HAVE COUNCILMEMBER CRYSTAL CHISHOLM, WHO REPRESENTS PLACE SIX. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE WITH US. AND I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING KIND OF BEFORE WE PRESENT OUR HOMECOMING KING AND QUEEN, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. WE WANT TO SEE WHO THAT WILL BE. WE I WANT TO SEE HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN HERE. IF YOU HAVE LIVED IN DESOTO FOR AT LEAST ONE, NO, I'M GOING TO SAY THIS BECAUSE WE MIGHT HAVE SOME NEW PEOPLE IN HERE. IF YOU'VE LIVED IN DESOTO AT LEAST SIX MONTHS, STAND UP. IF THAT SHOULD BE EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM. ALMOST. IF YOU HAVE LIVED HERE AT LEAST SIX MONTHS, IF YOU HAVE LIVED HERE AT LEAST FIVE YEARS, STAY STANDING. IF YOU HAVE LIVED HERE FIVE YEARS OR MORE, STAY STANDING. IF YOU HAVE LIVED HERE TEN YEARS OR MORE, STAY STANDING. EVERYBODY ELSE CAN SIT DOWN. IF YOU HAVE LIVED HERE, I'M GOING TO JUMP UP 20 YEARS OR MORE. STAY STANDING. IF YOU HAVE LIVED HERE 25 YEARS OR MORE, STAY STANDING. IF YOU HAVE LIVED HERE 30 YEARS OR MORE, STAY STANDING. IF YOU HAVE LIVED HERE 35 YEARS OR MORE, STAY STANDING.
IF YOU HAVE LIVED HERE 40 YEARS OR MORE, STAY STANDING. NOW, WE KIND OF ALREADY KNOW WHO'S GOING TO WIN THIS THING. HOWEVER, JUST FOR KICKS AND GIGGLES, WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH WITH THIS.
IF YOU HAVE LIVED HERE 50 YEARS OR MORE, STAY STANDING. OH, JOANNE, YOU STILL STAND. YOU LOOK GOOD TODAY. JOANNE. I LIKE THAT GREEN. ALL RIGHT. NOW, IF YOU HAVE LIVED HERE 55 YEARS OR MORE, STAY STANDING. COME ON. KATHY, IF I WAS ABOUT TO SAY MAYOR WADDLE, I THINK YOU GOT US BEAT. YEAH, HE DID COME BACK. SO WE DEDUCTING THOSE YEARS OR. NO, NO. OKAY. WE'LL LET HIM HAVE THOSE YEARS TO. IF YOU HAVE LIVED HERE 60 YEARS OR MORE, STAY STANDING. HOW MANY? MAYOR.
HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU LIVED HERE? WELL, YOU KNOW, I WAS TRYING TO ELIMINATE MY 30 YEARS OF SERVICE. NO. THAT COUNTS. SO I'M 91. SO 91 YEARS. WOW. LET'S GIVE OUR. WHAT DO WE CALL YOU?
[01:10:05]
OUR. WELL, 91 YEARS. YOU'RE OUR OLDEST RESIDENT IN THE CITY, I BELIEVE. BETWEEN YOU AND. YEAH, I WANT TO SAY YOU. WOULD IT BE YOU OR. MISS BONNIE? YEAH. SHE WAS GOING TO BE HERE TODAY. SHE SHE. I TRIED TO GET HER TO GET OUT THE HOUSE. BONNIE, IS MISS BONNIE. OKAY? WE'LL HAVE TO CALL AND TELL HER SHE WE CALLED HER NAME OUT. SHE. THAT'S MY. THAT'S MY BUDDY, MY BFF. WELL, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION. NOW WE'RE GETTING TO THE MOMENT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR. YES, YES. ALL RIGHT, SO ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THE DAY IS THE PRESENTATION OF OUR HOMECOMING KING AND QUEEN AND OUR HOMECOMING COURT. AND EACH MEMBER HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR THEIR SPIRIT, CHARACTER, AND COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. OUR FIRST NOMINEE IS MRS. JOANNE SPURGEON. MISS JOANNE HAS LIVED IN DESOTO SINCE 1972. HER CHILDREN ATTENDED DHS. SHE WAS AWARDED GIRLFRIEND OF THE YEAR IN 2024 BY PATRICIA COLEMAN AND GIRLFRIENDS MINISTRIES. IS AN ACTIVE IN HER. SHE'S ACTIVE IN HER CHURCH, CREEKSIDE CHURCH OF CHRIST. SHE'S A MEMBER OF CHARLTON HOSPITAL AUXILIARY BOARD. SHE HAS BEEN A GOOD NEIGHBOR TO SO MANY. DURING WINTER STORM URI, SHE COOKED FOOD CONTINUOUSLY AND PASSED IT OUT TO NEIGHBORS WITHOUT ELECTRICITY OR POWER. SHE HELPS WOMEN IN NEED FOR HOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY MIGHT OTHERWISE NOT AFFORD. SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND LED CITIZENS TO CHINA IN 2018 TO SEE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CIVIC HISTORY IN CHINA. SHE HAS ALSO LED A SMALL GROUP TO AFRICA TO SEE THE CONTINENT. LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR MISS JOANN SPURGEON. NOMINEE NUMBER TWO. WE HAVE MISS BRITTANY CARRUTHERS, WHO GREW UP IN DESOTO, ATTENDED SCHOOL IN DESOTO ISD AND WAS RECOGNIZED BY DESOTO ISD IN AS AN ATHLETE AND ACADEMICS AND IS NOW RAISING HER FAMILY IN DESOTO. BRITTANY IS ON THE VOLLEYBALL COMMITTEE AND HAS A LOVE FOR DESOTO WITH GREAT PRIDE. BRITTANY IS A PARENT OF ATHLETES IN DESOTO ISD AND VOLUNTEERS SUPPORTING THESE YOUNG ATHLETES. SHE IS AN ALUMNI OF DESOTO ISD AND HAS WAS A HIGHLY VALUED ATHLETE FOR DESOTO. SHE IS A HOMEOWNER AND AN EXAMPLE OF BEING GRASSROOTS.LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR MISS BRITTANY. NOMINEE NUMBER THREE. WE HAVE MR. RICHARD NORTH. MR. NORTH IS WELL WE CAN GIVE IT UP FOR HIM. HE'S WELL KNOWN FOR HIS CIVIC SERVICE AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. YET HE CAN BE FOUND TAKING PICTURES THROUGHOUT THE CITY FOR YEARS. COME ON, DON'T BE SHY, MR. NORTH. ONCE HE CAPTURED THE IMAGE HE LIKES, EVERYONE LOOKS FORWARD TO RECEIVING A THUMBS UP AND A NOD WITH A SMILE. I'M A WITNESS TO THAT. AFTER. AFTER SERVING ON THE CITY COUNCIL, MR. NORTH ENJOYS HIS RETIREMENT, YET ALWAYS A PUBLIC SERVANT BY STAYING INVOLVED ON DVAC DINING AND DIALOG AND A LIONS CLUB MEMBER. LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR MR. RICHARD NORTH. NOMINEE NUMBER FOUR, MARY KAY DEWBERRY. SHE IS A PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY AND WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE DESOTO HISTORICAL FOUNDATION. SHE IS A WEALTH OF HISTORICAL INFORMATION AND BELIEVES IN THE CITY OF DESOTO. SHE WAS ONE OF THE MAIN FORCES BEHIND THE INITIAL INITIAL RESTORATION OF NANS FORUM. AS A FORMER BOARD MEMBER OF THE DESOTO, TEXAS CULTURAL ARTS FOUNDATION, MRS. DEWBERRY DESERVES HER FLOWERS WHILE SHE CAN ENJOY THEM. LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR HER. SHE IS NOT WITH US TODAY. AND OUR LAST CANDIDATE FOR HOMECOMING KING. HE IS NOT WITH US TODAY. HE WAS NOMINATED BY MISS WINONA. IS MR. FRANK KOCH HIBBLER. FRANK HIBBLER HAS LIVED MOST OF HIS ADULT LIFE IN DESOTO, TEXAS AND IS 95 YEARS OLD. MR. HIBBLER AND HIS WIFE, WHO IS NOW DECEASED, WERE BOTH EDUCATORS IN DESOTO ISD FOR MANY YEARS. HE WAS A TEACHER, A COACH, AND THEN LATER SERVED AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL FOR MANY YEARS.
IN THESE ROLES, HE POSITIVELY IMPACTED SO MANY DESOTO STUDENTS BY HIS EXAMPLE AND LEADERSHIP.
HE IS A FAITHFUL MEMBER OF HAMPTON ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH AND REMAINS ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.
MR. HIBBLER CONTINUES TO ATTEND MANY HIGH SCHOOL REUNIONS, WHERE HE IS LOVINGLY REMEMBERED AND EMBRACED BY FORMER STUDENTS AS HE WAS A GREAT ROLE MODEL IN THEIR LIVES. GROWING UP IN THE GREAT CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS. ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO ASK OUR FORMER, WELL, OUR REIGNING HOMECOMING KING AND QUEEN. I BELIEVE HIS WIFE IS HERE. MR. BAYLOR IS NOT HERE. BUT WE DO HAVE OUR REIGNING QUEEN WITH US TODAY, MISS KATHY JONES. LET'S GIVE HER A HAND. SHE HAS HER PAGEANT WALK DOWN TO A SCIENCE, AND YOU CAN STAND BEHIND HERE. ALL RIGHT. FOR OUR HOMECOMING COURT, WE HAVE MISS BRITTANY CARRUTHERS. MISS BRITTANY PIERCE, YOU CAN FACE THE
[01:15:07]
AUDIENCE. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU YOUR. LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR HER ONE MORE TIME. GETTING HER CROWN AND HER SASH AND HER FLOWERS. THERE YOU GO. CONGRATULATIONS. LET'S GIVE HER ONE MORE HAND. CLAP. AND NOW FOR HOMECOMING QUEEN. THE 2025 QUEEN IS MISS JOANNE SPURGEON.SO BETTY'S BEAUTY. YEAH, I WAS ABOUT TO SAY. THAT WAS HER MOTHER IN LAW. THAT CROWN DOESN'T WANT TO STAY ON. THERE WE GO. YEAH, WE HAVE SOME PINS FOR YOU. SO, OUR HOMECOMING QUEEN, CAN YOU PLEASE COME AND GIVE US A FEW WORDS? THERE WE GO. GO. YES. BETTY SPURGEON WAS MY MOTHER IN LAW. IN. MY FATHER IN LAW IS OUT HERE. HIS PICTURE'S OUT HERE. HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST MEN IN DESOTO THAT DUG THE LINES FOR ALL THE WATER AND THE SEWER AND STUFF, AND.
BUT BETTY HAD THAT BEAUTY SHOP UNTIL SHE DIED. SHE WAS 85. WOW, WOW, WOW. CONGRATULATIONS. YES.
SO I HAVE A QUESTION. YOU SAID YOUR FATHER WAS THE ONE WORKING ON THE WATER LINES. MY FATHER IN LAW. FATHER IN LAW. NOW, WAS HE IN THAT PICTURE? THAT'S IN THE HISTORY BOOK OF THE GUYS OUT THERE DIGGING? YES, YES, AND THAT'S THE ONE. THAT'S THE PICTURE THAT'S ON OUR MURAL. SO THE PICTURE THAT'S ON OUR MURAL RIGHT HERE OUTSIDE THIS DOOR. IF YOU LEAVE HERE TODAY, YOU CAN GO OUT THAT DOOR AND YOU'LL SEE THE MURAL RIGHT THERE. AND THAT IS HER FATHER IN LAW THAT IS ON THAT MURAL PICTURE. SO CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, MISS SPURGEON. LOTS OF HISTORY IN THIS ROOM. AND NOW FOR THE PIECE DE RESISTANCE. WE HAVE OUR 2025 HOMECOMING KING, AND THAT IS MR. RICHARD NORTH. LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR HIM. HERE'S YOUR CROWN. NOW, MR. NORTH, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO PIN IT ON. YOU PIN THE CROWN ON, BUT WE'LL JUST TAKE YOUR TIME GETTING UP HERE AND I THINK IT'LL STAY ON. THERE YOU GO. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BALANCE IT UP THERE. MR. NORTH, CAN YOU GIVE US SOME WORDS? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. LET'S GIVE HIM A GREAT BIG HAND CLAP.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THE CHAIR. OH. OKAY. THAT'S PERFECT MUSIC. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. I HAVE VERY FEW WORDS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED IN DESOTO, MAYBE 21 YEARS AGO, WHEN THE GUEST BELTLINE WAS STILL A DIRT ROAD, AND THEY HAD A LOT OF HUMPS AND HILLS THERE. I LOVED THE RURAL ATMOSPHERE, THE CATTLE AND THE FIELDS. I MEAN, THAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT ATTRACTED ME TO DESOTO. MY, HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED. BUT, YOU KNOW, I LOVED THE PLACE. ORIGINALLY FROM KANSAS CITY, A CHIEFS GO CHIEFS. BUT I LOVE THE CHANGES, THE NATATORIUM, THINGS THAT ARE ARRIVING THAT WOULD MAKE DESOTO MORE OF A DESTINATION CITY LONG OVERDUE. BUT THE CITY IS ON THE MOVE. CONTRARY TO SOME. BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT TEN YEARS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I BELIEVE DESOTO WILL BECOME THE CITY IN THE SOUTHWEST DALLAS AREA. SO WITH THAT, LET'S KEEP GOING. THANK YOU. OKAY, SIR, I'M SURE WE HAVE TO DO SOME PHOTO OPS HERE. THAT'S RIGHT. AND HE IS ALSO A VETERAN, A MARINE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS WELL. YOU ARE AT THIS TIME WE'RE
[01:20:08]
GOING TO ASK OUR OUR HOMECOMING COURT KING AND QUEEN. THEY'RE GOING TO BE SERENADED. YES, THEY'RE GOING TO BE SERENADED. MAY I, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I BRING TO YOU DA ARTIST, MISS LINDA LEE. AND BARBARA AND BARBARA WILL SERENADE OUR HOMECOMING COURT. JOY, CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE KING? GOOD MORNING. CONGRATULATIONS. I'M READY. OKAY. I SEE TREES OF GREEN, RED ROSES TOO. I SEE THEM BLOOM. FOR ME. YOU AND I THINK TO MYSELF. WHAT A ONE. WHO? I SEE SKIES OF BLUE. CLOUDS ARE HIGH. DARK, BLESSED DAY. DARK, BLESSED NIGHT I THINK TO MYSELF.CAN YOU CUT IT, PLEASE? WHAT A WHAT? THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW. SO STILL IN THE SKY ARE ALSO ON THE FACES OF THE WALKING BY I SEE TREES SHAKING HANDS SAYING. HOW DO YOU DO? THEY REALLY SAY I LOVE YOU? I HEAR DAISIES CRY. I WATCH THEM GROW. THEY'LL NEVER KNOW YOU. WHAT'S SO MUCH YOU KNOW? AND I THINK TILL I SAY. WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD. YES. I THINK TO MYSELF. WHAT A. WORLD.
OH, YES. GOD BLESS YOU. ALL RIGHT. AND NOW, FROM OUR MR. ALEX ALLEN AS OUR HOMECOMING COURT EXITS INTO THE LOBBY. BEFORE YOU GO TODAY, WE HOPE TODAY HAS FILLED YOUR HEART WITH PRIDE, JOY, AND A DEEP SENSE OF CONNECTION TO THIS AMAZING COMMUNITY. ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE HERE, THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF OUR 76TH HOMECOMING CELEBRATION. YOUR PRESENCE HAS MADE THIS DAY TRULY SPECIAL. BEFORE WE WRAP UP, PLEASE BE SURE TO TAKE SOME FLIERS FROM THE TABLE AND GET INVOLVED IN OUR UPCOMING FESTIVALS AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS. YOU HAVE A VOICE AND WE WANT TO HEAR IT NOW. JOIN US FOR THE MEET AND GREET CO-SPONSORED BY THE DESOTO CULTURAL ARTS FOUNDATION, FEATURING A SPECIAL RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AND PORTRAIT UNVEILING AT THE CORNER THEATER ON APRIL 9TH FROM 6:30 P.M. TO 8:30 P.M. SEMI-FORMAL ATTIRE, PLEASE, AND DON'T MISS THE FIRST ANNUAL ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER MINI FESTIVAL ON MAY 17TH FROM NOON TO 7 P.M. IT'S SURE TO BE A DAY OF CELEBRATION, CULTURE, AND SO MUCH MORE. NOW IT'S TIME TO ENJOY SOME BIRTHDAY CAKE, MINGLE WITH FRIENDS, OLD AND NEW, AND CONTINUE CELEBRATING OUR DESOTO SPIRIT. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DESOTO. AND YOU, OUR RESIDENTS, ARE WHY THERE IS SO MUCH TO LOVE IN DESOTO ARE ALL AMERICA CITY. GOD BLESS. THANK YOU. SO MUCH. SO NOW WE HAVE TO SLOWLY WALK. WE HAVE TO WAIT. DO NOT LEAVE AND LET THE COURT. LET THE COURT. THEY HAVE TO DO THEIR WALK. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO WAIT FOR OUR CUE. TO WALK IN YOUR.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.