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Burns will lead Camellia paradeLarry Burns has b«e» named general chairman of Temple City’s 1978 Camellia Festival, an annual community tribute to youth which is going into its 34th year.Burns, who has lived in Temple City for the past 17 years, said he had been involved with the Camellia Festival in some capacity for the past seven or eight years. He served as cochairman for the 1977 festival.Held each year in February, tne festival features kids and camellias, the city’s official flower. All participants are members of youth groups. The floats used in the parade are designed and constructed by community youth, using some part of the camellia as decoration.LARRY BURNS . . . Camellia chairman■i think the festival is getting bigger every year/' Burns said. “And it's the enthusiasm of the kias that keeps it going. Every year more people are involved.“Actually, that's why I'm in it,” he said, — for the fun. The kids are a blast/’Active in the Temple City American Little League, Burns served as clinic, coordinator for two years. This year be will be player agent Cor the league.Burns has served as an officer in the Temple City Jaycees and Temple City Host Lions Club. He is a member of the Temple City Oiapter of the City of Hope and the Chamberof Commerce ‘Presently, Burns is co-owner of me DuBots Funeral Home of San Gabriel and the Hills MonroviaMortuary.As a member of the Lions Clup, Burns worked in the club's Camellia Festival booth, serving hamburgers He graduated to routing bus-loads of bands to their proper order in the parade lineup and finally becameparade-route troubleshooter, beforeserving as cochairman.Burns said he came to Temple Lily from Independence, Mo., to attend the California Mortuary Science College in Los Angeles,“1 wouldn't live anywhere else, he said. It’s the friendly people who make this community what H Is.” The Camellia Festival originated from a contest sponsored in 1944 by the Woman’s Club to choose a flower and slogan for the community. The winner was Mrs. Ralph Saunders who submitted, “Temple City, Home oC Camellias.”The following year, the Woman s Club decided to put the slogan to use. Kight-month old Sharen^Ray Pearson was crowned queen” and rode down Las Tunas Drive in an open car. The queen was.« - nnninrl Kl) O Hartfiflll Of (.iHtlD ‘'J ** ...... - *Fire Girls who gave camellia blossoms to the pedestrians.By 1946 the Chamber oi Commerce, at the reoucst of the dub, was asked to take over the promotion of the slogan. A parade was formed with about 15Q members of local youth groups.Each year the parade and celebration grew. A king and queen and a royal court were chosen, as they have been each year since 1947. Floats were added to the parade lineup, a carnival became part of the festivities and more and more people became involved.It is estimated that by now over5.000 children participate m the parade and the city greets more tban55.000 visitors.The official kick-off breakfast willbe Saturday, Oct 15. when Bums will introduce his chairrpen and committees. Other members crf^the Camellia Festival committee are: Russ Wood, cochairman; Rosemarie Gorman, secretary; Marcie Dennis publicity; Don Smoot, carmvaL chairman with Lyle Rickert as cochairman.
Newspaper Details
Arcadia Tribune
Arcadia, California, US
Thu, Sep 29, 1977
Page 16
Full Page
Clipped by
David R.
TX, USA 14 May 2020
Other Publications Near Arcadia, California
Arcadia Bulletin
Arcadia Tribune and Arcadia News
Arcadia Daily Tribune
Temple City Times
Arcadia Topics
