The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1950-07-05
MANY FLOATS RATE
SPECIAL MENTION,
JUNEAU'5 FOURTH

Few persons watching yesterdays
colorful Fourth of July parade
could envy the judges their task,
so clever and varied were the
numerous floats, decorated cars AND
individual entries. Juneaus ira
ditionally outstanding holiday par
ade was called bigger and better"
by many of the spectators who
lined the downtown streets. With
the extra loop" in the line OF
march, the parade was half an
hour passing any given point.
Reigning over the festivities,
Queen Juneau " and her court
rode on an all-white float making
a charming picture. Queen Rob
erta Messerschmidt, in a turquoise
green gown with bouquet of red
and white flowers. was enthroned
on a high dais, attended by Prln-
cess Shirley Casperson, wearing an
-colored frock; Nella Jermaln
in pale yellow, and Carmen Man
tyla in white.
Color bearers leading the parade
were Oscar Pearson, G. E. Aim
quist and George Clark. At Front
and Seward streets, they and other
marchers had to step carefully, as
several 5-gallon cartons of ice
cream mix had been spilled when
an over enthusiastic truck driver
was getting out of the way in
hurry.
Four bright red fire trucks all but
spilled over with happy youngsters
who threw candy kisses to the
crowds. Besides two trucks from
the Juneau Fire Department, the
Douglas truck paraded, with smiling
Mayor Mike Pusich aboard and the
Corps of Engineers truck added to
the impressive group.
Jimmie Fox, noted Thlingit chief,
walked alone, wearing the tradi-
tional costume of red fox skins,
and was applauded all along the
way.
instruments of the Juneau City
Band sparkled in the bright sun
shine, and their music from the
Front and Seward intersection
timed the marching of other units
the second time around. Led by
three pretty drum maiorettes
bandsters wore their attractive blue
and gray uniforms.
Moose Lodge No. 100, which was
in charge of all parade details,
made an impressive showing, the
Women of the Moose drill team
parading in purple and white uni
forms between two Moose floats.
The Teen-Age Club was among
organizations having outstanding
floats, although not among the
prize winners. All types of teen
ayers, graduate, athlete. etc, were
grouped around a large replica OF
the Liberty Bell.
No digestive casualties were re-
ported in connection with the entry
of BP.O.E. Lodge N 400, although
the Elks float portrayed a young
sters' camp, the gang eating all
the way to the ball park.
Service Above Self" the Rotary
International motto, was lettered
high on the entry of the Juneau
Rotary Club, with another slogan,
This is no bull' underneath.
Ralph Sherwood rode the jackass,
a Shetland mule, from his farm,
which kicked and stomped between
the two banners.
Among other effective floats were
those of the American Federation
of Labor, its Identifying Worus
spaced across an enormous Alaska
map; the clover-theme float of the
AUX Bay All Club, and the Amer
lean Legion.
Outstanding commercial floats
were the three-unit silvered entry
of the S. E. Thorpe Construction
Company, and the Union Oil Com
pany display in which an oil well
was being pumped.
Kimball Jensen headed the Moose
committee which made all parade
arrangements assisted by Kelly
Larson and John Moser.
Judges, none from the Moose
Lodge, were Mrs. R. j. Sommers
Lisle Hebert and Sid Thompson.