b'THE ARIZONA DUUUDEMary Brown and the National Festival of the WestBy Bob Roloff, The Arizona DuuudePART 2 You can follow Bob Roloff on Facebook.D estiny may have taken aRick came up with a 1920s Porter saddle, beautifully hand in the creation ofrendered in intricate detail. When Mary saw the first the National Festival ofclay sculpture, she was amazed. Merrill had captured the West, but, Mary Brown iseverything she had in mind. No changespour it just the first to admit, it certainly wasnt the only thing thatthe way it is! made the event happen. It took an entire year to put the festival together, she says. And as it got bigger and moreAnd it was a star-studded list of celebritiescomplex, we were working on the following year whilewho walked across the National Festival of the we were working on our next festival. She laughs now,West stage to receive that beautiful Cowboy Ill never forget a lady came up to me one year at theSpirit Award:festival and said, You have the right idea, honeywork1992: Dale Evans and Patsy Montana4 days a year! I think she thought the whole thing just1993: Rusty Richards (Sons of the Pioneers)fell out of the sky and planked itself down at Rawhide! 1994: Gene Autry1995: Roy RogersNothing could be further from the truth. The1996: Ben Johnson and Harry Carey, Jr.organization of such a massive event is enormous and1997: Denver Pyle and Herb Drinkwatervery complicated with venues, sponsors, vendors,(mayor of Scottsdale.)entertainment, celebrities, advertising, insurance,1998: Rex Allen, Buck Taylor, and Christina Painehousing, public relations, electricityoh and dont forget1999: Herb Jeffries and Matt Braun (author)the porta-potties! Needless to say, the list goes on and2000: Lynn Anderson and Jane Russellon. It was complicated, Mary says, but I was in love2001: Michael Martin Murphy and Bruce Boxleitnerwith the eventtruly in love with it and I wanted to2002: Clint Walker and Dennis Weavermake it everything it could beso I can say that most of2003: Ernest Borgnine, Marty Robbins,the time I loved every minute of what I was doing.and Johnny Western2004: Jack Palance and Robert FullerTo Mary, it was2005: Mickey Rooney, Rick Schroder, Peter Brown,the event, along with costume contests. Nearly every a thrill to see and Johnny Crawford year Cowboy Mounted Shooting was held in the arena people enjoying2006: Robert Horton and Morgan Woodward and on occasion a ranch rodeo. There was also a huge the things that2007: John Smith, Ben Cooper, and Shirley Jones Mountain Man Encampment where vendors soldshe lovedto see2008: Riders in the Sky and John Wayne wares and demonstrated skills from those early yearspeople meeting2009: Hugh OBrien, Bruce Dern and Rex Allen, Jr. of the explorers and fur trappers. The Arizona their favorite2010: James Drury and Kenneth M Freeman (artist) Gunfighters were very popular with their historic cowboy hero orgunfight reenactments. watching folksNearly all of those big-name celebrities were at the event tap their toes toto accept the award. Roy Rogers didnt attend becauseEventually, there was so much going on; the National their favoritehe had a heart attack justFestival of the West went from three big days of cowboy Western melody.before the eventbutfun to four action-packed days. And so it wentwith They knew theyCowboy Spirit Award Dale Evans and Dustyeach year and new addition until the National Festival had hit a homeRogers came to acceptof the West grew to be the largest Western non-rodeo run with Western musicnot country, mind youfor him. Of course,event in the country, winning numerous national awardsWESTERN musicit was all cowboy music.Marty Robbins, Johnincluding becoming one of the Top One Hundred And of course, the celebrities they brought in eachWayne, and John SmithEvents in the entire nation.year were a big draw for the audiences. The realreceived the award challenge, Mary says, was keeping it fresh andposthumously. TheirWhen asked if there were any heartaches along the way, exciting for everyone. To do that, she tried toawards were accepted byMary reflected. Of course there were sad times. We come up with something new and different nearlyfamily members. Thelost a number of our fabulous volunteers - that was like every year. Cowboy Spirit Awardlosing a part of our family. My mom and dad passed was so popular there was nearly always standing roomaway toothey were such an important part of the After the first year, the Cowboy Spirit Award was addedonly for the presentations.event. We eventually gave out awards in their honor to to the lineup. That was one of the best things we everthose who we felt represented what they stood for.did, Mary says. It turned out to be a real attractionThere were other events that we added gradually, Mary for both spectators and celebrities. We wanted torecalls. The Chuck Wagon Cook-Off was probably oneWhen I asked if she had any regrets, Mary was quick to honor people who had demonstrated the true spiritof the most popular events. Authentic working chuckreply with a sad smile. I wish wed kept it goingI wish of the cowboy in their lives. And boy did they comewagons gathered at the National Festival of the Westwe didnt have to retire but by the time wed finished our up with some humdingers. The first recipients wereto compete for numerous prizes, including best food,20th year, the world was changing. We were losing so Patsy Montana (who sang the original I Want to Bebest wagon, and friendliest camp. Spectators couldmany of our celebrities, the internet had taken away a lot a Cowboy Sweetheart) and Dale Evans (who wasntbuy breakfast or lunch that was cooked over an openof our vendors, sponsors were becoming more and more present for the award.) That first year the award was acampfire, just like the days on a cattle drive, and thedifficult to find, and we were getting too old to take the simple plaque. I knew we had to do more, Mary recalls.food was out of this world delicious and hearty! risk of putting so much into the event. We called the I wanted something really special for the award. She2010 festival The Last Round Up and it broke my heart began putting out feelers and finally came up with artistOther events were added too. There was the Wild Talesto say goodbye to all the friends I had made along the Rick Merrill, who agreed to lend his talent to the effortContest. Mary recalls, The real cowboys loved that oneway. YeahI wish we could do it all over againI wish of a bronze sculpture. Mary said she wanted somethingbecause the winner was whoever could tell the wildestwe could pick up where we left off! Dangwe could that would represent the spirit of the American West.story. Cowboy poetry became an important part ofhave one heck of a party, couldnt we? 40 May 2020'