‘Bent but not broken’: Perryton parade lifts spirits amid tornado recovery

Nell Williams
·4 min read

PERRYTON — Saturday was a special day in Perryton where everyone came together, despite the heat and recent tragedy of the tornado, to offer a show of force against bad fortune. The tall radio tower, one of the landmarks of Perryton, was twisted into a loop, which inspired the “bent but not broken” title this year, according to Crystal Richardson, Perryton-Ochiltree Chamber of Commerce executive director.

The Perryton High School Marching Band walks past the crowd at the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton.
The Perryton High School Marching Band walks past the crowd at the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton.
Members of Boy Scout Troop 256 and 258 carry the colors down Main Street the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton.
Members of Boy Scout Troop 256 and 258 carry the colors down Main Street the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton.

The annual Wheatheart of the Nation celebration has been taking place 104 years, and the town of 8,500 was not about to quit now. Especially not now.

Around 60 floats lined up on Main Street before 10 a.m. to make their march down the center of their city, where much of the damage could still be seen from the EF-3 tornado that ripped through town June 15, leaving three dead and more than 100 injured.

The Liberal High School Marching Band from Kansas gives the crowd a little flare at the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton.
The Liberal High School Marching Band from Kansas gives the crowd a little flare at the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton.

Thanks to the generosity of a Perryton local, the late Don Lemon of Perryton Interstate Bank, there were around six bands marching to earn $1,000 offered for bands to perform at the parade. Classic cars, tractors, fire trucks, floats, businesses and revered citizens joined in the hour-and-a-half parade, throwing candy to bystanders and kids who ran to grab the treasures.

A Perryton family gets comfortable for the Bent but not Broken Parade in Perryton Saturday morning as part of this year's Wheatheart of the Nation celebration.
A Perryton family gets comfortable for the Bent but not Broken Parade in Perryton Saturday morning as part of this year's Wheatheart of the Nation celebration.
A little fireman helps get the fire truck ready for the Bent but Not Broken parade held Saturday morning in Perryton as part of this year's Wheatheart of the Nation celebration.
A little fireman helps get the fire truck ready for the Bent but Not Broken parade held Saturday morning in Perryton as part of this year's Wheatheart of the Nation celebration.

The 2023 Parade Marshall and Citizen of the Year was Charlotte Flowers Hale. KEWE radio did a Live Remote Broadcast of the parade for those who couldn’t attend.

Temperatures soared to around 101 degrees but it didn’t seem to bother the participants. Lori David, Boy Scout Troop leader and her son, Liam, were the lead act in the show with other Boy Scouts. Lori said that she was proud to be in the parade and that she thought it helped to get the town back to some kind of normality. David said she had been active in the event, and scouting, for around 10 years.

After the order of the flags was established, the parade began promptly at 10 a.m.

Long time resident Sue Holloway said, “We don’t realize how lucky we really are. It could have done so much more damage.” Holloway said that her mother has lived in Perryton 85 years and loves the town. She also said she attended the breakfast at 6 a.m., sponsored by United Supermarkets, and that it was really good.

A float reminding the crowd that Perryton is rebuilding drives down Main Street at the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton.
A float reminding the crowd that Perryton is rebuilding drives down Main Street at the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton.
The Perryton High School football team waves to the crowd at the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton.
The Perryton High School football team waves to the crowd at the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton.

Families gathered along the parade route, sitting in the back of their cars or lawn chairs, and many had the family dog along for fun. Many of the stores closed for the event, but some offered respite from the heat.

Winners of the Parade included:

  • Out of the Ordinary – Parker Swinney;

  • Live animal – 1st place - Devers Performance Horses, 2nd place – Jines Ranch;

  • Auto – 1st place – Jim’s Flock of Birds, 2nd place – Richesin Concrete;

  • Tractor – 1st place – Turner Family, 2nd place – Panhandle Implement;

  • Large Band – 1st place – Guymon High School, 2nd place – Liberal High School;

  • Small Band – 1st place – Booker High School - 2nd place - Gruver High School;

  • Non-profit – 1st place – Chase your Dreams, 2nd place – D.A.R;

  • Commercial – 1st National Bank; 2nd place – Creative Collections;

  • Judge’s Choice – Perryton CrossFit.

The Booker High School Marching Band marches down Main Street at the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton.
The Booker High School Marching Band marches down Main Street at the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton.
The Booker High School Band entertains the crowd at the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton.
The Booker High School Band entertains the crowd at the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton.

The early breakfast was followed by the Wheatheart Rodeo Slack at the Rodeo Grounds.

After the parade, participants could go to the NHS Car Show at Perryton National Bank or the Wheatheart Free Old Fashioned Cookout featuring BBQ at the Expo. Some chose to go to Pioneer Days at the Museum of the Plains, where they served homemade ice cream.

Richardson said that they almost ran out of Barbecue at the Expo, where it was served. “I think we served around 1,500 plates,” she said. The event was a big success and brought in a lot of people, according to the Chamber of Commerce head.

Children make a mad dash for candy at the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton.
Children make a mad dash for candy at the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton.
The Guymon High School Marching Band is led down Main Street by their color guard at the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton.
The Guymon High School Marching Band is led down Main Street by their color guard at the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton.
Two civil war reenactors fire their rifles into the air at the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton.
Two civil war reenactors fire their rifles into the air at the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton.
A wagon is led down Main Street by a flag bearing rider at the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton, Texas.
A wagon is led down Main Street by a flag bearing rider at the 104th annual Wheatheart of the Nation Parade Saturday in Perryton, Texas.

Later that evening, there was a PAC Golf Tournament at Perryton Municipal Golf Course, and a fun rodeo event included clown tricks with bulls, called “Bullfighting,” at the Rodeo Grounds along with live music with Cameron James Smith.

The main weekend drew up to 3,000 people, according to the Chamber of Commerce.

There will be a concert at the Community Worship Center (CWC) with Pat Barrett and opener Jon Reddick at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, to culminate this year's event.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: ‘Bent but not Broken’ Perryton parade lifts spirits in wake of tornado