(From Carthage Chamber of Commerce)The Carthage Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that the late Robert S. Dale, the visionary who brought the first Maple Leaf Festival to life, will be posthumously honored as Grand Marshal of the 60th Annual Maple Leaf Festival. Mr. Dale's daughters, Kathy Atwood, Julie Dale, and Sue Neely, will accept the honor on his behalf and will take part in the week's festivities, riding in the Maple Leaf Parade on Saturday, October 17.
A Life Devoted to Carthage
Born in Carthage on November 23, 1917, Robert S. Dale spent his life in service to his hometown, his state, and his country. A 1935 graduate of Carthage High School and the University of Missouri, he served in the Missouri Army National Guard during World War II, with duty stretching from the West Coast to the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.
Over a 30-year military career, he rose to the rank of brigadier general, one of only a handful of Jasper County residents ever to achieve general officer status.
After the war, Mr. Dale returned home to The Carthage Press, where he served as editor and publisher until 1976. He used that platform and his boundless energy to champion his community. He served as president of the Carthage Chamber of Commerce in 1959, was among the first to call for the restoration of the Kendrick House, helped found Carthage Historic Preservation, and later served as president of the State Historical Society of Missouri. He was a tireless supporter of the Carthage Public Library, the Council on the Arts, the YMCA, youth baseball, and the Boy Scouts, and of nearly every effort to make Carthage a better place to live.
Where the Festival Began
The Maple Leaf Festival was born in Mr. Dale's office at The Carthage Press. In late 1966, he gathered a group of civic-minded neighbors, including Helen Hill, Richard M. Webster, Dr. Oren Ralston, Robert Ellis Young, Ed C. Ulmer Jr., Dr. Emil Oexman, and Marvin VanGilder, to plan a celebration of Carthage's 125th anniversary. With Mr. Dale serving as chairman, the group met with growing frequency throughout 1967.
At their suggestion, the celebration was timed to coincide with the Four-State Invitational Band Festival directed by Robert W. Stanfield, and the visiting high school bands became the heart of what was then the largest parade in Carthage history.
That first celebration filled an entire week with dances, variety shows, a vintage costume contest, a Belle Starr Day saloon hosted by the Lions Club, a performance by Marching Mizzou, and a lighting campaign led by Dr. Ralston that invited all of Carthage to admire the brilliant October color of its hard maple trees. The week was such a success that the organizers agreed it should become an annual autumn tradition, with the Carthage Chamber of Commerce as its sponsor. Mr. Dale went on to serve as the first chairman of the Maple Leaf Festival, and he never stopped crediting the many volunteers who stood beside him.
Honoring a Legacy
"Robert Dale saw something special in Carthage, and he knew that when neighbors come together to celebrate, a community grows stronger," said Julie Reams, President of the Carthage Chamber of Commerce. "Sixty years ago, he and a small group of dedicated leaders started something that has become a cherished part of who we are. This recognition is long overdue, and we are deeply grateful for his vision and his generosity of spirit. While Mr. Dale is no longer with us, it means so much to welcome his family as we celebrate this milestone anniversary together."
"Dad loved a good party, but more than that, he loved Carthage," said Sue Neely, Mr. Dale's daughter. "He treasured the years he spent working alongside the Maple Leaf Festival volunteers and always said the festival belonged to everyone who helped build it. To know that what they started together is still bringing people joy 60 years later would have meant the world to him. Our family is so honored and so grateful to the Chamber and to this community for remembering him this way."
Sixty Years of Many Hands
Over six decades, countless volunteers, sponsors, businesses, and families have shaped the Maple Leaf Festival into the beloved tradition it is today. The Carthage Chamber of Commerce is honored to carry that celebration forward, now and for many years to come. At its heart, the festival remains what its founders intended: a week of fun, joy, and excitement that brings our community together, leading up to the big parade.
Join the Celebration
A full festival schedule is available at www.carthagechamber.com. Residents can register online to take part in this year's contests and events, including the BBQ Cook-Off, Chili Cook-Off, Taco Tuesday, Dog Show and Races, Baby/Toddler Show, Queen Pageants, and Touch-a-Truck. Also returning this year is the Light Up the Maple Leaf lighting contest, a fitting tribute to the very first festival's celebration of Carthage's fall color. Local businesses are encouraged to get involved and get "Maple Leaf ready" by decorating their storefront windows in the fall spirit
