This Labor Day weekend, two brothers who have served the Severy area throughout their careers will serve as this year’s Grand Marshalls. Louis and Carl Johnson both graduated from Severy High School (10 years apart) and after a short time, returned to the community to start their long-time careers.
Louis went into business with their other brother Calvin and operated Johnson Bros. Auction Service in 1958, after they attended the Reisch School of Auctioneering at Mason City, Iowa. They served the area for approximately 55 years. Louis worked as many as five cattle auctions a week with additional farm, real estate, household, antique and bazaar auctions mixed in. He also assisted with 4-H Livestock Auctions in both Greenwood and Elk Counties for several decades.
After serving the Army in Vietnam, Carl returned to Severy and began his career as the general manager of the Severy Co-op, a position he held for 40 years. He currently serves on the Bank of Commerce Board of Directors, a position he has held for 24 years.
In 1953, Louis began raising Polled Herefords. He continued this operation through 1997. He currently has a small mixed-breed herd. Over the years, Carl has had various mixed breeds, an operation he continues today.
Louis has two sons, Alan of Eureka and Roger of El Dorado. He has six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Carl has two children, Kent and Nancy, both of El Dorado.
Louis and Carl both are proud to be from the nice small quiet town of Severy and are honored to have been selected as this year’s Grand Marshalls for the 2024 Severy Labor Day parade, which will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, September 2.
Severy Labor Day Celebration
The annual Severy Labor Day Celebration will be held this Saturday, Aug. 31 through Monday, Sept. 2.
On Saturday, Aug. 31, a kids fishing derby is scheduled at the Severy Lake from 8 to 10:30 a.m. A coed mud volleyball tournament is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in downtown Severy.
On Sunday, Sept. 1, a cornhole tournament will be held west of Home Bank, beginning at 11 a.m. Registration for the event begins at 10 a.m. The annual Gospel Singspiration and ice cream social is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the Nazarene Church. This event is sponsored by the Severy churches.
Beginning at 7 p.m. Sunday, there will be coed Softball Fun Games at the Severy Ball Diamond. A fireworks show, weather permitting, will be held at the Severy Ball Diamond at 8:30 p.m.
On Monday, Sept. 2, the day will begin with the West Elk FFA hosting breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Severy Community Building. The parade lineup is scheduled to start at 9 a.m., with the parade beginning at 10 a.m.
Registration for the Car Show will be from 8 to 10 a.m. with the show beginning at 10 a.m. and going until 2 p.m.
Other events include kid’s games, box turtle races, a horseshoe tournament, kid’s pedal tractor pull and more. Additional details can be found on page 10 of this week’s edition.
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