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Historical Timeline

2009

  • YMBL holds its first spring Fair March 26th-April 5th.

2008

  • YMBL cancels the Fair for the second time due to Hurricane Ike, which rolled in to Southeast Texas on September 13th.

2005

  • YMBL cancels the Fair for the first time since it began producing the Fair in 1942, due to Hurricane Rita, which rolled in to Southeast Texas on September 24th.

2004

  • YMBL conducts Fair for the first time at its new home the Southeast Texas Entertainment Complex (Ford Park).
  • YMBL begins construction of new office building adjacent to Southeast Texas Entertainment Complex.
  • YMBL moves into new offices at 7250 Wespark Drive, adjacent to Southeast Texas Entertainment Complex (Ford Park).

2003

  • YMBL conducts the South Texas State Fair at the City of Beaumont’s Fair Park for the final time.

2001

  • YMBL Board of Directors ratifies contract with Jefferson County to move the Fair to the Southeast Texas Entertainment Complex.
  • YMBL renames Special Needs Children Rodeo to “Harold Engstrom Memorial Kids Day Rodeo” in memory of the late Judge Engstrom, the founder of the event who passed away in March 2001.

1999

  • YMBL begins work with Jefferson County officials for the construction of the Southeast Texas Entertainment Complex, the future home of the South Texas State Fair.

1998

  • YMBL hires Chris Colletti as Executive Vice President after the retirement of Joe Goetschius who served in that position for 31 years.

1994

  • Jefferson County Sheriff's Department helicopter flew 300 feet in the air over the fairgrounds, ensuring security of fair-goers as Governor Anne Richards visited.

1990

  • YMBL South Texas State Fair and the Beaumont Independent School District hold the first "School Holiday" event which gives students free admittance to the Fair.

1989

  • YMBL and radio station KAYD hold a concert with the Rodeo featuring Dan Seals.

1988

  • $8 wristbands for unlimited rides. Grand Champion Cassie Condon's father, Jessie Condon, died of a heart attack just hours before his daughter auctioned her steer. Total attendance for the year hit 650,000.
  • YMBL holds first Rodeo Pre Party for Special Needs Children, sponsored by Attorney Walter Umphrey.

1987

  • YMBL South Texas State Fair holds “Historical Beaumont” photo contest celebrating 150 years.

1984

  • Netted $300,000.
  • YMBL host first Lamar Cardinal Club BBQ for football program.

1983

  • YMBL South Texas State Fair holds first Thursday Night Fair Opening “Preview Night”. This was also the first 11 day Fair in history.

1982

  • Threw a surprise birthday party for the self-proclaimed smallest man in the world.
  • YMBL completes renovation of YMBL offices and conducts a ribbon cutting on May 25th.

1981

  • YMBL conducts first "Babe Zaharias Relays" in place of the Special Olympics and allows mentally challenged kids to participate.

1979

  • YMBL conducts first Pro-Am Golf Tourney with Golf Pro and Beaumont native Bruce Lietzke.

1978

  • "New" Fair Park received $200,000 facelift
  • YMBL becomes a Member of the Lamar University Regents Club.

1977

  • YMBL donates $20,000 to the City of Beaumont for seats in the Fair Park Arena.
  • YMBL uses newly constructed Fair Park Area during the South Texas State Fair.
  • YMBL gives Lamar University $56,000 for the construction of a recreation pavilion next to Cardinal Stadium.

1976

  • YMBL donates Liberty Bell to City of Beaumont on behalf of citizens.

1975

  • Featured the "Nazi Beast," an vehicle from Nazi Germany. Steer sale earns $11,537, thought to be a national record.
  • YMBL purchases replica of the Liberty Bell for $15,000 for the 1976 celebration of America’s 200th celebration.

1974

  • 433,000 people attended; South Texas State Fair declared the 31st largest fair on the continent
  • YMBL conducts first Girls Volleyball Tournament.
  • YMBL donates portrait of John Gray and his wife for the Gray Library at Lamar University.
  • YMBL contributes $50,000 to the Lamar University Hall of Honor.

1973

  • YMBL hosts first Special Olympics in cooperation with the Sabine Area Restaurant Association at Lamar University.
  • YMBL South Texas State Fair sets record attendance with over 400,000.

1972

  • Walt Garrison of the World Champion Dallas Cowboys was the featured star at the Rodeo.
  • YMBL conducts study with City of Beaumont for upgrades and possible coliseum construction at Fair Park.

1971

  • YMBL sponsors the first and only Spring Carnival during the Neches River Festival.
  • YMBL spends $26,000 for expansion to the Livestock Barns at Fair Park.

1970

  • YMBL Membership soars to 1,641.
  • YMBL purchases 6 acres adjacent to Fair Park and has it rocked, oiled & rolled for badly needed additional parking for Fair patrons. YMBL donates land to City of Beaumont.

1969

  • The first year that Southeast Texas saw the Moonwalk, now a popular attraction at many events
  • City of Beaumont changes name of Fairgrounds to Fair Park.

1968

  • YMBL / Lamar Tech Invitational Track & Field Meet was renamed for Coach Ty Terrell, who was killed in a plane crash along with 5 of his track stars. The Ty Terrell Invitational Track Meet was first held on May 18, 1968 with top track teams participating.

1967

  • YMBL celebrates its 50 Year Anniversary, with membership at 1,453.
  • 50th Anniversary photo contest was open to anyone with a photo of the Fair from past years.
  • Paul Harvey is the guest speaker at the Anniversary Party and Banquet which had over 800 in attendance.
  • YMBL donates 50 Books of Texas History to Tyrrell Library.

1966

  • YMBL establishes its first Program of Work outlining all of its planned activities for the current year.
  • YMBL Relays at Lamar Tech open the collegiate track season. Teams that participated in the meet held at Beaumont High School’s Royal Purple Stadium include Lamar Tech, LSU, University of Houston and Southwest Louisiana University.
  • YMBL membership tops 1,000 for first time.
  • YMBL assists with establishment of the student nurse loan fund in the amount of $1,000 each for Baptist Hospital of Southeast Texas and Hotel Dieu School of Nursing.
  • YMBL formed the committee that assisted the Beaumont Remedial Clinic and Hospital to obtain funding for operational expenses, maintenance and expansion of services.
  • YMBL holds first amateur photo contest at the South Texas State Fair.

1965

  • YMBL completes the construction of offices built at the City of Beaumont’s Fair Grounds donating it to the City.

1964

  • YMBL separates from the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce and establishes itself as an independent organization with offices in the Goodhue Building. Membership dues were set at $12 per year.
  • YMBL hires Joe Goetschius as Executive Secretary after his resignation from the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce.

1963

  • YMBL hired the Bill Hames Show to provide the carnival midway for the 1964 Fair.

1962

  • YMBL establishes first Christmas Baskets Food delivery for the needy.

1961

  • Brochure publicizing the Fair stated that the South Texas State Fair "Receives prominent mention in such publications as Billboard Magazine, Variety Magazine and numerous breeder's publications."
  • YMBL approves first office for occupancy.
  • YMBL conducts first Rodeo Queens contest.

1960

  • 309,281 attend the Fair with the Fair costing $95,000 to produce

1958

  • YMBL adds 1,000 bleacher seats to the Rodeo Arena at Fairgrounds increasing seating capacity to 2,700.
  • Over 1,000 riders participate in the YMBL Rodeo Parade with the Trek Riders. The ride began at Plantation Ranch in Romayor and ended 66 miles later at the end of the route in Downtown Beaumont. The ride was led by Gov. Price Daniel and his brother and Trail Boss Bill Daniel.
  • YMBL conducts first Miss South Texas State Fair Contest at Fair.
  • YMBL makes first Goodwill Tour with a 400 mile bus trip route through Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas to publicize the South Texas State Fair.

1957

  • YMBL supports the building of the Babe Zaharias Memorial Coliseum.
  • YMBL establishes the Blood Center of Southeast Texas.

1953

  • The Flower Show was started at the Fair for area gardeners to exhibit their flowers.

1952

  • YMBL brought Little League Baseball to Beaumont and the YMBL American Little League was born.
  • YMBL held its first Boys Basketball Tournament, nicknamed the Cage Tournament.

1947

  • YMBL helps to finance the Ronne expedition to the South Pole.

1946

  • YMBL accepts charter of the old South Texas State Fair.

1945

  • YMBL sells $1,000,000.00 worth of War bonds to help finance World War II.
  • YMBL conducts a boxing bout at the City of Beaumont Auditorium.
  • 1st Annual Coon & Collard Dinner was held for the Key Men Organization.

1943

  • YMBL establishes first scholarships at Lamar for students.

1942

  • YMBL takes over sponsorship of the Fair after old Fair Association folds.
  • 1942-1945 - Exhibits were in short supply, so the fair operated throughout World War II as a livestock show, known as the "YMBL Victory Fair."
  • YMBL took over the operation of the Fair from the City of Beaumont. The YMBL Victory Fair went on in spite of World War II and was well attended and successful.

1938

  • In 1938 the YMBL undertook a project to aid Lamar College in seeking four-year status.

1936

  • 20,000 attend one night of the Fair. Officials were not prepared to accommodate the unexpected crowd

1935

  • Largest fair in the state
  • In 1935, the YMBL helped Lamar College schedule football games with out of state teams.

1934

  • YMBL organizes Texas Centennial Committee to go to Dallas in 1936 in support of the celebration.

1933

  • YMBL assists the City of Beaumont with the collection of $210,000.00 in delinquent property taxes.

1932

  • YMBL sponsors a 4th of July celebration in partnership with the City of Beaumont.
  • YMBL helped Lamar College schedule football games with out of state teams.
  • Key Men Organization within the YMBL was founded.

1931

  • YMBL holds first High School track and field meet.

1930

  • YMBL sells advance tickets to the Fair for the Fair Association.

1928

  • YMBL supports the Beaumont Little Theatre with funding to build the first Little Theatre at Beaumont’s Fair Park.

1927

  • YMBL undertakes a campaign to eradicate rats in Jefferson County.

1926

  • YMBL conducts the first Beautify Beaumont campaign and Safety Drive.

1925

  • Crowds at the November fair learned that Spindletop "brought in a new gusher."

1923

  • The YMBL helped to keep the Texas League Baseball team in Beaumont when all the Board members signed a note to help finance the team.

1922

  • The YMBL assisted the Beaumont Fair Association with the first South Texas State Fair which was held on the City owned fairgrounds on Gulf Street.
  • Fair moves to the fairgrounds on Gulf Street

1921

  • Becomes the South Texas State Fair
  • The name of the Fair changed from the Southeast Texas Fair to the South Texas State Fair.

1920

  • A special Armistice Day celebration was attended by over 14,000 people at the Fall Carnival.

1919

  • The YMBL assisted in raising $50,000.00 to aid the Port of Beaumont with their operations.
  • The YMBL began its association with youth agriculture when it formed the Jefferson County Boys’s and Girl’s Pig Club. It was a club to encourage the raising of pure bred stock.

1918

  • War Savings Bond Drive comprised of 50 YMBL men secured over $100,000.00 in pledges in rural areas greatly exceeding the Jefferson County quota for the drive.
  • YMBL Night Riders were organized to distribute literature and show moving pictures of new and improved methods of farming.

1917

  • The men at that same meeting that formed the organization came out in favor of the creation of a public library; it was created in two months and named the Tyrrell Library. They also endorsed passage of a $300,000 waterways improvement bond issue and the Port of Beaumont was created.
  • Ed Paggi sent invitations to 100 leading men in Beaumont asking them to attend a meeting at the Beaumont Country Club. To assure they would attend he said steaks would be on the menu. The result of that meeting was the organization called the Young Men’s Business League.

1912

  • Aviatrix Catherine Stinson gave rides in her Curtis airplane - $25 for a five-minute ride

1911

  • Waterfront pageant where Queen Ecir was crowned ("Rice" spelled backwards)

1910

  • Held at the Nancy Tevis Market (police station)

1907

  • County Fair held in the Duke Hotel, corner of Liberty and Willow Streets, where Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders once dined. Captain E.I. Kelly of Jasper was president. They celebrated Veteran's Day, "in which Captain Kelly and a company of his men participated in Confederate uniforms and a bullet-torn flag." (Reported in 1932 Beaumont Enterprise)

1904

  • Exposition held at the "little triangle" at Main and Crockett streets, then the town's center. Admission was free
 

today

1904

 

2009
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