Chinga talk
Marion enjoyed its 11th Chingawassa Days in June 2007. This annual festival has become one of the highlights of the year, and a great selling point for those promoting the quality of life in our town. Even though everyone has some idea what the festival offers, you can't really know what goes into staging the event unless you have been on the Chinga committee. To answer questions and clear up areas of confusion, Pete the Chingawassa Rhino has agreed to respond to a number of questions. The issues and Pete's responses will be presented in a series of columns the next few weeks.
Dear Pete: Why the rhino?
Pete's answer: Because they're beautiful! Oh, and there are other reasons as well. Since Chinga was born in 1997, the event's logo, along with ads and posters promoting the weekend, often included a rhinoceros. Early versions showed the silhouette of a classic rhino. As time passed, the rhino has been transformed into a more cartoon-like figure, usually standing on two legs. He also gained a name. "Pete the Rhino" has been seen: boarding a rail car; standing with outstretched arms in front of a classic rail car; wearing a "buff" pirate style on his head; standing in a disco pose with one upraised arm; in a rock-n-roll pose with his guitar; and in full gallop promoting the rhino run. So why a rhino named Pete?
One of the members of the original Chingawassa Days committee was Pete Peterson. He was an enthusiastic member of the group who was well liked by everyone. Unfortunately, Pete had a serious illness, and although he was able to participate in the planning of the first celebration, he was severely limited in his ability to participate when the events actually took place. Nevertheless, his dedication was an inspiration to the rest of the committee.
Pete had an interest in rhinos. He had a number of statues, figurines, and pictures of them. When Pete died, the Chingawssa Days steering committee informally adopted the rhino as a logo in his memory. The committee commissioned a chain saw artist to carve a rhino statue which is kept in the Marion Chamber of Commerce office most of the year, but is brought out the weekend of Chingawassa and displayed at the park.
The silhouette of a rhinoceros was used on certificates of appreciation and thank you cards. By 2000, the rhino, which had by then come to be known as "Pete," was incorporated into the actual Chingawassa Days logo for that year. Prior to that time, the logo had always featured a rail car because of the old railroad connecting Marion to the Chingawassa Springs.
In 2000, Pete the Rhino, was seen boarding a Chingawassa Springs railcar. Pete has continued to be a part of the logo ever since. In recent years, "Pete the Chingawassa Rhino" has become the centerpiece of the logo.
While the original intention of using the rhino as a symbol of the Chingawassa Days event was intended to honor Pete Peterson, the committee has now come to realize that it is also a very recognizable and unique symbol with which to promote Marion's premiere entertainment event. What other community in Kansas has a rhino for it's mascot? Marion is now the Rhino Capital of Kansas! We have dozens of "Pete's" honoring Jayhawks, Wildcats, Shockers, Chiefs, bankers, doctors, lawyers, hunters, golfers, letter carriers, cooks, EMTs, and about anything else you can think of.
Drop by the chamber of commerce office, pick up a "Rhino Map" and take the "Rhino Tour." Gosh it's great to be famous!
