Dixie Secession and Spirit of Dixie Fundraisers

The Dixie Secession was a fund-raising event in 1987 and 1988, with a name change in 1990 to the Spirit of Dixie. In 1987, Lon Henderson gathered the support and sponsorship of the City of St. George, the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce, Washington County School District, and Dixie State College of Utah to develop an annual gala event. 40% of the raised funds was dedicated to a city-wide project and the remainder was divided evenly among the sponsors (Washington County News, 1987-03-13, p. 1).

The Dixie Secession fund-raising event began in 1987 with a two-day event. The event commenced with a hot air balloon rally which was followed by a Southern themed barbeque and the dedication of the “Two Little Boys” statue on March 14, 1987. At noon Utah Governor Norman H. Bangerter and St. George Mayor Karl Brooks flew into the Vernon Worthen Park on a helicopter, where Governor Bangerter read a “Secession proclamation, declaring Dixie Officially Seceded from noon until midnight.” (Washington County News, 1987-03-17, p. 1). In the evening there was a Southern style ball and auction gala event with a Gone with the Wind theme. A façade of the Tara mansion in Gone with the Wind, an orchestra, and costume contest were part of the attraction. Auction items included big ticket items like a boat and trailer, along with many smaller prizes, and “slaves” offering services (Washington County News, 1987-03-13, p. 1).

The second annual event was held March 11 and 12, 1988 and coordinated by Lon Henderson. In February, marketing event accompanied by the National Guard, a large Confederate flag was displayed on St. George Boulevard and 200 East to give “the Union 30 days’ notice that Utah’s Dixie is once again about to secede” (Washington County News, 1988-02-16, p. 1). The fundraising event in March included an auction, barbeque, and ball. Pin-back buttons, matching apron and bonnet sets, and a reenactment Confederate soldier hat were created for the event.

There was not a third annual event in 1989 and in 1990 the name was changed to the Spirit of Dixie and was coordinated by Cheryl Vause with Lon Henderson as the chair. The fund-raising event in March 1990 included a performance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, a Western Days in the Park fair and barbeque, a beauty contest, and a Southern ball. Rather than raise money, the event was a net loss of $11,219.39.