Rhoden, Roby Reign At Harvest Festival

 

PLATTSMOUTH - Although a veteran doctor of anesthesiology with a long list of accomplishments, Dr. Don Rhoden said being crowned the 2019 Plattsmouth Harvest Festival King was one of the highlights of his life.

Rhoden was crowned the festival king Sept. 5 during the annual Coronation ceremonies in downtown Plattsmouth.

Rhoden: “I loved this festival ever since I was a little boy. It was a magical time riding the Octopus and raising a lot of heck at the penny arcade. When I was in college, my parents (George and Ruthe Ellen Barley Rhoden) would call me every year to tell me who the king and queen were. It was a big deal to my mom and dad. When my kids were little, they entered the Big Wheel contest every year. My kids were avid Big Wheel racers.”

Six days after he was born in Omaha in December 1956, Rhoden came home with his parents to Plattsmouth on Christmas Eve.

He attended Plattsmouth Community Schools from kindergarten through 12^th grade and graduated from high school in 1975. In 1982, he earned his degree of Doctor of Medicine with High Distinction. He finished his residency at University of Nebraska Medical Center in the Department of Anesthesiology. In 1985, he began his practice at Clarkson Hospital and in 1998, he became Assistant Clinic Professor of Anesthesiology at UNMC.

He now practices at Immanuel Medical Center and Mercy Hospital Council Bluffs. He has just started his 38th year of practicing medicine.

Rhoden served as the 2014 president of the Korn Klub, the organization that has sponsored the festival for the past 88 years, making it the longest running four-day event in the state. He became a Lord of the Realm in 2007, and over the next seen years held every office in the Korn Klub except secretary and treasurer.

As the new festival king, Rhoden crowned Plattsmouth songbird, Grace Roby, daughter of Bob and Jennifer Roby, as the 2019 festival queen.

Roby is a 2019 Plattsmouth High School graduate and is attending Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Mo. She is studying vocal music education at NMSU, where she received academic honors at the end of the 2019 spring semester.

In high school, Roby was the PHS marching band drum major, member of National Honor society, two-time Nebraska All State Chorus member and founding member of the Academic Core Leaders for the learning academies.

At college, Roby is a member and music director at the women’s music fraternity, Sigma Alpha Lota, member of Northwest’s Tower Choir, Wind Symphony and Orchestra. She is also a National Association for Music Education member.

Following graduation in 2022, Roby hopes to teach vocal music ad a small Midwestern school.

Roby: “I’d like to say thank you to everyone. I’m proud to represent my parents’ business and the community. I look forward to the rest of the year. God bless Cornland.”

Other PHS graduates and festival princesses who vied for the 2019 queen title are Gabriele Ramirez, daughter of Amanda and Gabe Timm: Haley Miller, daughter of Bridgett and Sean Miller; MacKenzie Miller, daughter of Lori and Andy Miller; and Riley Fitzpatrick, daughter of Travis Fitzpatrick and Teresa Houle Fitzpatrick.

Also announced as new Lords of the Realm for their contributions to community and the festival are Thomas Dougherty, Randy Schroeder and William Schuh. Recognized as new Ladies of the Cornland realm for their community and festival volunteerism are Shelley Brugger, Kaitlyn Johnson and Jill Rollins.