Tabor couple receive tourism award
By Loretta Sorensen, Journal correspondent | Posted: Monday, February 18, 2008
Mildred and Leonard Cimpl were recognized by the state of South Dakota with the Ben Black Elk Award for their lifelong support of Tabor's Czech Days. The Tabor natives have been chief organizers of the annual event in recent years. (Photo by Loretta Sorensen)
TABOR, S.D. -- Leonard and Mildred Cimpl were surprised when they were honored recently by South Dakota's tourism industry with the Ben Black Elk Award.
"They really conned us into being at that," Leonard Cimpl said. "We thought the Tabor Chamber of Commerce was getting an award. We had no idea."
When Leonard Cimpl's father suggested his hometown establish an annual celebration in 1946, he probably didn't envision that his son would play a major role in the celebration more than 60 years later. Since Mildred Cimpl is a Tabor native, too, it's been natural for the couple to be involved in the three-day event since they were married.
"My mother started the Beseda dancers in 1936," Mildred Cimpl said. "She helped with that until she was in her 80s. She lived to be almost 90. I took over the group when she couldn't do it anymore."
Both Leonard and Mildred Cimpl acknowledge they have a wealth of helpers who make Czech Days a reality.
Though they both work at organizing plans throughout each year, many local groups and organizations work autonomously on their part of the celebration.
"The day after it's over, we announce dates for the following year," Leonard Cimpl said. "We'll start contacting people and meeting. It takes pretty much all 400 people who live here to make it happen. Everybody's always willing to work together on it. That's what keeps our town so vibrant."
For the 2008 celebration, former Czech Days queens, princes and princesses are being invited to return and be recognized. Mildred Cimpl has been sending letters and making phone calls for several months in order to locate and extend an invitation to each one.
"We'll have a reception for the queens and we're thinking all of them will march in the parade, grouped by the year they were selected," Mildred Cimpl said. "We know all of them can't return, but a lot of them will."
The Cimpls said many families plan family reunions around the Czech Days event because their children and grandchildren don't want to miss the festivities. "It seems like our parade floats get better every year," Leonard Cimpl said. "People really take the time to create nice floats even though there are so few of us."
Once they were presented with their award, the Cimpls said they were surprised again by the recognition they received when they returned to Pierre to conduct other business.
"A couple of times we received standing ovations from the politicians when we were introduced," Leonard Cimpl said. "We don't really think we're doing that much. Czech Days is something we've done all our life."
Mildred Cimpl noted that during the celebration, she and her husband work long hours and don't see one another from the time they leave their home in the morning until they return at night.
"But it's a lot of fun," she said. "Everybody works together. They just pitch in if someone doesn't show up. And we all enjoy it. We hope it never comes to an end."
"They really conned us into being at that," Leonard Cimpl said. "We thought the Tabor Chamber of Commerce was getting an award. We had no idea."
When Leonard Cimpl's father suggested his hometown establish an annual celebration in 1946, he probably didn't envision that his son would play a major role in the celebration more than 60 years later. Since Mildred Cimpl is a Tabor native, too, it's been natural for the couple to be involved in the three-day event since they were married.
"My mother started the Beseda dancers in 1936," Mildred Cimpl said. "She helped with that until she was in her 80s. She lived to be almost 90. I took over the group when she couldn't do it anymore."
Both Leonard and Mildred Cimpl acknowledge they have a wealth of helpers who make Czech Days a reality.
Though they both work at organizing plans throughout each year, many local groups and organizations work autonomously on their part of the celebration.
"The day after it's over, we announce dates for the following year," Leonard Cimpl said. "We'll start contacting people and meeting. It takes pretty much all 400 people who live here to make it happen. Everybody's always willing to work together on it. That's what keeps our town so vibrant."
For the 2008 celebration, former Czech Days queens, princes and princesses are being invited to return and be recognized. Mildred Cimpl has been sending letters and making phone calls for several months in order to locate and extend an invitation to each one.
"We'll have a reception for the queens and we're thinking all of them will march in the parade, grouped by the year they were selected," Mildred Cimpl said. "We know all of them can't return, but a lot of them will."
The Cimpls said many families plan family reunions around the Czech Days event because their children and grandchildren don't want to miss the festivities. "It seems like our parade floats get better every year," Leonard Cimpl said. "People really take the time to create nice floats even though there are so few of us."
Once they were presented with their award, the Cimpls said they were surprised again by the recognition they received when they returned to Pierre to conduct other business.
"A couple of times we received standing ovations from the politicians when we were introduced," Leonard Cimpl said. "We don't really think we're doing that much. Czech Days is something we've done all our life."
Mildred Cimpl noted that during the celebration, she and her husband work long hours and don't see one another from the time they leave their home in the morning until they return at night.
"But it's a lot of fun," she said. "Everybody works together. They just pitch in if someone doesn't show up. And we all enjoy it. We hope it never comes to an end."
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 0 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
