Appearing at the Zwolle Loggers and Forestry Festival
in Zwolle
May 9.2009
from 9pm to 11:30pm

The President of the Zwolle Loggers & Forestry Festival is Ronald Brandon.
Phone numbers are 256-3394, Home; 256-5910, Business.

Each year a Queen is selected to reign over the Zwolle Loggers & Forestry Festival. Currently reigning as Festival Queen is Haley Mitchell.

1995 Zwolle Loggers & Forestry Festival
1st Oldest Logger

Robert "Bob" Remedies was the son of Simon Remedies and Julia Leone Remedies. He was born July 13, 1918, in Zwolle, La. He married Gladys Bebee May 18, 1940, and they were parents of six boys and five girls. Before starting his logging business Bob served in World War II as a medium tank driver. After an honorable discharged, he returned in 1946 to purse a business in pulpwood.

His equipment back then included two rented mules and a lot of willpower. After many days of hard work, he had finally made enough money to purchase a used pulpwood truck, which had already seen it's better days. Hard work and diligence and the fact that he had many mouths to feed gave him the strength to weather the unfortunate times. Bob was able to become a successful self-employer logging contractor. In 1990, he put away his lace up Redwing Boots and decided it was time to retire. He made quite an impression in the timber industry.

At the time of his death he had six sons who have occupations which have stemmed from what they learned from their daddy and are timber related. Bob's strong ties with his religion and St. Joseph's Church made him a true believer. Through his work in the community and politics, his voice was heard by many. He had and old saying, which was, "if the Lord is willing." The Lord did give him a long and prosperous life and blessed him with much knowledge about the timber industry. This great logger will always be remembered for all his contributions to the industry. Bob had much pride in the timber industry and is there's a mill in heaven, his truck is in the line waiting to be scaled and unloaded.

1996 Zwolle Loggers & Forestry Festival
2nd Oldest Logger

The second annual Logging and Forestry Festival saluted Jessie Knight 1923-1996 as one of the oldest logger's in Sabine Parish. Mr. Knight is the son of Ben Knight and Gertrude Procell. He was born on Sept. 18, 1907. He is the father of four children: Jessie Knight Jr. of Frieson, La., Murice Knight of Abbeville, La., Carrie Knight Rivers of Zwolle, La., and Robbie Knight Anderson of Sunnyvale, Calf.

Mr. Jessie was a very happy, friendly person whom enjoyed have conversations and joking with everyone. He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Zwolle, La.

Jessie Knight started logging in 1923 at the age of 16 years old, he said "that the logging industry had come a long way since his time, due to all the modern machinery."

Mr. Knight expired January 14, 1997. He is greatly missed by his family and friends.

1997 Zwolle Loggers and Forestry Festival
3rd Oldest Logger

Robert Lee Williams Sr. is the eighth of ten children born to late Needham and Ozie Mae Williams. He attended Sabine High School "The Blue Waves" in Many. He is being honored by the Zwolle Loggers and Forestry Festival for his many years of hard work and dedication to the logging industry.

At the age of 15, he started working in the woods. That is the time when a mule was used. Men used a cross cut saw with the saying, "You pull yours, I'll pull mine." Through the years, Robert Lee has driven a tractor, a skidder, and at the "young" age of 63, he is driving a log truck.

In 1953, Robert Lee married Velma Lee Lilly. He is the father of 13 children, 36 grandchildren with one on the way and 10 great-grandchildren. His daughter Pat said "I have never seen my father get mad, nor heard him say a curse word." Longtime family friend Kenny Remedies said "As long as I have known Mr. Robert Lee, he has always been a kind, friendly man." A devoted father and family man, he attends Belmont Church of Christ Holiness. In has spare time, Robert Lee enjoys riding his horses.

1998 Zwolle Loggers & Forestry Festival Oldest Logger
Henry Remedies

On January 29, 1916, Henry Remedies was born in Zwolle to Steve and Maggie (Procell) Remedies. He had three brothers Louis Remedies Sr., Frank Remedies, and Steve Remedies Jr. Three sisters Fannie Parrie, Louise Parrie, and Josphine Martinez. On May 11, 1936, Henry married Clara (Parrie) Remedies blessed with 67 wonderful years together.They had four daughters Annie Ruth Sepulvado, Marjorie Park, Henrietta Blake, and Betty Jo Sepulvado.

Remedies enjoyed working in the logging industry for 45 years. At the age of 17, he began working in the woods cutting pulpwood. During his early years he also cut logs. In 1942 joined employment with Sabine Lumber Co. In 1960 he joined Boise Cascade as a foreman until his retirement May 31, 1978. Since retirement devoted time to St. Joseph Catholic church in Zwolle.

One of his pleasure time was to be with his great grandchildren teaching them to sing songs he knew as a child. He devoted many hours working in his garden. Also loved to go hunting and watch his favorite game, the Dallas Cowboys.

In 1998 Henry Remedies at the age of 82 was honored as the Zwolle Oldest Logger for the Forestry Festival. He was so proud of his honor bestowed own him. He was grand marshal that year with his friendly smile and waving his hand to the hundred of people he had know over the years. Until his death September 16, 2004, at the age of 88, he looked forward to the weekend of the festival.