14-Karat Evening:
Gold Plate Dinner
Raises $3,500
Event Dedicated To Longtime Resident
Don Courteau
By Deb Barnes
HUGO - The 4th Annual
Gold Plate Dinner, which raises
funds for the Oneka Elementary
School playground, was dedicated
to former school fan and
supporter Don Courteau, who
passed away last December.
Courteau, who was known
as the “money man,” typically
cruised the banquet hall wearing
his funny money hat, accepting
donations for playground
equipment. And this year, by a
strange quirk of fate, Courteau’s
daughter, June Courteau, won
the $1,000 drawing at the event,
held Feb. 6 at the Hugo American
Legion.
“I know what my father would have wanted me to do [with the
money],” she said, waving the red envelope in the air to applause. “It’s
all going back [to the fund].”
All but a few of the 100 tickets were sold prior to the dinner. Indefatigable
and funny Mary Thompson, who served as the master of
ceremonies for the event, waved the remaining tickets in the air and
auctioned them off to the highest bidder before the drawing began.
Those remaining chances at the $1,000 drawing went for $30.
In addition to multiple door prizes, every 10th number drawn
from the drum won a prize, ranging from cosmetic baskets to a cooler
with frozen meat, all donated by area businesses.
Those in attendance included school teachers, parents, area civic
leaders, and businesspersons. Special guests included members of
Don Courteau’s family.
According to Thompson, this year’s gold plated contribution
to the playground fund now brings the total funds raised to over
$15,000.
“Not too bad, for having fun so our kids can have fun on the
playground,” Thompson quipped.
