Pawnee Prepares For Annual Dick Tracy Day Parade And Festival

The cartoonist who created the legendary detective character Dick Tracy, Chester Gould, was born and raised in Pawnee.

To celebrate Gould’s legacy, Pawnee hosts a police car parade and birthday party each October, and this year’s celebration is happening next Saturday, Oct. 5.

Pawnee Mayor Alice Cottle spoke with Tess Maune on News On 6 at 8 about the event, Chester Gould, and Dick Tracy.

Tess: Could you give us a little background on Gould and how Dick Tracy came to be?

Alice: Chester Gould was born in Pawnee in November 1900. His father was a weekly newspaper editor, which likely sparked his interest in becoming a cartoonist. He attended OSU, then went to a university in Illinois. In 1931, during the Prohibition era when mobsters were making headlines, Gould created Dick Tracy, a detective who could take down the mob. The Chicago Tribune picked it up, and Gould wrote and illustrated the comic until he retired in 1977.

Tess: That’s such an amazing history! So, tell us about this year’s celebration.

Alice: Then at 10 a.m., there’s the parade, which any law enforcement agency is welcome to join. They can contact us through the mayor’s office or the Pawnee Police Department, or they can just show up at 9:30 to line up. This year we are starting the event with a 5K fundraiser at 7 a.m. at the lake, it's a police fundraiser. Tracy is on the badge of our police department, so we really support him. We like the efforts of him catching the bad guys. After the parade, there will be refreshments at the Pawnee County Historical Society Museum, which is also the Dick Tracy headquarters. The Pride of Pawnee marching band will play, and we’re also hosting an open house at the new police department. Plus, there’s a fall festival on the town square from 9 to 3 and a citywide garage sale. It’s a big event, and we hope to see a lot of people come out.

Tess: It's neat that you've coupled it with some other important things that are showing “back the blue” themes, which fits perfectly with Dick Tracy. Will people get to meet Dick Tracy?

Alice: Yes, Tracy will be there! My husband plays the character, so you can take pictures with him and learn more about Dick Tracy. There’s also a mural you can pose in front of—it’s a great way to show your support.

Tess: And if people can’t make it next weekend, they can still visit the Dick Tracy headquarters, right?

Alice: Absolutely. The museum is open regularly, though we recommend calling ahead to make sure. There’s also a movie about Dick Tracy that was made around 1990—it’s a fun part of Pawnee’s history.

Tess: Is there a cost to attend?

Alice: Nope, it’s free! There will also be free goodies at the police department open house, like police badges, stickers, and other trinkets for the kids, plus free refreshments.