Zonta Club selects Roger and Leslie Stagner as Lamar Days parade royalty

Roger and Leslie Stagner, 2025 Lamar Days Parade Royalty

People watching the Lamar Days parade may not know that the Zonta Club of Prowers County selects the Lamar Days parade royalty each year, as well as driving the royalty in the parade.  They have been doing this for many years, beginning with the late Beverly Augustine as Chair of the Royalty Committee.  The royalty couple also receives “LUV Bucks” from Zonta.

This year, they selected Roger and Leslie Stagner as King and Queen.  Roger and Leslie were both raised in Lamar and are graduates of Lamar High School.  After college, they began their married life in northern Colorado for 6 years, then returned home to Lamar.  They have two children, Annessa (Jensen) Stulp and Bronson (Shannon) Stagner and six grandchildren, Zeke, Trenton, Anneston, Kensley,Adalynn and Barrett.

Roger is part owner of Stagner, Inc. with his father and brother.  He served 8 years on the Lamar City Council and an additional 10 years as Mayor of Lamar.  Currently, he is serving as a Prowers County Commissioner for District 3.  His intent is to make the area the best it can be and is involved with the many boards and committees that the position includes.

Leslie is the Director of the State of Colorado Welcome Center in Lamar.  She works with Colorado communities to develop their hospitality and tourism economy.  She has been involved with PEO, a philanthropic educational organization and Women’s Federation for many years.

They both agree that living, working and raising their family in Lamar is a decision they have never regretted.  They strive to do what they can to make it a vibrant community.

Some surprising facts about them:  Leslie is a gymnastics coach and judge.  Together, Roger and Leslie taught boys and girls recreational gymnastics for the Lamar Recreation Department for over 15 years.  They are both Certified Rescue Scuba Divers.  Roger enjoys working on vintage cars and Leslie enjoys planning trips for the volunteers at the Colorado Welcome Center.

By: Barbara Crimond