Ron and Lonna Cook will serve as Lamar Days Royalty in parade

Lonna and Ron Cook, 2026 Lamar Days Royalty

This year’s Lamar Days parade will be held on Saturday, 16, featuring Ron and Lonna Cook as this year’s Royalty couple, chosen by the Zonta Club of Prowers County.  They are nothing short of a “power couple” in Lamar, having been members of the community for many years and being a big part of why Lamar is the amazing town that it is.  It is hard to think of a committee, event, or charity that they are not involved with. The Cooks will celebrate 49 years of marriage in June.  They raised four children in Lamar, two sons and two daughters.  They also have 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren and both Ron and Lonna say that they have truly enjoyed living in Lamar and raising their kids here.  “This community has always helped us and we have always felt the need to give back” said Ron.  Both Ron and Lonna are incredibly humble and said that despite everything they have done for Lamar, they don’t do it for the recognition and “don’t like awards”.  In fact, Lonna said that Ron originally tried to politely decline the offer to be this year’s royalty, but some strong persuasion from the Zonta Club helped convince him to reconsider.

A native of Lamar, Ron originally worked for a grocery store following high school, then held several other jobs before becoming self-employed around 1990.  The radiator and mechanic shop they owned was forced to close after Ron suffered a serious burn injury. They also owned a local towing business and Ron continues his passion of working on Harley Davidson motorcycles. Lonna has served as the bookkeeper for every business and venture they have been involved in.  In addition to her financial skills, she has also worked as a cosmetologist in the past.  Ron has served as a Prowers County Commissioner since 2015, joking that in high school he never would have thought he would be involved in local politics.   In addition to serving as a commissioner, Ron has been a Lamar City Council member, a Lamar Utilities Board member, a Prowers Economic Prosperity Board member, and part of countless committees.  Ron and Lonna are involved with Toys for Tots, Oktoberfest, the Prowers County Fair and the 9-11 Tribute parade.  The list of their civic involvements seems almost endless.

It is very fitting that the couple is this year’s royalty. The Cooks are synonymous with Lamar Days and the Rod Run, which is celebrating its 30^th year. Ron was one of the original three people who began the event which started as a racing club, later evolving into the Rod Run. After a few years, following the death of one of the original three, Ron and Lonna took over the event which has grown in size every year, from the initial 50 or 60 entries to around 150 cars plus 25-30 motorcycles presently.  They added the “No Booze Cruise” Cruise with the Cops and poker run about 15 years ago.

Thank you, Ron and Lonna for all you do for Lamar and Prowers County and enjoy this honor!

By: Barbara Crimond