As the sun sets on the city’s west side tonight, barbecue smoke and tunes will fill the air as some of the tri-state’s best hoopers will take to the court in the 51st Owensboro Dust Bowl. The event will run from July 19-27 and features several special nights.
The Owensboro Times documented the tournament’s long-standing success in a feature story last year, including interviews with the lone surviving founder and several other key supporters of the classic. Read that story here.
Tonight, Beverly’s Hearty Slice (BHS) will give away over 500 backpacks, basketballs, and its usual Little Caesars pizza and water bottles. Read more about the BHS back-to-school event here.
A gospel program follows on July 21, then a Kid’s Night on July 24, including hotdogs, bouncy houses, and more. Pink in the Park will take place on July 26 to raise cancer awareness.
The tournament traces its humble beginnings back to 1974, when Jerry Davenport, Gus Johnson, and Felix Thruston decided Owensboro’s Black community needed some organized sports. While Davenport and Thruston have since passed, Johnson, who now lives in Florida, was eager to discuss the tournament’s early years.
“It’s pretty amazing; I mean, we did not have something like this in mind,” Johnson said in a previous interview with the OT. “The idea was that there wasn’t much to do in the Black community and Owensboro in particular in 1973. There were no real organized sports.”
Rafe Buckner, a member of the Dust Bowl committee, said this year’s tournament features a lengthy lineup of talent.
“This year, the tournament will look more traditional,” Buckner said. “It’s been a slow transition, but we’re looking forward to a great tournament this year and some even bigger changes for 2025. We want to start pushing the boundaries.”
The new Dust Bowl committee has placed an emphasis on adding more entertainment elements to the event. But at its heart, Buckner said the tournament’s ultimate objective is unity.
“Sports has a way of connecting people,” Buckner said. “The basketball, barbecue, and music make for a great event that people look forward to. We’re exploring other entertainment options and plan to have a different DJ each night.”
