The Clanton Lions Club will continue to sponsor the Chilton County Peach Festival in 2010, with Tom Brown taking the helm as festival chairman.

Due to health reasons, longtime chairman Richard Davis is taking the year off, reported his wife, Gwen Davis. The couple will continue to coordinate Peach Pageants and registration, however.

“There will still be Peach Pageants, and there will be Peach Queens,” Gwen Davis said. “We have lots of good help. There are a lot of young people who assist with the festival.”

The Lions first started sponsoring the festival in 1998, after its former sponsor the Clanton Jaycees folded due to lack of membership. Hal Taylor laid the groundwork for what was to become, Davis said.

Brown, the festival chairman for 2010, is no new face to the Clanton Lions. He has been a Lion since 1997. The Peach Festival Board of Directors elected him as chairman.

“When I took it, I said it’s going to be a club deal. I’m going to expect help from all the members,” Brown said. “Everyone has agreed to support me, and we’re going to try to keep it as good as it has been in the past.”

Brown said there are no major changes planned for this year. David Hicks will continue to coordinate the Peach Parade, which is scheduled for Saturday, June 26 at 9 a.m., followed by the Peach Auction at 10 a.m.

Local Extension Agent Gary Gray will help with the auction, while Clanton Mayor Billy Joe Driver and Police Chief Brian Stilwell have pledged their continued support.

“We couldn’t do it without them,” Brown said.

If he is physically able, Davis will return as chairman next year, Brown said.