GORDON PIRKLE named
GRAND MARSHAL
of 54th annual Moonshine Festival By Jacob Smith A familiar face will be leading the parade in the 54th annual Mountain Moonshine Festival in Dawsonville. K.A.R.E. for Kids has named Dawsonville legend Gordon Pirkle Grand Marshal of the three-day festival. “Well it’s usually one of those big NASCAR drivers so I’m not sure why they called me,” Pirkle said. “But I will gladly do it.” Though he has never driven in the NASCAR Cup Series, Pirkle is known in the national NASCAR community for his devotion to Dawsonville’s effect on the history of racing. Pirkle helped bring the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame to Dawsonville and sounds a siren after every Elliott family racing victory. Pirkle was a major part of planning the first-ever Moonshine Festival and said that he would have never imagined now being asked to lead the Friday parade to kick off the festivities, calling the recognition “a honor.” Rhonda Goodwin, president of K.A.R.E. for Kids was there with Pirkle at the beginning of K.A.R.E. for Kids and was the one who let Pirkle know he would be Grand Marshal at this year’s festival. “I think people respected him and his heart so much that they wanted 12
MOONSHINE 2021
