What a year it's been for Ken Gillespie.
Gillespie, well known in the area as "Dizzy the Clown," won the prestigious title of Clown of the Year for the International Shrine Clown Association earlier this year in Indianapolis. He received several other awards there, too.
Now he's added to his winnings with several first-place winnings from the Midwest Shrine Clown Association, which met in Sioux City, Iowa, Aug. 12-14.
"This was unbelievable," said Gillespie.
During the clown competition at the Sioux City event, Gillespie won five first places.
He attends the event every year and has won before in all five of the categories, but never all first places, he said.
Gillespie won first place in auguste (makeup and costume) and received a plaque award.
He also won first-places, giving him medal awards, in one-man skit, one-man paradability, multiple balloon competition and single balloon competition.
Four others from Minot also attended the event.
Gillespie is first vice president of the Midwest Shrine Clown Association and next year will move up to president when the association meets in Winnipeg, Man. During his presidency the association will hold its 2012 gathering in Grand Forks, he said.
Clowns from 15 Shrine temples participated in the Sioux City event from North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. About 1,600 Shriners attended the convention.
Gillespie is a very active Shrine clown and participates in many Shrine events, along with public events, birthday parties, picnics, circus performances and parades. He also entertains at Minot Air Force Base services facilities, including regularly at Sunday brunch and family nights.
He has spent most of his life in Minot and been a clown since 1974.
He said he is a clown "for the kids" and to help the many kids in the Shriners hospitals.
