Jeffreys named Lex 150th Parade Grand Marshalls (2024)

The Lexington 150th Celebration Steering Committee has announced that “Southsiders” Dr. Joe and Dianne Jeffrey have been selected as grand marshals for the Grand Parade on Saturday.

Steering Committee member and Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Heather Heineman notes, “The Jeffreys are longtime active members in the Lexington area community and are descended from pioneer William Robb.”

Robb homesteaded south of the Platte River near Lexington in February of 1874, said Joe Jeffrey, who is a great-grandson of the pioneer. According to the Smithfield history, William Kyle Robb was born in New York in 1847. He served as a private in the 48th Illinois Infantry during the Civil War. After coming west, he married Margaret Jane Hanna on April 14, 1875, at what was then Plum Creek. She had come west with her brothers Thomas, Robert and David.

According to Jeffrey, his great-grandfather accumulated extensive land holdings up and down the Platte River Valley, including Robb Island, which later became known as Jeffrey Island.

The Robb Ranch raised all types of livestock, Joe said. “They had sheep, hogs, mules and cattle. If it was alive and he (William) could sell it, they had it.”

Mule teams were used for ranch work up and down the valley and for work on the island. Angus cattle were a part of the ranch since the 1870s, said Joe, as his great-grandmother insisted they have them.

“They didn’t need to brand them back then because no one else had black cattle,” he said. “They either raised Shorthorns or Herefords.”

A clipping from the Oct. 21, 1904, Lexington News noted, “William Robb shipped in from Maxwell about 8,000 sheep which he brought to his ranch south of Lexington last Saturday, where he will feed them this winter.”

The Robbs had three daughters, Jennie, Susan and Wilmina. Jennie, Jeffrey’s grandmother, married Porter Jeffrey and they had six children. Their son Norman married Elva Spies and they had three children, Jane, Joe and Judy.

Joe grew up in the thick of the Robb Ranch activities, working cattle, putting up tons of hay and helping raise corn and alfalfa to feed the cattle. After high school Joe headed to Colorado State University to begin veterinary studies. It was there that he met Dianne Grace, who had grown up in Phoenix, Arizona.

In 1960 Joe received his veterinary degree from CSU and Dianne graduated with a bachelor of science in biological sciences. Her studies also included a minor in art. Her mother, Grace Grace, was an accomplished artist and made sure that her daughter had art lessons from the time she was in grade school.

The couple married on June 20, 1960, and recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. They returned to the ranch where for many years Joe and cousins Mike and Robb Jeffrey, all great-grandsons of William Robb, ran an Angus cow-calf operation, feeding out the calves in feedlots. They also raised corn, alfalfa and soybeans. In addition, Joe developed a passion for Appaloosa horses and for many years the spotted equines were a mainstay on Robb Ranch.

Joe and Dianne had one daughter, Amy, born in 1964. She grew up in the thick of Robb Ranch activities, and after college and her marriage to Scott Hill, returned to work in Lexington. The Hills now live just down the road from her parents. They had one son, Garrett, who now lives in Lincoln and works for HuskerVision television.

Joe and Dianne have been active in community affairs in both Dawson and Gosper counties. Joe served as a Gosper County commissioner and on the rural school boards for Districts 3, 31 and 15.

He was on the Dawson County Fair Board for 27 years and still serves on the Dawson Public Power District board, a position he has held for 40-plus years. With the Platte River flowing a stone’s throw from the ranch headquarters, he also served on a variety of water boards and was active in Platte River issues.

With all the cattle he was a member of the T-Bone Club, a forerunner of today’s Dawson County Cattlemen. He served with the Nebraska Livestock Feeders Association and then joined Nebraska Cattlemen when the Feeders and Livestock Growers Associations merged. For 35 years he has served as the emcee for the cattle-working demonstrations at Husker Harvest Days and will return as narrator for the 2024 edition.

He and Dianne both helped with the Southside 4-H Club and were part of the Many Rivers Appaloosa Club for a time.

A longtime member of the Toastmasters, Joe developed several programs and took speaking engagements across the country. One of his more well-known programs on fenceposts earned him the title of “The Post Toaster.” He still accepts limited speaking invitations and continues to show updated versions of his fence post, outhouse and food for thought programs, thanks to the help of “No. 1 Grandson,” Garrett.

Dianne honed her artistic skills throughout her life, participating in art workshops whenever she could.

“I participated in the Autumn Art Workshops at Halsey for years, and attended more in Chadron, as well as in Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona,” she said, adding that memorable classes were in Taos, New Mexico, and Cortez, Colorado, with famous Native American artists. A two-week trip to Italy and Greece with then-Kearney State College professors was also a life highlight.

She was a member of the Lexington Painting Club, A.R.T. and the Association of Nebraska Art Clubs. She helped found and was a member of the Brownville Art Association.

Dianne estimates she has completed almost 1,000 paintings throughout her life, won several best of shows and has had exhibitions in Rapid City, South Dakota; Lexington State Bank; Dawson County Museum; Robert Henri Museum; and the Governor’s Mansion. She has even had paintings displayed at the Museum of Nebraska Art.

The Jeffreys teamed to host the 1999 Nebraska Cattlemen’s Ball at Robb Ranch, and in 1985 Robb Ranch received the Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce Farm Family of the Year award.

Community celebrations are high on their list. Joe was chairman of the 1974 Plum Creek Days celebration and served as an adviser to this year’s steering committee.

Joe and Dianne note, “We are humbled and honored to be named the 2024 grand marshals. We look forward to a fun-filled weekend for all.”