Local business leaders continue derby rivalry, SERVE benefit

June 6, 2012 at 9:25 a.m. | Updated June 6, 2012 at 9:25 a.m.

Three friendly competitors in the annual Mule Derby at a prior Fulton Street Fair are, from left, Bruce Harris of Callaway Bank, John Bell of Ovid Bell Press, and Roger Moser of Moser's Supermarkets. The three hold an annual race runoff following the Mule Derby with an entry fee of $1,000 each as a donation to SERVE. The two finishing second and third also donate an additional $1,000 to SERVE.
Three friendly competitors in the annual Mule Derby at a prior Fulton Street Fair are, from left, Bruce Harris of Callaway Bank, John Bell of Ovid Bell Press, and Roger Moser of Moser's Supermarkets. The three hold an annual race runoff following the Mule Derby with an entry fee of $1,000 each as a donation to SERVE. The two finishing second and third also donate an additional $1,000 to SERVE.

Every year the Callaway Cup mule derby draws a big crowd of spectators for the first night of the Fulton Street Fair.

For three local businessmen in particular, the derby serves as one of the highlights for the annual event as they participate in their own "derby after the derby" Mules for SERVE race in which regardless of who gets to the bottom of the hill fastest, SERVE, Inc. is the winner. The Callaway Cup race starts at 6 p.m., with the Mules for SERVE race to follow.

The Callaway Bank President Bruce Harris, Moser's Grocers owner Roger Moser and Ovid Bell Press CEO John Bell all said they are ready to see who comes out on top this year in the yearly challenge in which they all pony up $1,000 to see whose mule is fastest. The two losers must pay another $1,000 each, with all of the winnings going to SERVE.

"It's something we do every year just to be part of the community," Moser said. "I'm looking forward to beating the Harris boys and Johnny Bell."

Having never won the SERVE challenge, Bell said his team has been making some design changes and have "some pre-race fun we're working on, which is just as much fun as the race."

"We're recipients of two Callaway Cup trophies, but we have never won the money race," Bell said. "It's time we won the money race."

Harris -- who noted The Callaway Bank has lost the title only once -- also seemed confident that it is his team that will come out on top Friday night.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.