CLARKSDALE – Standing ovations and a celebration cake toasting the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival’s success greeted festival’s co-chairmen at this week’s association’s evaluation meeting.

“More, more, we need more years of this partnership (between co-chairmen John Sherman and Melville Tillis); it’s a great combination,” chanted Blues Association members meeting in the Delta Blues Museum.

Sherman and Tillis were unanimously named to continue their jobs as well as Yvonne Stanford, secretary, and Catherine Clark, treasurer.

Additionally, John Mohead, a charter member of the organization, was designated fund-raising/headliner chairman, and Nat McMullen, a former co-chairman, was named business manager.

“We want to thank the entire community for coming out and supporting the festival,” commented Sherman and Tillis. “In spite of the blistering heat, we have been swamped with positive feedback from visitors, volunteers, sponsors, musicians, and vendors; it’s been fantastic.”

A list announcing 2005 festival sponsors, donors, vendors, and members is posted on the festival web site, and planning has begun for the 2006 event.

According to officials and security officers, the crowd was estimated between 20,000 to 25,000.