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While crowds were down for this year’s Bangor Fun Daze due to the heat, humidity and rain, there were winners and lots of fun to go around.

One winner was Ray Horstman, who received the Lion of the Year Award from the Bangor Lions Club. “He is a charter member and has been involved in many ways,” said Brian Berg, Bangor Fun Daze committee chairman.

“I was pretty well surprised, as was my wife. I don’t know who was more surprised,” Horstman said. “It means quite a bit as members choose who would be named. It’s quite an honor.”

Horstman has owned Ray’s Barber Shop in Bangor for 45 years and still works there. He has lived in Bangor all his life. “I’m about to be 65 at the end of the month,” he said. “I can’t slow down too much, got to have something to do. I’m already down to three days a week.”

Horstman has been a Lions Club member since 1978 and was district governor from 1988-89. As the ninth Lion of the Year, Horstman will help choose the next one next year. Also as part of his new role, Horstman had to choose the best of the classic car show at the Fun Daze.

“I chose a 1951 Cadillac Coupe de Ville,” he said. “There were many cars and it was a hard job to do. There were some pretty nice cars there. It was quite a car in its day, and it’s pretty sharp looking now.”

Despite being the recipient of the Lions Club honor, practically the only time Horstman got to sit down was the parade. “I guess I worked all weekend on the duck races and worked otherwise,” he said.

Despite the rain and the heat, Berg said he felt the event was very successful, and that was due to a team effort. “I would like to thank everyone for the success of the event,” he said. “(Everyone) helped the club raise funds to give to other community organizations and that’s what it’s all about.”

According to Berg, there were 140 entrants in the canoe poker run, 80 runners in the fun run/walk and Chip’s Bar won the bed races, yet again.

The 2007 button winners are: $100, #1099; $75, #1015; $50, #735; $25, #1344; $25, #1738; $25, #722; and $25, #471.