By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Hurry! ... Seven-year-old Devon Mahula of Luling (right) is close to finishing his slice of watermelon during the eating contest -- just one of the competitive events of the annual Luling Watermelon Thump. Contestants find the winning quality is speed, and not table manners. Also pictured is Devon’s 5-year-old brother Bradley (left). — Staff photo by Taylor

July 6, 2006 - Lots of pink-fronted t-shirts proved the 53rd annual Watermelon Thump was under way in Luling. Despite the hot and humid day, several generations of families came for a day of fun, food, and fellowship.

There are always plenty of contests at the “Thump,” as it’s known, including those that pit spitters against spitters, and eaters belly-up against other eaters. The seed-spitting and melon eating contests are highlights of the annual event that’s always the last full weekend of June. As an added feature, the Thump has been extended as a Thursday-through-Sunday event.

On a normal day in Luling, the population is around 5,000, but during the Thump, the population expands to around 40,000. Crowds come out for the watermelon-related fun, and dances, entertainment, and carnival rides. Booths line the main street selling a big variety of products, clowns roam the grounds and there was even a guy on a tall unicycle who juggled fire. All this was after the naming of the Thump Queen and big parade.

Best seat for the parade ... The parade featured many unique attractions, including this juggler who rode a unicycle that featured a very elevated seat. — Staff photo by Taylor

In 1954, the principal of Luling Elementary School, Hermon Allen, came up with the idea of having a celebration, due to the large amount of watermelon growers in the area. A contest to name the celebration was won by Carol Ferguson, and the rest is history!

 According to Texas Cooperative Extension, there are around 15 watermelon growers in the area, each with about four acres of watermelons. This area has produced between 15,000 to 40,000 watermelons per acre at the price of 10 to 12 cents per pound, in normal conditions. This year, production figures are not available, yet, but the drought is sure to have some effect on production.

Records note last year’s watermelon weigh-in broke the 1962 record. An 81-pound Black Diamond sold at auction for $8,200. (The Black Diamond variety is the only one considered for championship honors, although the Jubilee has been the watermelon of choice by Luling growers for a number of years.) This heavy melon outweighed the 1962 entry, which weighed 80 pounds and eight ounces. But the winnings were kept in the family. The 1962 melon was grown by E.A. Watts, and in 2005, the champion grower was E.A.’s grandson, Allen Watts.

One record remains on the books ... and not just the local edition. In 1989 Lee Wheelis of Luling spat a watermelon seed 68 feet and 9 1/8 inches. The spit is still listed in the Guinnes Book of World Records as the longest watermelon seed spit.

Each year, the watermelon seed spitting contest can earn the contestant $500 for first place. If Wheelis’ record is broken, another $500 is added to the pot.

With its county fair “feel,” the Luling Watermelon Thump has been a big hit over the years, and continues to grow in popularity. Some of the winning melons were presented to Johnny Carson, President Ronald Reagen and Art Linkletter. Seed-spitting champs have been guests on such shows as the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the Regis and Kathy Lee Show, and Howie Mandell’s show.

 The winning watermelon, this year, was grown by (the 2005 winners) father-and-son team Allen Watts and Shane Watts. The heafty melon weighed in at 75 lbs., 4 oz. Second place went to Brownie Webb, with melon that weighed just over 70 pounds.