Jesse R. “Big Dog” Hiles died on Jan. 31 at age 68, but his legacy lives on in the Labor Day festival he founded 24 years ago to benefit the American Cancer Society telethon.

The Jesse Hiles Zoostock 2023 will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Monday on the grounds of the former Sports Zoo, 390 W. Snyder Ave., Lansford.

His sister-in-law Lisa Hiles said, “Zoostock was his ‘baby’ and it meant the world to him. We hope to carry on his legacy and to continue having the Jesse Hiles Zoostock Labor Day Concert in his memory for many years to come.”

Hiles is instrumental in the fundraiser, getting sponsors for the commemorative T-shirts and more. This year the shirt honors Jesse with a picture of him and the words “Rock on Forever.”

She unveiled the T-shirts Thursday at the annual kickoff, where volunteers gave away free hamburgers and hot dogs to preview Zoostock. There were raffles and drawings. “It was a beautiful night to be outside and kickoff Zoostock 2023.”

Joe Krushinsky, telethon chairman, added, “I think people are looking forward to the exceptional weather and great music. But there is a special feeling around permanently recognizing Jesse with the renaming of the event.”

Cancer telethon volunteers Kaylee Gilbert and Dave Freeman will be emceeing the event.

Gilbert, 19, started with Zoostock when she was 4 or 5 years old and has been helping since.

“It really started with going to Zoostock when I was so young and wanting to be involved, wanting to help out in any way I could,” she said. “It’s always meant so much to me to raise money for such a great cause, and stepping into a new role as the emcee this year has been an amazing opportunity. I am thrilled to be continuing the Zoostock legacy this year.”

A junior at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, Gilbert has each year created a map to gather donations from all 50 states for the telethon. This year she served as a host.

“I believe it’s important to show that nobody is alone in this fight. We all know somebody who has battled cancer before, and being there to support whoever it may be is such a big thing to me,” she said.

Freeman, who now lives in Florida, makes the trek back for the telethon each year.

“It’s been a long time since I lived in Carbon County, but the work of everyone to cure cancer is still just as important as it was when I first got involved.”

He filled in for the late Bud Wychulis a few years ago when Wychulis was battling cancer.

“When I was asked to fill in for Bud on the telethon a few years ago, I made a list of all of my friends and family who we lost to cancer. It was on an index card. Last year’s list was two cards,” Freeman said.

“So would my first choice be to hop a plane at 6 a.m. on Labor Day Sunday? When I think of all of the people who aren’t here to do what we need to do - Jesse Hiles especially, the answer is yes, until we don’t need to do it anymore.”

Freeman was just nominated for musician of the year by the Trop Rock Music Association.

TRMA Awards are like a Grammy, except driven by fan votes.

Krushinsky said, “We’re excited that Dave has assembled the ‘Coal Reefers’ to play two hours of Jimmy Buffet and other favorites at Zoostock.”

The family-friendly event will feature performances by Lyle Mantz, Hatter, Mr. Moon, Ricky & the Ricardos, The Coal Reefers (some of the telethon house band), Sweet Revenge and Project 9.

“I hope people appreciate the caliber of talent that this event puts on the stage for all eight hours,” Krushinsky said.

Hiles added, ”One of the things that we are concentrating on this year is to make Zoostock feel like it did when it first began, bringing the local community, young and old, together for this worthy cause. A carefree day, where you can bring a lawn chair and hang out with us, get something to eat and drink and listen to the music.”