Last night, the West Knox Republican Club met and reorganized with new officers elected. Alexander Waters as President; Tim Newlon, First Vice President; Sally Absher, Second Vice President; Paul Wehmeier, Recording Secretary; John Gabriel, Corresponding Secretary and Christy Gentry Gabriel as Treasurer.
When I heard about the new leadership. I recalled the years of Wallace McClure and Haywood Harris as the core leaders and builders of the club. I first started attending the club in 1997 and it was a relatively small group. Over the years Wallace and Haywood moved around from restaurant to restaurant until they settled in for a long spell at Copper Cellar. Now the club meets at Red Lobster.
When I served on the School Board, for several times they had me give a short School Board update every month. When I was party chairman they always were complimentary, supportive of me. I was told prior to my election as party chairman that Haywood was thinking of running for Chairman. I was concerned and would have probably not have challenged Haywood. He is the only person I would have dropped out for.
What was Wallace and Haywood’s success of growing the club so large? In my opinion it was the phone calls. Wallace would call my house on the Sunday night at 8:15 p.m. before the Monday Club meeting and when I answered. Wallace would say, Brian tomorrow is the club meeting, the people want to see you. I would say ok Wallace. It always caused me to smile and look forward to attending the club.
My friend Tom ‘Vol Historian’ Mattingly told me before that Haywood would make phone calls on Monday mornings. Haywood Harris has passed and is up in Heaven talking TN Sports. I miss him. But thanks to he and Wallace a new group takes over one of the best Republican clubs. I hope that Alexander, Tim, Phil and Sally the newbies understand the legacy they have inherited and don’t let Wallace and Haywood down. I know that John and Christy recognize the work and legacy of Wallace and Haywood because they were there with us. Wallace and Haywood helped train John and Christy. So carry on WKRC.
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