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Weekly 150

Road to Saving Bethel College...Starring Bob Hope

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McKenzie was all abuzz in May of 1975 with the anticipated arrival of Hollywood Legend Bob Hope. The film icon was scheduled for a stage performance at Bethel College on Sunday, May 31 in order to raise much needed funds for the financially distressed McKenzie institution. Hopes presence left the school with over $100,000 and the community with a life time of memories.
The late Ben Gaines served as chairman of the benefit with many McKenzians holding various roles in the events organization; Dr. Ed Perkins, Co-Chairman; J.W. Atkins, ticket chairman; Phyllis Franks, coordinator of ticket sales; Jerry Moran, the special Bob Hope Brochure; James Washburn, manager of the photography and press invitations; and W.D. Richardson, director of security and parking.
Bethel Interim President Dr. Fred Bryson was responsible for Hope’s visit. Dr. Bryson became friends with Hope while serving as Dean at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, TX.
The benefit was held to much fanfare as the Gaines family’s private plane shuttled Hope from Memphis to the City of Paris where the comedian was introduced by Paris Mayor W.J. Neese. Hope was awarded the “Marquis of Paris” by the city mayor. Following a thirty-minute press conference at the airport, Hope was on his way to McKenzie.
Dr. Perkins served as the Master of Ceremonies of the event where he introduced Miss Tennessee Debbie Kincaid. The beauty queen sang an array of songs with her accompaniment. Shortly after 4 p.m., Tennessee First Lady Betty Blanton introduced Hope. Governor Ray Blanton was supposed to do the introduction but was late leaving Jackson because of the weather.
Other dignitaries present were Congressman Ed Jones; Former Governor and then State Speaker of the House Ned McWherter; county officials from Henry and Carroll Counties along with City of McKenzie Officials.
Governor Blanton named Hope Tennessee’s Ambassador of Goodwill. The award was given for Hope’s work in raising funds toward the “plight of many of our small colleges.” Dr. Bryson awarded Hope with an honorary Doctorate in Humanities degree from Bethel College.
During his performance, Hope went through his history of how he started out as an amateur in show business and how he work his way up and “eventually had worked his way up to McKenzie.”
The two hour show was packed with jokes and songs. Hope entertained his audience with jokes about local, state and national affairs. During songs he would interrupt himself with one-liners.
“This is a nice garage you have here,” joking about Baker Fieldhouse, “and just look everybody’s already fanning and I haven’t even started yet.”
Talking about the show he said, “This is such a nice affair for me. By the way, I don’t ordinarily do matinees, only in McKenzie.”

In regards to his honorary doctorate Hope kidded, “I have gotten about 20 awards from colleges that I couldn’t even get into legitimately. I got an Oscar the year I didn’t make a picture and my country gave me a medal for leaving the country.”
Following Hopes performance, Gaines presented Hope with a souvenir check of $100,000 noting how much the share raised for the school. Hope was presented the Hero’s Award from the women’s organization of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
A reception as held in the student center with the Bethel Dames hosting. During the reception, a five-tier cake with four smaller ones on the bottom was served in honor of Hope’s 72nd birthday on May 29. The cake was estimated at weighing 110 pounds.
He was later honored at a private dinner at the Carroll Lake Country Club; only invited guests were allowed to attend. After the dinner, Hope left for Memphis where he would catch a flight to Los Angeles to begin filming a TV show.
It is a pretty remarkable piece of local history having someone with the celebrity caliber of Bob Hope spending a day in McKenzie. I can remember visiting with Mrs. Ludie Gaines in her home, and her reminiscing on meeting Hope and showing off photos of the pair. She said with all heart that the Bob Hope saved Bethel College from closing its doors. I’ve always said I owe a debt of gratitude to Mrs. Ludie helping me go to college, but I guess I also owe a few more people including Bob Hope for allowing me to attend Bethel College.
I wonder if McKenzie could band together again to pull off something of that magnitude. It is one thing to bring an A-list celebrity to town; it’s another thing to have a community spend their time, energy and money to work on a common goal or cause. Just a little something to think about.

Jason R. Martin
B.S. • M.A.Ed • MLS
Councilman, Ward II
Executive Chairman, McKenzie 150th Celebration
E: jmartin@mckenziebanner.com  P: 731.352.3323

Jason Martin is a life-long resident of McKenzie. He graduated from McKenzie High School in 2000; earned a Bachelor of Science in History from Bethel College in 2004; a Masters in Education from Bethel University in 2009 and a Masters in History and Humanities from Fort Hays State University in 2011.

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