Renovated W’burg Tourism Center renamed in Alvin Sharpe’s honor

Long-time Williamsburg Tourism Director Alvin Sharpe showed up at the Williamsburg Tourism and Convention Center Saturday afternoon to commemorate change only it wasn’t exactly the change that he was expecting.

Williamsburg Tourism Director Alvin Sharpe, center, holds a plaque Saturday that denotes the tourism center being renamed The Alvin Sharpe Conference Center in his honor. Pictured with Sharpe is Mayor Roddy Harrison and Williamsburg Tourism Commission Chairman Gary Barton.

He thought that the change he was commemorating was just the renovation of the facility turning one of the gymnasiums into a much needed event space where things like weddings, political speeches, class reunions, chamber of commerce luncheons and so forth could be held.

However, the Williamsburg Tourism and Convention Commission and city leaders had another change in mind for their tourism director of 34 plus years, which was naming the facility after him, which is now known as The Alvin Sharpe Conference Center.

“I had no earthly idea they were going to do anything like that,” Sharpe said after the ceremony admitting that he probably wouldn’t have let them name the facility after him if he had known about it ahead of time.

This isn’t to say that the recognition wasn’t appreciated.

“Out of all the honors I have ever had in my life, this is one of the best if not the best,” Sharpe said. “You think about life, then you start looking at where you have been and where you are going and all that. I’ve really been blessed. I really have. Having really good friends like this right here.”

Sharpe noted that he doesn’t call being the tourism director a job.

“I just love doing what I am doing. I appreciate everything and everybody here,” he added.

Williamsburg Tourism Commission Chairman Gary Barton sprang the surprise towards the end of the ceremony, which was attended by about three dozen people.

Barton noted that Sharpe, 80, has been involved in a lot of improvements to town during his tenure as tourism director ranging from the development of Briar Creek Park to the refurbishing of the Little League Park and helping plan the Kentucky Splash waterpark.

“These things couldn’t have been done without the help of Alvin,” he said. “We just decided that since we were doing this nice new convention center that we might ought to stick a name to it,” Barton said.

The name of the facility will be on mats as people enter the building in addition to a large plaque, which will go in the entrance way. A second plaque will feature the names of all of the Williamsburg Tourism Commission members involved in the project.

“This has been dog gone hard keeping this from him,” Mayor Roddy Harrison said about the surprise. “The plaque says 34 plus years. This is not a retirement party. This is an ongoing thing.”

Williamsburg Tourism Director Alvin Sharpe is pictured with family members, who hold up a new entrance mat to the tourism center depicting its new name.

Opening the facility

Barton noted that the Williamsburg Tourism Commission originally met at the Holiday Inn and then had the chance to purchase the caboose, which served as the home of Williamsburg Tourism for a quite a few years.

It was about that time the tourism commission decided to take a chance and hire Sharpe as its full-time director, which was a decision that worked out well, Barton added.

Before tourism moved to its current location, the location actually served as several things before it became a tourism center.

At one point, the Ford dealership was located there. The newly renovated portion of the building was actually the garage back in those days, and the parts’ department was located where the kitchen is now.

A few years later, a church moved into the building, which is the group that tourism purchased the building from.

“After we got this building, we got a grant to put on the new part over there, the new gym. It has been very successful there. We were able to use both gyms here for many, many years,” Sharpe said.

Renovation needed

Harrison agreed that the facility with two gymnasiums served its purpose for quite some time.

“It did what it needed to do. A lot of kids came through here and played,” Harrison said. “There was a time and that time hit very quickly that we needed to do something else.”

Harrison said the occasion, which sparked the decision to renovate the facility, came about after having an event there with U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers a few of years ago and noticing the inside of the facility was kind of dingy and gray.

“It was kind of one of those things you look around and go, ‘We need to do something,’” Harrison said.

In addition to putting in new flooring, new walls, new lighting, and a new sound system, the kitchen of the facility was newly renovated and a glass entryway was installed in the front of the building.

Since the renovation was completed there have been two Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce luncheons there in addition to playing host for a couple of gubernatorial candidates, who stopped by.

Several people thanked

Sharpe thanked several people during the ceremony, not the least of whom was Joyce Byrd, who served as high right hand for well over 20 years, and Nikki Corder, who is currently his administrative assistant, and maintenance supervisor Ed Monhollen.

He thanked several past Williamsburg Tourism Commission members including: Paul Rains, Ed Bailey, Paul David Steely, Jerry Connell, Phil Brennenstuhl, Randy Vernon, Brandt Poore, Tim Henderlight and Butch Steely, in addition to current members, including: Barton, Fred White, Patty Faulkner, Travis Wilson, Johnny Jefferies, CeeJay Jones and Julie McCullah.

Branham Productions Pro Sound, Lighting and Recording did the new sound system for the new portion of th facility in addition to the new projector system.

C&N Wall and Ceiling Company did the framing and the drywall. Bill Wilder installed all of the electrical work and lighting.

Will Jones installed the new heating and air work for the new glass entryway to the event space portion of the building.

Croley Metal Sales provided the doors for the new portion of the facility. Byrd Glass provided the glass for the new entryway.

Others thanked included Cintas Fire Protection, The Painted Horse Paint Store out of Lexington, Pat Mercurio, Jimmy Flynt, Tim Smith Carpet, W.D. Bryant, Mike Shupe and Bill Shupe, Ed and Joyce Steely.