Packed house honors late Merry Jeffries, three others at 71st Annual Lincoln Day Banquet

The late Merry Jeffries was posthumously inducted into the Fifth District Lincoln Club Hall of Fame during the 71st Annual Fifth District Lincoln Day Banquet in Corbin Saturday night. “She was active in the chamber of commerce was instrumental in starting Old Fashioned Trading Days,” noted U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers. “Merry worked behind the scenes of numerous Republican campaigns including mine and former congressman Eugene Siler. “She donated her time, her money, her merchandise, her flowers to help any Republican candidate she felt held strong moral principles, who would better her community and her state.” Jeffries never ran for office herself, but worked diligently for candidates she was supporting, Rogers added. “Many Republican candidates counted on Ms. Merry to secure their seat. By the way, the beautiful flowers you see on the tables before you are from Merry’s Flowers.” Jeffries daughters accepted the award on her behalf. It was created in 1985 to recognize people that have made a substantial contribution to the Republican Party. Jeffries was one of four people inducted into this year’s hall of fame including former McCreary County Clerk Jo Kidd, Laurel County Clerk Dean Johnson, and Joan Asher Cawood of Bell County. During the banquet, Rogers also surprised Bob Mitchell, his long-time staff member, with a resolution passed by the Lincoln Club officers recognizing his contributions to the club and the Republican Party. About 450 Republican faithful and several members of the statewide print media packed into the Corbin Technology Center Saturday night to see what might happen when U.S. Senator Jim Bunning and his potential primary rival next year, Kentucky Senate President David Williams, got together in the same room. Williams, who was the first to speak, noted that he joined a bus tour last year to help Senator Mitch McConnell in his re-election bid, and that in 2004 he was on a similar bus during Bunning’s re-election bid As for the 2010 senate race, Williams said, “I plan to be on that bus. It remains to be seen in what capacity. But I can assure you that if the Republican Party is to keep that seat, we’re all going to be on that bus.” Bunning made no secret of the fact that he intends to run for re-election although some Republicans apparently wish that he wouldn’t do so. “I hope I can count on your support when I run in 2010,” he told the crowd. “I am my own man. I believe in core conservative values. That is why I am running for a third term in the U.S. Senate. I hope you will support me.” Following Saturday’s dinner, fliers had been placed on windshields of vehicles outside the center noting Williams recent vote to increase some taxes. The dinner also featured Abraham Lincoln impersonator Dennis Boggs, who addressed the crowd. This year is the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. Rogers and McConnell also spoke. At the close of Saturday’s banquet, the 2010 Lincoln Club Officers were sworn into office by Supreme Court Justice Daniel Venters. The new officers include President Martin Norvell, President-Elect Kevin Smith, Secretary Gene Siler, Treasurer Gene Nancy Mitchell and Sgt. at Arms Ronnie Moses.