The Historical Society’s Banquet, themed around the remarkable Marquis de LaFayette, was an unmitigated success. We added two additional tables this year and still the event was, again, a “sell-out.” Held on August 4, 2017, at Del’avant, the evening kicked off with social time from 6:30 to 7:30. Executive Director Shannon Gavin Johnson welcomed everyone and spoke about the Historical Society’s vision and plans to work more closely with school groups, and the hope to secure a regular, education coordinator. Next, Clark Johnson spoke about the society’s varied activities offered, noting there is something every month, from our standard walking and cemetery tours to new, innovative programs such as Lunch and Learns, Evening at the Museum, and a Ghost Tour this coming October. People of all ages and backgrounds are getting involved in our history.

Benjamin Goldman as Le Marquis de LaFayette during the 2017 TCHS banquet.

Recognition of our major supporters, Callaway Foundation, Inc., George S. & Edna L. Cobb Foundation, and Charter Foundation, Inc., preceded official recognition of the 2017-2018 banquet sponsors, whose generosity ensured the success of the event. The purpose of the evening is to help keep Legacy Museum open to the public free of charge, to enable us to create and install new exhibits during the year, and to offer programs to groups ranging from school children to adults. We raised over $41,000 towards helping finance the coming year’s programming.
This year’s Gold Sponsors, who donated a minimum of $1,000 were: Ken and Lisa Boat-wright; CharterBank; Bob and Jenny Copeland; Ken Gordon, Attorney; Diverse Power; Emory at LaGrange; Janice and Rich-ard Ingram; Clark and Deborah Johnson; La-Grange College; LaGrange Toyota/ James and Janice Stogner; LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism; Glenda Ralston Major; and Nissan of LaGrange.
Our Silver Level sponsors, $500, this year were: Airforce Heating & Air; All-Pro Auto Group / Gene, Jorine, Cripper, & Lucretia Silcox; Batson-Cook Company; CB&T: A Di-vision of Synovus; Community Bank & Trust; Dan and Nancy Durand; Betsy and David Fowler; Ed and Judy Garland; Gay & Joseph, CPA; Ken Gordon, Attorney; Higgins La-Grange Chapel / Jeff and Mary Higgins; Hutchinson-Traylor Insurance; Interface; Kemp’s Flooring; Lewis, Taylor, & Todd, PC; Louis and Betty Lester and Bob and Pat Walters; Loy’s Office Supplies; Mike Patton Auto Family; Point University; Teresa and Mike Phillips; Smith Design Group; Striffler-Hamby Mortuary; Thornton & Graham, PC; WellStar West Georgia Medical Center; Willis McKenzie, LLP; and Ricky and Lynn Wolfe.
Bronze level sponsors, $250, were: Abbott & Associates; Dudley’s Outdoors; F. L. I. Properties; LaGrange Chapter Sons of the American Revolution; LaGrange Grocery Company; Lakeview Capital Partners; Renasant Bank; Statewide Mortgage; Torrance Construction / Rick and Bea Torrance; John and Mary Margaret Ware; and Jason and Stacey Weldon.
Sponsors have been designated Friends of the Museum and will be honored with a banner in Legacy Museum for 2017-2018. Souvenir Book-lets of the evening were distributed to all in attendance, with the sponsors listed, as well as our full Historical Society Membership for 2017, whose support is critical to our mission. The booklets contained an article about LaFayette, his life, and his connection to Troup County and a plethora of photographs.
The introduction of board members, staff members, and volunteers was followed by a wonderful dinner catered by Randy and Toni Striblin of Rogers’ BBQ in Hogansville. The menu included salads, to start, and a sumptuous buffet of Baked Chicken, Roast Beef, Rice Pilaf, Haricot Verts, and Creamed Potatoes. Dessert was a seven-layer chocolate cake. The Rev. Tom Gavin of Manchester gave the invocation and blessing.

From left to right, Benjamin Goldman as the Marquis de Lafayette, George Thurmond, and Dan McMichael as General Nathanael Greene. Image courtesy Brianna Russell.

Tables were beautifully decorated with specially designed arrangements done by Davie Biagi and Deborah Johnson. Ladies from LaGrange Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution helped our staff set the thirty-two tables for the dinner with china, silver, and crystal provided by Outdoor Events in Columbus.
Among local dignitaries present were LaGrange Mayor Jim and First Lady Corinne Thornton; Troup County Commissioner Richard and Mrs. Cheris English and Commissioner Morris and Mrs. Zelda Jones; and former Mayor Jeff and First Lady Cindy Lukken. Strangely enough, for those who thought they were only going to meet Gen. LaFayette that night, there were also three gentlemen dressed in Revolutionary uniform present from the Georgia Society, Sons of the American Revolution: George Thurmond, Bob Sapp, and Dan McMichael who also portrays Gen. Nathanael Greene, a comrade in arms of LaFayette.
The main program came after dinner. The first speaker was LaGrange physician, Dr. Richard L. Ingram. Dr. Ingram’s distinguished career is equaled by his civic contributions, the latest of which is a project to create and promote a renewed interest in the values of the American Revolution and the history of individuals, famous and obscure, who brought it to fruition. Dr. Ingram has established a committee to create an annual tribute to LaFayette and to re-awaken the values, principles, and ideals of the American Revolution, which he calls “LaFayette Matters.” Dr. Ingram sees our connection to LaFayette as a stepping stone for civic promotion and education as well. He spoke about this inspired project, which included an evening at LaGrange Art Museum on September 7, 2017. Afterward, he introduced the main speaker of the evening, Ben Goldman, who portrays the Marquis professionally.
The appearance, in his American Revolutionary uniform, of Major General Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de LaFayette, was astonishingly real. Mr. Goldman, whose performance at the White House stunned French President Nicolas Sarkozy (who refused to believe the actor was not a Frenchman). Everyone at the banquet was captivated and held spellbound for the entire presentation. The look was as if a portrait had stepped off the canvas. Mr. Goldman’s very stance evoked a true aristocrat of the era. His French accent, and lapses into French, were impeccable perfection. He recounted his youth in France, his inspiration to link his fortunes with the ideals of the American Revolution, and his story from his first arrival in America, studying English on the voyage, his entry into the service of our young nation, and his life-long bond with George Washington.

LaFayette Square, a yarn art painting, by Annie Greene. This print is in TCA collections.

After his presentation, he accepted questions from the audience that he allowed to be addressed to himself, Ben Gold-man, or to the Marquis. His answers were suitably given and displayed his complete knowledge of his character.
The end of the evening held one last highlight: the introduction of Annie Greene, our own national treasure and pioneer in the medium of yarn art painting. Mrs. Greene surpassed herself this year with her latest commission from the Historical Society: a yarn art painting of LaFayette Square in LaGrange, featuring the statue of the Marquis, which has graced the county seat since 1976. The painting was artistically presented in a gilded frame by Bob Cammon of Three Points Frame. LaGrange was named for the estate of the LaFayettes in France which he is said to have compared to the countryside of West Georgia when he traveled through in 1825. Mrs. Greene included, in the background, the Baptist Church and the new downtown hotel. It was noted that she finished the hotel before Marriott did! Mrs. Greene’s masterpiece was sold in a lively and spirited auction that also added immensely to the banquet’s financial success. Janice Ingram was the successful bidder.

A limited edition of fifty hand-signed and numbered prints of the painting were produced for the Historical Society by Lee Cathey of Multi-Image Studio. Print Number One, matted and ready for framing, was auctioned off and the Rev. Tom Gavin made the high bid. Following the dinner, those present had the opportunity to purchase prints as well. As long as they last, and at this time only about twelve remain, are available for sale at the Troup County Archives.
Troup County Historical Society and the public we serve are grateful for all those who supported and attended the gala evening. People have been saying that they do not know how we can top this year’s banquet, but that’s all we heard after last year’s event, which centered around Horace King and His Family. We invite everyone to come to see how we do next year and, meanwhile, to get involved in our membership and all our activities during the intervening twelve months. — Clark Johnson