With beautiful blue skies and the feel of fall in the air, car enthusiasts turned out in force Saturday, September 25th, to Archusa Creek Water Park for the first ever Paul Brown Memorial Car Show. As part of Clarke Fest, formerly the Forestry and Wildlife Festival, the event was sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.
For many years Paul Brown, along with Mert Coffin and James Buchanan, as well as other volunteers, had organized the car show – one of the main attractions at the festival. While 2019 was the last year of the Forestry Fest, it was also the year with the most registered cars and trucks at the show.
In January 2020, Paul Brown, who gave so freely of his time on behalf of the Chamber, passed away. Later that year, a decision was made not to schedule the Forestry Fest because of covid.
Encouraged by the Brown family and desiring to honor Paul’s memory, James Buchanan, Ben Moore, Greg Jackson, Don Moore and Tobey Bartee, set out to organize the first ever Paul Brown Memorial Car Show in conjunction with Clarke Fest. Individual committee members spent months distributing flyers at various car shows; gathering door prizes and cash awards, plus working out all the details for the event. In addition to the contributions given to the car show committee by various merchants, industries and individuals, the Brown family donated an extra $300 from the Dye House, the business owned by Paul and Charlotte Brown.
As Charlotte drew the lucky numbers, Buchanan announced the names of the registered vehicle owners who won cash prizes ranging from $50, $100 to $300. Culminating the awards was a certificate for a two night stay in a cabin at any Pat Harrison Water Park in the state.
On behalf of the Chamber, a special thank you goes to the ladies who registered the vehicles: Linda Buchanan, Susan Bosarge, Charlotte Brown, Angie Brown Pope, Savannah Pope, and Pawn Brown Chatom. In addition, the Chamber is grateful to the organizing committee which worked so hard, as well as the sponsors, participants, and spectators who made the first ever Paul Brown Memorial Car Show such a success.
We’re looking forward to seeing each one next year!
