Last week I celebrated my birthday and I received a very special call from a dear friend, Larry Walthall. Larry is probably one of the few people who actually can remember me as a baby since many of the people who were there have gone to heaven. If there is anyone who represents Warsaw, it is Larry Walthall. He grew up in Edwards and graduated from WHS. He married his grade school sweetheart June Drennon and they spent their lives together in Warsaw.
Larry was a special friend of my father, H. W. Arnett, and every time I see him he has a special story to tell me about my dad.
“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of H. W. and remember a fun time together. No one could make me laugh the way H. W. could,” said Larry.
It is so special to me that he remembers my father since he has been gone for 47 years and yet talking to Larry it seems like Dad was here just yesterday.
Larry worked several different jobs during his lifetime but the one most people will remember him for was selling Ford vehicles to the people of Benton County. My favorite memory was one Sunday when my old station wagon loaded with my four daughters wouldn’t start after church. Larry took us to the dealership, put me in a loaner and arranged to get my station wagon towed to the shop.
One of the more endearing traits about Larry is how much he has always cared about his hometown. Larry worked tirelessly as a member of the Jubilee Days committee for years. He put Warsaw on the map for bringing big name country music stars to Warsaw. As Larry told me he managed to sign big names before they were stars so the Jubilee Days committee could afford them. Tickets for the shows back in the 70s and early ‘80s were $3 for reserved seats. The community building would hold 1,000 people.
“We were lucky to get those stars before they were famous,” said Larry.
The first concert was Webb Pearce, Norma Jean and the Willis Brothers for $680 in 1968. Then in 1969 Porter Wagnoner came to town for $2,500. Dolly was supposed to come with him but wasn’t able to make it so Porter brought some girl singers from Springfield with him. In 1970 Dell Reeves came to town for $1800. Then in 1971 Stonewall Jackson and Dottie West played in the Community Building for $1,250. In 1972 Tommy Cash played at Jubilee Days for $1500 and Jean Shepard was paid $850. In 1973 Mel Tellis performed at Jubilee Days for $3,000. Then in 1974 LeRoy Van Dyke performed for $1500. According to Larry gas prices had jumped up to 50 cent per gallon so he tried to keep the cost down.
In 1975 Jim Ed Brown played the Community Building for $2500 then in 1976 David Houston performed for $1500 with Crystal Gayle performing with him for $750.
“Just a few months before performing in Warsaw, Crystal had a big hit and her price jumped to $1700 a show, but we had signed a contract with her before her big hit came out,” said Larry.
In 1977, Cal Smith played at the Community Building for $2500 along with Jimmy Gagley for $500. In 1978, Barbara Mandrell performed at Jubilee Days for $4,500 then in 1979, Jimmy C. Newman and Dave Dudley performed for $2250 each. In 1980 Dave and Sugar performed at Jubilee Days for $6850. In 1981 Louise Mandrell performed for $5,000 and in 1982, Gene Watson performed for $4500.
In 1983, Moe Bandy was at Jubilee Days for $5,000 and in ’84 Joe Stampley performed for $5,000. The last big concert was 1985 when Larry booked Vern Gosdin for $4,000. “It got to the point that the country singers wanted too much money for a small venue like Warsaw,” said Larry.
Larry and June traveled to Nashville several times to attend the Grand Ole Opry. My parents often went with them as well as other members of the Pitch Club. On one such trip they traveled by bus and of course my dad went up front to talk to the driver. Larry recalled that when the bus swerved a bit my dad said to the driver. "You know if we have a wreck, you and I will be the first ones there."
Larry and June also worked tirelessly for the Benton County Cancer Society and organized the annual golf tournament to help Benton Countians with the cost of treatment, rides to the hospital and supplies. I know because when my mother was going through treatment, they would step in to drive her to Sedalia for her treatment when I couldn’t.
My brother Hadley and I always thought of Larry and June as part of our family because Mom and Dad visited them often and played cards. I think we both learned to play pitch visiting friends on Saturday nights. In fact, for a while Hadley sold cars at the Ford dealership and he said that he wanted to be as honest of a car salesman as Larry.
“If people thought of me as just half the man Larry is, I would consider myself a success. There was no one more honest than Larry Walthall.”
The present owner of the Ford dealership Tom Maples worked with Larry.
"Larry was a great mentor and really knew how to treat people," Tom said. "I was amazed at how he knew everyone in the county and could tell you who their aunts, uncles and parents were. Larry told me that 'It was easier to stay out of trouble than to get out of trouble' I found that to be good advice."
Larry always has stories to tell about Edwards and my family. One of my favorites was my grandfather, Harrison Arnett, was in Arkansas and bought a load of pigs. He called Larry and asked him to go to the ranch and pick up his bob truck to pick up the pigs. Larry knew how my grandfather expected everyone to get things done when he asked so he drove to the ranch, picked up the truck and headed to Arkansas as quickly as he could. When he got there my grandfather looked at his watch and said, “Larry, you drove my truck too fast.”
At 92, Larry lives in the Lincoln Community Care Center. His memory is absolutely amazing and I enjoyed talking and reminiscing with him.
Larry ended our conversation with telling me that I reminded him of my grandmother Minnie Smith Arnett because she wrote a column for the Enterprise as well.
“I read everything you write every week,” Larry said.
Thank you, Larry; you are a priceless treasure to our community.
