by Stephanie Rose

For the first time in 20 years, the WHTA Auxiliary put on the Memories Of Music Friday evening during the WHTA Convention along with the Trainers’ Grand Prize Giveaway. Memories Of Music featured 11 acts, which were Dee Cantrell as Brenda Lee, Billy Morgan as Elvis, Rollie Beard as Conway Twitty, Tim Smith, Andy Adkins and Jeff Willis as the Soggy Bottom Boys, Benny Johnson and Joyce Myers as George Jones and Dolly Parton, Connie Hess as Reba, Vicki Self, Bill Cantrell, Mike Kakassy and Wink Groover as Gladys Knight and The Pips, Jimmy Evans along with Amie Lee Marks and Cindy Day as Kid Rock, Sarah Dunn, Lynn Dorris, Kane Dunn, Thom Meek and Dan Groover as The Temptations, Mack Dekle and Callie Stuckey as Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus and James Benton Pendleton as Michael Jackson.

Mark Farrar was the announcer. Buckets were passed around after each act and the crowd could tip the group they liked the best. The act with the most money in its bucket won the competition. Mack Dekle and Callie Stuckey were announced as the winners. They won a trophy and a $100. Kid Rock had an encore at the end and sang a smash hit of the year, All Summer Long.

Chuck Williamson bought the last tickets to win the truck in the Grand Prize Giveaway, which was a brand new red Ford F-150. Williamson then gave the truck to Beverly Newman as a Christmas present. A great time was had by all on Friday night. It was the biggest crowd on Friday night of the banquet in at least 10 years. The Auxiliary plans on doing the Memories of Music next year as well.