State Proclamation Pays Tribute to Former Fiddlers Jamboree Coordinator

March 8, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A former longtime President and Coordinator of the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival has been honored by the Tennessee General Assembly.

A proclamation paying tribute to the late Neil Dudney was signed last fall by Speaker of the State Senate Randy McNally, State Senator Mark Pody, and State Representatives Terri Lynn Weaver and Clark Boyd.

Dudney passed away on October 16, 2018

Neil was very involved with the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree from the beginning in 1972, where he began as a sound technician and later served as the President/Coordinator for 16 years until 2008.

The proclamation states:

“WHEREAS, we were greatly saddened to learn of the passing of Neil Dudney of Smithville; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Dudney was an exemplary public servant and consummate professional, who worked assiduously to improve the quality of life for his fellow citizens in numerous capacities; and

WHEREAS, the son of John Lyman and Ruby Mae Birdwell Dudney, Neil Dudney was born on October 5, 1932, in Jackson County; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from Jackson County High School, Mr. Dudney went on to receive his Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from Tennessee Technological University; his first job as a federal employee was as a substitute rural mail carrier for five years with the Gainesboro Post Office; and

WHEREAS, in 1957, he began working with the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Services in Linden and was later transferred to Lawrenceburg and then Wartburg; in August 1967, he was transferred to Smithville, where he worked as a district conservationist. He retired in 1987 after thirty years of exceptional service; and

WHEREAS, no stranger to awards and accolades, Neil Dudney was awarded a certificate of merit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1979 for outstanding performance of duties, one of only two given in the State; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Dudney was committed to serving his community, as evidenced by his integral work as a member of the Board of Tourism, Chamber of Commerce, Board of Center Hill Academy, and Lions Club; he also helped make major improvements to Green Brook Park in 1979 and helped establish Smithville Day School; and

WHEREAS, Neil Dudney was a devoted member of the Church of Christ since his baptism at Whitleyville Church of Christ in 1948; after moving to Smithville, he served the Smithville Church of Christ as a deacon for twelve years and an elder for eighteen years; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Dudney was a man of many passions, one of which was music; he was involved with the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree since its inception in 1972, serving first as a sound technician and later as president/coordinator, in which capacity he served for sixteen years until 2008; and

WHEREAS, deeply devoted to his family, Mr. Dudney always endeavored to remain true to family values of the highest order; and

WHEREAS, left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of fifty-six years, Emma Jean Wilmoth Dudney; twin daughters, Janet (Brian) England and Susan (Brian) Berry; four grandchildren, Dr. Laura England (Brandon) Ross, Brandon (Sara) Shaw, Ethan (Rachel) Shaw, and Dylan Shaw; two great-grandsons, Carson Shaw and Charles Ross; one sister-in-law, Frances Dudney Crowder; one niece, Linda Dudney; and one nephew, John Dudney; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his parents, Neil Dudney was preceded in death by two brothers, Joe Lester Dudney and Charles Clark Dudney; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Dudney leaves behind an indelible legacy of integrity and probity in public life, compassion and loyalty in private life, and diligence and dedication in all his chosen endeavors; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting that we should remember the bountiful life of this exceptional public servant and human being; now, therefore,

I, Randy McNally, Speaker of the Senate of the One Hundred Tenth General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, at the request of and in conjunction with Senator Mark Pody, Representative Clark Boyd, and Representative Terri Lynn Weaver, do hereby proclaim that we honor the memory of Neil Dudney, reflecting fondly upon his impeccable character and his stalwart commitment to living the examined life with courage and conviction. We offer our condolences to the family of Mr. Dudney.

Proclaimed in Nashville, Tennessee, on this the 22nd day of October 2018.”

March 8, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Legislation sponsored by State Representative Clark Boyd (R-Lebanon) that streamlines current law and protects the rights of our concealed carry permit holders is moving through the committee process in the Tennessee General Assembly.

This week, members of the House Constitutional Protections & Sentencing Subcommittee voted to advance House Bill 545, which protects the rights of Tennessee’s law abiding citizens who are handgun carry permit holders. The bill seeks to give protection for concealed handgun carry permit holders who unknowingly enter a private facility or business with posted firearm policies so long as that person was unaware that the property was posted and leaves immediately upon being made aware.

Under current law it is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine to possess a firearm on a property that is properly posted. The overall goal of House Bill 545 is to ensure that law abiding citizens are not unreasonably punished if that person unknowingly enters a posted business and is willing to leave immediately upon being made aware .

“This measure protects our concealed carry permit holders in situations where an honest mistake was made,” said Representative Boyd. “In the event that a law abiding permit holder unknowingly enters a business or property that is posted and discovers this after the fact, it only makes sense that the person be allowed to leave the premises rather than being issued a citation.”

Clark Boyd serves as Chairman of the House Consumer and Human Resources Committee, and as a member of the Calendar and Rules, Commerce, and Select Committees on Rules. Boyd is also a member of the House Employee Affairs and House Utilities Subcommittees. He lives in Lebanon and represents Tennessee House District 46, which includes Cannon, and parts of Wilson and Dekalb Counties. He can be reached by email at: Rep.Clark.Boyd@capitol.tn.gov or by calling (615)-741-7086.

March 8, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A year after he was tragically killed in a crash at Dowelltown while on his way home from work, Lebanon Police Officer Joseph Bowen of DeKalb County has been honored by the Tennessee General Assembly.

A resolution, sponsored by State Senator Mark Pody and State Representatives Terri Lynn Weaver and Clark Boyd, was adopted by both the Senate and House last month and signed by the Governor.
The resolution is as follows:

“WHEREAS, the members of this General Assembly were greatly saddened to learn of the passing of Officer Joseph Bowen; and

WHEREAS, Officer Bowen was a brave and dedicated law enforcement officer who worked assiduously to improve the quality of life for his fellow citizens in numerous capacities; and

WHEREAS, the son of Dwayne and Lisa Bowen, Officer Joseph Bowen was a 2008 graduate of DeKalb County High School; that same year, he began his law enforcement career with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department as a correctional officer and was later promoted to a deputy position; and

WHEREAS, a respected veteran with ten years of service, Officer Bowen completed Basic Police School at Walters State Training Academy in 2010; in January 2013, he joined the Lebanon Police Department, and during his tenure, he served on the Meth Lab Response Team; and

WHEREAS, a third-generation member of the Lebanon Police Department, Officer Joseph Bowen proudly followed in the footsteps of his grandfather Frank Bowen, who served until his retirement, and his father, who has served as a police officer for eighteen years; and

WHEREAS, Officer Bowen performed his appointed duties in an admirable manner that distinguished him as a credit to both his community and his profession; Lebanon and DeKalb County were undoubtedly made better and safer places as a result of his service; and

WHEREAS, Officer Joseph Bowen was an active and devout member of Old Fashioned Freewill Baptist Church in Smithville, which he served faithfully for many years; and
WHEREAS, he was also deeply devoted to his family, and he always endeavored to remain true to family values of the highest order; and

WHEREAS, Officer Bowen enjoyed the loving companionship of his wife, Kim Bowen, and he was the proud father of Katy Jo Bowen and Wesley Brock Bowen; and

WHEREAS, Officer Joseph Bowen is lovingly remembered by his parents; his brother, Jacob Bowen; his uncle, Mike Bowen; his parents-in-law, Steven and Kathy Deffendoll; his nephews and niece, Knox Bowen, Lacey McMillen, and Cole McMillen; and his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Kayla Bowen, Brandon Deffendoll, Chris McMillen, and Kristina McMillen; and
WHEREAS, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, Frank and Helen Bowen and Lemuel and Betty Bogle; and

WHEREAS, Officer Joseph Bowen leaves behind an indelible legacy of integrity, probity, and valor in his public life as a law enforcement officer, compassion and loyalty in private life, and dedication in all his chosen endeavors; and

WHEREAS, this General Assembly wishes to honor the memory of this exceptional police officer and human being; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, that on behalf of a grateful public, we honor the memory and celebrate the life of Officer Joseph Bowen of the Lebanon Police Department.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we express our sympathy and offer our condolences to the family of Officer Bowen.

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