Oh Henry! Sweet tributes to area artists
Published 10:03 am Thursday, May 2, 2019
After receiving the Barbara Ann Dixon Lifetime Achievement Award, Henry Fulcher regales the audience with observations and memories of his time working in music. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Juanita Giles directly addresses Henry Fulcher, seated in the foreground, while delivering a personal, moving speech about him prior to his receiving the Barbara Ann Dixon Lifetime Achievement Award. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Individual Award winner Martha Dorrill addresses the crowd briefly after receiving the honor. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Jennifer Wall, center, presented the Business Award to Rochette’s Florist LLC, represented at the ceremony by Rochette Allen, left, and Sidney Allen, right. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Chris Klinger accepts the Organization Award on behalf of the Illyria Theatre Company. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
LeDora Ann Trent shares a few thoughts after being named Volunteer of the Year. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Erin Parker speaks moments after being presented with the Student Volunteer of the Year award. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Members of the community came out Friday evening to participate in the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts’ (LCVA) rich tradition of recognizing area contributions to artistic endeavors. The center hosted the 2019 Community Achievement in the Arts Awards, which culminated in the presentation of the Barbara Ann Dixon Lifetime Achievement Award to Henry Fulcher.
To view more photos of the event, click here.
Each presentation began with a heartfelt speech about the recipient from the presenter.
Dr. James Kidd presented the Individual Award to Martha Dorrill.
Jennifer Wall presented the Business Award to Rochette Allen and Sidney Allen, of Rochette’s Florist LLC.
Dr. Jes Simmons presented the Organization Award to Illyria Theatre Company. Accepting on behalf of the company was Chris Klinger.
LeDora Ann Trent was named Volunteer of the Year, an award presented to her by LCVA Executive Director Rachel Talent Ivers.
LCVA Director of Education & Outreach Emily Grabiec presented Erin Parker with the Student Volunteer of the Year honor.
Before presentation of the night’s final accolade, the one recognizing lifetime achievement, Juanita Giles spoke from the heart about Fulcher, who has been described as the heart and soul of radio station WFLO.
“One of my earliest memories is the sound of Henry Fulcher’s voice,” she said. “I’m going to cry already. Every school-day morning since I was 4, going to the kitchen at oh-dark-thirty, (I) lived on a farm, and there’d be Henry on the radio and lots of twangy banjo music.”
She frequently addressed Fulcher directly in audience during her speech. She noted that her mother relied on him for the weather, gossip, reminder of birthdays, etc.
“Henry was always there, just as regular as the mail,” Giles said. “Probably a little more regular than the mail. And even today when I cut on the radio at oh-dark-thirty, I’m 4 years old again — there you are.
“To me Henry was always just Henry,” she continued. “He was the man my parents spoke to at the store, the father of a schoolmate, the man for whom we’d always get calls at our house because our phone numbers were only a digit apart. He was the grand marshal of a parade. I was spoiled, and I didn’t know I was spoiled. I didn’t know how special Henry was.
“To put it into perspective, when I was a little girl, I was positive that this house down the road from us was the setting for ‘Dallas,’” she said. “I was sure of it. And I also was sure that every song played on the radio was played live by the band in the radio station, and a lot of kids all over the world probably think that. But for every kid in the WFLO listening area, that wasn’t just a dream — it was real because bands did come to the studio for Henry, and they came a lot.
“See, Henry’s a big deal,” Giles continued. “There’s a dedication to him at the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame. From the time he began his career at WFLO in 1956, he’s not just played country music on the radio, he’s become a part of the fabric of country music itself. Looking back on the 2006 House Joint Resolution — and that’s the United States House Joint Resolution commending Henry — I find that he appeared on ‘Hee Haw.’ … He’s listed in the ‘Original Who’s Who of Country Music,’ served as the ‘Clark Family’ show emcee, he helped establish the national historical marker honoring Joe Sweeney for inventing the five-string banjo, was instrumental in creating the historical monument honoring Roy Clark and also helped secure Roy an artist-in-residence at Longwood. He’s held all the top leadership positions at the Virginia Folk Music Association and has emceed the State Championships of Country and Bluegrass Music for more than 50 years.
“In October of 2006, the U.S. Congress proclaimed a day in his name and flew the American flag over the Pentagon in his name …,” she said, pausing to highlight the magnitude of that recognition. “Whew, Henry! The Virginia General Assembly issued a proclamation honoring him as did the Town of Farmville.”
Later while listing his accolades, Giles added, “His community awards for service are too long for me to list.”
She gave more insight into her personal connection with Fulcher before concluding her remarks with a nod to where she began.
“I was spoiled,” she said. “Henry spoiled us, and he still does. I’m going to cry. My kids don’t have to wake up quite as early as I did. They don’t have nearly as many chores as I did, but every now and then, I’ll go wake them up a little early so they can hear Henry on the radio, because I want them to know his voice, and I want them to be spoiled like I was. I love you, Henry.”
Fulcher was given a microphone so he could deliver his acceptance speech from his seat, which was turned so he could face the audience.
“Thank you, Juanita,” he said. “Thank you. God bless you. I’ll tell you, I have to be seated because this night has knocked me off my feet. … I still don’t believe it. I’m usually not too much at a loss for words, but I’ve thought about asking each of you tonight to come by and pinch me, because I’m still in a state of shock. … The fact that an elite organization of learned people would pay attention to an old country boy like me …”
He trailed off, but then offered a summary of who he is that he later expanded on, to the joy of those in attendance.
“Music has been the center of my life,” he said. “First of all is my Lord, but then comes people. I love people, and I can’t take credit for that. It’s the way my Master made me. And I love music.”
