This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the September 12, 2013 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.

            We had a great variety of weather conditions throughout the week here in Magoffin County but nothing could take away from a fantastic 35^th Magoffin County Founders Days!  The extreme heat cancelled out the Cabin Porch Pickin’ and the Talent Showcase scheduled for Friday afternoon and the Saturday Street Dance had to be cancelled due to a severe thunderstorm in the area which took out some people’s electric power for over 9 hours.       

Our visitors all seemed to be pleased with the amount of activities that were on the schedule and especially liked getting to see their relatives again, renewing old acquaintances and making new friends. 

            We had a large number of window displays this year and we want the merchants and the members of the Rudd family who did the work to know of our appreciation.  We had so many great comments on the displays.  I know we all enjoyed those, seeing the historic and family items along with the many pictures of the Rudd’s. 

            The Black Powder Express Band played before the Miss Teen Pageant which was directed by Tanika McFarland, Olivia Bailey Wireman, Jincy Marshall Bailey, Jenny Beth Howard and Carol Howard. This was a great crowd-pleasing night of entertainment and was followed on Friday night by the Miss Magoffin Pageant.  We had a fine group of people working to make this the excellent pageant that it was: Jincy Bailey, Melodye Stephens, Tanika McFarlan, Ginger Oney, Olivia Wireman, Jenny Beth Howard, Bryannan Howes and Jill Johnson. 

            Friday’s activities mostly centered on our young people with Brooke Jenkins Howard and Russell Sparks of the Extension Office conducting the 4-H Pet Show.  We enjoyed seeing all the pets brought in by so many of our Magoffin County people.  In addition to the much loved dogs, puppies, kittens and cats, we also saw a miniature donkey, a horned lizard, baby quail, African frogs, fish and all manner of other kinds of pets. We even heard that one pet had on a Rudd tee-shirt!

            Charlotte Gillum, Jaynie Poe and Theresa Miller were in charge of the School Events which began at 12 noon.  We had a fine group of our Magoffin County teachers helping them with this event.  They were Stephanie Lemaster, Adrienne Howard, Mandee Bowling, Breann Patrick, Baillie Arnett and Jessica Howard. We saw a number of additional teachers, principals and other school personnel in the audience cheering their students on as they competed in the Poster Art, Spelling and Math contests.  We had a very impressive group of youngsters participating in these events.  It makes us proud to see the knowledge and poise displayed by Magoffin County students.  Our hats are off to the Magoffin County school system!

            The Magoffin County Public Library staff sponsored the Book Signing by Magoffin County writers along with other area authors.  This event was held on the lawn of the Hall Community Center along with several area medical centers giving out medical information.  We were glad to see some of the book authors who have been to past Founders Days as well as several new ones.  There were eleven participants in all, Patty Auxier, Al Cornette, Tim Callahan, John D. Preston, John Sparks, Nancy Allen, Miriam Moyer, Charles Dahnmon, Rebecca Patrick-Howard, David Griffin and Marjorie Dufault.  We also saw Tom J. Whitaker and his son Mike on the grounds.  We want to thank our librarian Melanie Cain and her assistant Betty Williams for making this fine event available to our county people and visitors.

            Inside the Community Center was a collection of craft booths which sold everything from homemade lye soap to handmade jewelry which gave us all an opportunity to purchase as well as enjoy looking at the great variety of items. 

            The annual Founders Day 5K race got going early on Saturday morning and had a good attendance.  We didn’t get to go out to this event but were glad to see some pictures. By the way, a couple of people have shared their Founders Day pictures with us already and we hope you will, too!

            At 10:45 Saturday morning Steve Rudd hosted the Rudd Family Greetings at the Pioneer Village.  James Rudd delivered a fine invocation for the occasion and his wife Diane Rudd sang the National Anthem for us.  As Diane sang, A. B. Conley, president of the Muzzleloaders and member Wayne Jenkins raised the American flag.  This was followed with a 21-gun salute by the DAV Chapter 15.  Ralph Mullins with the Boy Scout troop led us in the Pledge to the Flag then we were once again treated to little Miss Erin Grace Rudd singing.  We are mighty impressed by this young lady. 

            Dr. Charles Hardin, County Judge Executive and Dr. James “Pete” Shepherd, Salyersville Mayor, were on hand to welcome everyone for our 35^th Founders Day celebration.

            Steve Rudd then presented the Rudd family name addition inscribed on the Pioneer Village marker to the group.  Augustine Rudd Castle, Barbara Rudd Daniels and E. J. Rudd were on hand to unveil the marker.  Steve also announced that a second panel had been added to the Early Founder’s marker.  This panel contains the names of the first three honorees of Magoffin County Founders Days, the Adams, Prater and Salyer families.  So now, we have the original pyramid-shaped marker on the lawn of the Hall Community Center and a panel in the Pioneer Village that goes into more description of the heritage of the first three families to be honored by our county celebrations.  We believe it will add to the knowledge and enjoyment of our Pioneer Village visitors who view this new panel.  Steve also told the group of the name additions to the War of 1812 marker here in our Pioneer Village. We had the name of this year’s progenitor of the Rudd family, Archibald Rudd inscribed and also the name of last year’s family ancestor, Reuben Marshall. 

            A number of visitors spoke of their Rudd family heritage and it was very pleasant to hear the heart-felt sentiments they expressed. 

            And then…the rains came! A lot of us went into the historical society library where we had wall-to-wall Rudds and a bunch of the kids even got under the tables to talk and play!  All the porches outside were also full. Miss Jessica opened up the cabins in the Pioneer Village and a lot of people got to look at the furnishings. We anxiously watched the weather but around 1 p.m. Carter Conley announced that the parade would go on!  We had a little rain through the parade but the Rudd’s had a boat, nay…a SHIP so all was well! (SMILE)  It was an outstanding parade with many floats and parade entries.  There were so many participating that it would take more than words to tell about.  We hope to see all the pictures that were taken so we can enjoy it all again. 

            We had great participation from the Mearl & Dixie Rudd family, from the Noah Rudd family, several churches, youth groups, civic groups and businesses.  We even had entries from the Rudd Equipment Company!

We were happy to have grand marshals Augustine Rudd Castle, Barbara Rudd Daniels, Edna Rudd Penix, E. J. Rudd and James Melvin Rudd in the parade and they all had many friends and family members cheering them as they came down the street.

            Betty Jo Arnett Lykins once again manned the microphones for us and what a wonderful job she did of announcing the participants in the parade!  Ms. Lykins is a retired school teacher and has helped us in many capacities throughout our years as an organization.  Thanks also to Abbie Conley and Paula Montgomery for their help!

            Tonya and Randy Ward were ready with the Talent Showcase and Look Alike Contests right after the parade.  They also had the help of Jessica Howard and Abby Conley and what a good time was had by everyone attending.  Many prizes and ribbons were bestowed on the entrants.  It was a fun time!

            David Patrick, son of Henry Clay and Louise Patrick was recognized for his civic work at the City of Salyersville Renaissance building at 3 p.m. and many people were there for the occasion.  Congratulations, David!

            Around 5 p.m. a whole bunch of Rudd’s and friends gathered at the home of Tim Daniels for an old-fashioned Hog Roast.  I hear several hundred people were there and all were scrumptiously fed!  Tim, we very much appreciate this generous and gracious invitation to our visitors and friends.

            We had issued an invitation to everyone to attend the old fashioned church services at our Pioneer Village church conducted by the State Road United Baptist Church members on Sunday and we had a full house!  We hear that all the other churches in our area had wonderful crowds attending, also.

            Afterwards we gathered at the Hall Community Center for our Magoffin Homecoming Dinner celebrating the Rudd family.  We had such a terrific crowd attending and the serving tables were completely full with such a large number and variety of dishes.  I tried to get a little taste of everything!  Those dumplings were mighty nice! Our slogan this year for the Rudd family was “Faith, Family, Freedom. We have all agreed that we need to add “Friends, Food and FUN” to that!  (SMILE)

A lot of talking went on while we enjoyed all the food. I had a good visit with Goble Caudill, Jim and Emma Day Turley, and even got to talk with my neighbors, Inis and A. B. Conley. We had so many helpers that day and we especially thank Veronica Hall, Connie Hansen, Sheila Huff, Gwen Lemaster, Jincy Bailey, Lisa Preston and Tammy Allen for helping with the dinner.  Afterwards, the Rudd family, including all the children, pitched in and made short work of getting everything put back in order.  We thank Charlie and Susie along with the Judge’s office for the use of the Community Center and being available to help in any way.

            Just as evening was setting in, Bill and Vivian Rudd, along with Diane Rudd set up the Gospel Sing at the cabins.  They had many individuals and groups to sing for the large number of people who came to enjoy the music and fellowship.

            The thirty-fifth Magoffin County Founders Days is now history with the only glitch being the rainstorm during the parade but that only added some realism to the parade ship which represented the vessel that brought the first Rudd’s to America.  It was a sight to behold as it “sailed” down the streets of Salyersville Saturday, thanks to Jesse Rudd and crew! 

            What would we have done without Willie and Nellie Montgomery of Ohio, John and Debbie Britton of Ohio, and Kay and Dallas Bentley?  We thank all of you who helped in any way!