By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—This year’s dedications at the opening of the World’s Biggest Fish Fry headquarters were especially emotional, with the souvenir book dedicated to the late Henry County High School Football Coach James Counce. For the first time ever, an honorary Grand Marshal was also named—the late Sonny Melton, who was killed in the mass shooting in Las Vegas.
Parade Grand Marshal will be General Daisie Boettner, a Paris native who retired as Brigadier General after a distinguished career.
Current HCHS Football Coach James Counce III accepted the dedication on his father’s behalf, saying, “I hope I can do half the things my father did. He loved this community.”
Counce died October following a lengthy and much respected career as coach. He was the winningest football coach in the history of Henry County and Dyerburg’s football programs.
His accomplishments as coach included two perfect seasons and two 5A State Championships for the Patriots in 2011 and 2013.
Melton’s mother, Susan Melton, accepted the honor on behalf of her son, noting that this weekend marks the six month anniversary of Sonny’s death. “There is not a breath we take that we don’t think about him. And I hope you always will remember Sonny, if not with a tear then with a smile.”
Melton, of Big Sandy, was a nurse at Henry County Medical Center and was married to Dr. Heather Gulish Melton of Paris.
Accepting for General Boettner was her sister, Lucy Presson, who said, “Daisie would be so happy and thrilled that her hometown is honouring her this way.”
Boettner is the daughter of Raymond and Isabel Wheeler and was valedictorian at HCHS, afterward she graduated from West Point. In fact, she was the first woman from Tennessee to be graduated from West Point. She has served in multiple positions during her career.
A good-sized crowd was on hand for this morning’s headquarters’ opening, at which Hostess Princess Gracie Osbron and her court handed out the souvenir booklets to everyone and the public got their first chance to see and purchase this year’s souvenirs and t-shirts.
Making the announcements were General Manager Lisa Stone, Assistant General Manager Cecilia Casey, and Treasurer Cathey Williams.
The 65th World’s Biggest Fish Fry will begin April 21 and continue through April 28.
Photos: Main photo, James Counce is comforted by Cathey Williams as he acknowledges the souvenir booklet dedication to his father, with Cecelia Casey and Lisa Stone looking on; Susan Melton with Lisa Stone; Lucy Presson accepts the Grand Marshal honor on behalf of her sister. (Shannon McFarlin photos).
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