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Huntingdon Heritage Festival Dampened by Rain

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The 26th annual Huntingdon Heritage Festival was dampened by a major rain front that hit the area over the weekend. The musical events were moved to the Hal Holbrook stage inside The Dixie, and outside vendors saw fewer attendees as the rains were unrelenting.

The 10:00 a.m. announcement of the Pioneer Family and Outstanding Citizens honored the Tippitt family. John Everett Williams was honored as the Outstanding Citizen.

The indoor Carroll Arts Storytelling event was held at the Public Safety Building. Speakers included: Tony Janner, Mark Warren, Denise Sam, Tricia Lee, Phil Williams, Glynda Rich, Garrett Burns, and Catherine Argo.

Festival goers enjoyed face painting, balloon creations, inflatables, ISTEA train rides, and vendor booths for jewelry, clothing, crafts, food, snow cones, and ice cream, along with music and entertainment acts.

The children’s stage, sponsored by the Huntingdon Animal Clinic, featured family entertainment from the Paris Landing State Park who will have an animal presentation on Birds of Prey and Reptiles, Mudslingers Pottery demonstration, and a presentation from the Carroll County Library,

The Carroll Bank & Trust Bandstand Main Stage included Longshot Band at 11 a.m., Jon and Anna Eaton at 12:30 p.m., Avonlea at 2:00 p.m. and 24/Seven at 3:30 p.m.

Outstanding Citizen- Judge John E Williams

Judge John Everett Williams is a lifelong resident of Carroll County and spent the majority of his life in his hometown of Huntingdon, Tenn.. He has delighted adults and children alike with hundreds of magic shows and has delivered over a hundred D.A.R.E. Graduation speeches in the various schools of Carroll County. He has spoken to various civic organizations and classrooms and actively supports Leadership Carroll County. Judge Williams graduated from Huntingdon High School in 1971 and later graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. He attended Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama, and began practicing law in Huntingdon in 1981. In 1998, Gov. Don Sundquist appointed him to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. The voters of Tennessee have voted to retain Judge John Everett Williams in office in three separate statewide elections. In the last election cycle, Judge Williams received over 510,000 votes, giving him the largest vote total of any member of his court, and he received the least amount of negative votes of any appellate court judge in the state. Three years ago, Judge Williams received the first ever Outstanding Alumni Award given by the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Criminal Justice Program. Judge Williams serves as Commission Chair for the nationally recognized Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program. In this capacity, he is sought after as an enthusiastic speaker throughout the state and nation, speaking recently in Charleston, West Virginia, New Orleans, Louisiana, St. Louis, Missouri, Destin, Florida, and Vancouver, Canada.

Judge John Everett Williams maintains his office on the square here in Huntingdon, where many young lawyers receive training as they work for him in their capacity as law clerks. Judge Williams holds court primarily in courthouses in Jackson, Nashville, and Knoxville. In June of this year, Judge William’s colleagues elected him to be their presiding judge, a position that has not been held by a West Tennessee judge in over 25 years and never by Northwest Tennessee judge.

Judge Williams is an ardent supporter of the Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center and the Carroll County 1,000-Acre Recreational Lake.

Judge John Everett Williams is the oldest son of John L. and Betty Williams of Huntingdon (both deceased), and the brother of Robert Clark (Bob) Williams of Leach. Judge Williams has one son J. Williams, a daughter-in-law Devon, two granddaughters Emory, six, and Everly, two. Judge Williams enjoys building, Sauger fishing, duck hunting, portraying Mark Twain and occasionally the Colonel, (without the chicken,) whittling at Jeff’s Lawnmower Shop, and sitting around telling tales.

Pioneer Family - The Tippitts

John Elmer Tippitt married Pearl Cox on March 12, 1916 and in this union they had three children.   On December 15, 1927 John and Pearl Tippitt left Benton County and purchased 100 acres of land about eight miles northeast of Huntingdon, Tennessee. Today this land is out Highway 77 on Pointer Lane.

Madelyn Tippitt married Orin Williams and they had two children, James Williams and Dorothy Williams Robbins. Madelyn worked at the Publix Shirt Factory for many years while being widowed with two young children. She served as a Director on the Carroll County Farm Bureau, worked at the Carroll County Library and also volunteered at the Office on Aging up until her early 90s. Madelyn was a member of the Mt. Zion Methodist Church where she dedicated herself to service for many years.

Kenneth and Wanda Tippitt made their home in New Jersey. They had two children: Bobby Tippitt and Patricia Tippitt.

Bruce Tippitt served in World War ll where he was the recipient of a Purple Heart, which was given for being wounded in action , a Oak Leaf Cluster which is for each subsequent Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, given for “Heroic or Meritorious achievement of service and a Silver Star, which is the 3rd. highest military decoration for valor. Awarded for “Gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.” When his sevice duty concluded he returned to Huntingdon where he met and married Mary Pate. Bruce and Mary purchased 60 acres of farm land near his father’s farm and began the Tippitt Family Farm. Bruce and Mary had four children: Glenn Tippitt, Carol Tippitt Bennett, Larry Tippitt, and Tommy Tippitt.

Bruce Tippitt served as President and Director for many years on the Carroll County Farm Bureau Board. He served as a Director on the Bank of Huntingdon Board, and on the Carroll County Coop Board. Bruce and Mary joined Long Rock Methodist Church in 1951 where they dedicated their services until their passing.

Today Tippitt Farms is managed by their four children and two grandsons: Brannon and Ryan Tippitt. The farm has grown to over 5500 acres of row crops. On October 24, 2016 Tippitt Farm was selected the Agri-Business/Farmer Of The Year by the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce.

Glenn Tippitt is the current President of the Carroll County Farm Bureau. He has served on the Carroll County Coop Board, the Soybean Promotion Board and on the Long Rock Methodist Church Administration Board. Glenn and Janice have three sons: Lance Tippitt, Tyler and Beth Tippitt, Ryan and Angela Tippitt and they have five grandchildren.

Carol Tippitt Bennett serves as bookkeeper for Tippitt Farms and serves on the Administration Board of Long Rock Methodist Church. Carol and Weldon have four children: Brad and Cassandra Fuller, Jill and Wade Pusser, Jody and Amy Fuller, Holly and Patrick Bunch and they have six grandchildren.

Larry Tippitt has served on the FSA committee and the Farm Credit Advisory Board. Larry and Annice have six children: Brannon and Summer Tippitt, Brooke and Ben Canovan, Corren and Krystal Tippitt, Mary Ryan and Bryan Bond, Benjamin Roberts, Katelyn Roberts and they have nine grandchildren.

Tommy Tippitt serves on the Administration Board of the Huntingdon Methodist Church. Tommy and Lisa Tippitt have three children: Ashton and Matt Lange, Blake and Jill Courtney, Zack and Nicole Tippitt and they have seven grandchildren.

On May 27, 1932 Bruce Tippitt, age 13, scored the highest on a test given to 124 boys, his average was 96. He was given the key to the city and made Mayor of Huntingdon for a day.