Wednesday, August 20, 1986

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Che AcBowell News ay

; ye Work On Dispiy Marion Artist Karen Dark stands | before one of her water colors on § exhibit at the MACA gallery. The work, titled ‘““From One Room To Another,” is one of 28 water colors: Mrs. Dark is showing at the gallery ‘on Brown Drive through Sept. 28.

| (Photo by Jim Burgin) ri

M r. day, September i 1986. :

nt to a con-

ural on the side

Painting Mural

afts Association |

Arts Center on Brow scheduled to be’ fini (Photo by Jim Burgin)

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Charles Cowles Elledge, 78, died Saturday in Charlotte’s Presbyterian Hospital.

Elledge, who was principal at the old Marion High School, as well as a teacher in the local system, ap- peared in eight feature-length films, a number of television commercials and played Preacher Simms for 33 years in the Boone outdoor drama, ‘Horn In The West.”

Aug. 2 was Charlie Elledge Day at the Boone theater and a bronze bust

‘Elledge of Ferguson;

Vivian Stikes of Purlear.

bust is on display in the visitor’s center there. aon

Elledge designed the theater at East McDowell Junior High School with its full fly system, spacious dressing rooms, scenery storage and excellent accoustics.

He played Santa Claus at the Gaston Mall through his retirement years and had planned to return there this Christmas.

He was a native of Wilkes County, a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and held a masters degree from Ap- palachian State University.

He is survived by his wife, Grace; his daughter, Cherie Elledge Grapes

...Dead At Age 78

RUNNIN' ON RIMS Booksigning

Lasting

Former Marion High School principal Charlie Elledge died last week, ending a distinguished career as an educator, actor and professional Santa Claus.

During his 30 years on the stage as Preacher Simms in ‘Horn In The West,” Elledge’s performances were

enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of outdoor drama goers who attended the Boone play and its celebration of the American Revolution. / Elledge loved the part and gave it his all, even through a bout with cancer that eventually took his life. q

The tall, booming-voiced performer played roles in a few movies and acted in television commercials, most

- memorably as the symbol of Quincy’s ‘Steakhouse when he played Grandpa Quincy. :

’ He was voted by the readers of

Esquire Magazine to be the man in - America who looks most like Santa

'. Claus, and played Santa in a large shopping mall near his Dallas home for most of.the Christmases following his retirement. ? , Witho

tion, Elledge touched the ‘eds of McDowell Coun- eacher and principal. His ing legacy may be the AcDowell . i i

owell Junior High e of Marion High).

Autographing | New Book

_ Former Marion newspaper man Jock Lauterer (left) was in Marion Sunday to autograph copies of his new book, ‘‘Runnin’ On Rims,” which features about 20 McDowell Countians pictures and stories. Shown with Lauterer is Lacie featured local folks. She is signing his copy of the book while he signs hers. The book ‘is on sale at Johnson’s Book

rles C. Elledge Dies’

of Nashville; one brother, and two sisters, Veoria Jones of Boomer and

The funeral is at 1 p.m. today at the Dallas Baptist Church. Funeral home is in charge of ser-

vices. Ge Je s6

‘death, a full-scale musical revue will

strut their stuff on the East McDowell |

‘Somewhere so that f _weeks nobody will

Re

FN mare me aes : _ Planning Needed

nat we might wake up in 20 mpletely different world is nsettling. Yet we know the stly different today than it

oe uture will get here. Whether we're prepare surihise is a matter, in part, of public — planning and commitment.

tis the best way for us to

in

Center on South Main Street. to suit lop imords? « : Oo se = Or do we need a grassroots, com-

munity by community, series of meetings that ask critical planning . questions and give leaders a list of answers which, could be updated yearly? 3 !

Here are some of the questions we’d like to see asked: What kinds of jobs do. McDowell Countians want to do? How many people currently working in in- dustry see themselves as careers ‘workers with that company or a similar

Herlie

ie company? What is the ¢limate here for more small busi is, light manufacturing, tourism staurants, resorts, a theme park or an outdoor grama? 43 ¥- | ' How are we going to deal with the pain of children? Children of divorce, abused

children, dropouts and children in trouble with the law. Many live in crisis ‘and could be helped in childhood to avoid becoming wards of the state as adults, either as part of the prison population or residents of mental hospitals. |

ELLEDGE

= Aue tisite a7 sao6

Le;

One of the finest educational theaters in Western North Carolina, the facility has a full fly system for scenery, adaquate back stage storage and dressing rooms and almost perfect accoustics. —

It’s appropriate that within days of his

open in the theater that Elledge designed and insisted on. When ‘The — Golden Sounds of Motortown,”’ plays this weekend in the East auditorium, the

sights and sounds will be a fitting Commerce, 17 N. memorial to Charlie Elledge. a Ea reedl at $4 for adults

Elledge lived his life in broad strokes. and $3 for students:'The show, His voice was loud. His strides were be held at Serr ova. long and his jokes could bring tears to School Sept, ¢ a nd aoe

: will feature band 7

the eyes. Even into old age, he had an performances of 50’s and 60’s energy and passion that inspired. He rock and roll hits*by a cast of had a child-like grace and sense of over 40 De eof two” playfulness that filled his giant frame. TL touieabtiee'|

It is not appropriate that dozens and oe ‘“The Soul Solution” and * eventually hundreds of young actors “The Tremolations.”.

will sing, dance, play and generally

stage and never know that it was

Charlie Elledge who insisted on a first-

class theater for the people of McDowell County. i

It might be fitting editorial and_-tai

“hencad™ Ss

Charlie Elledge?”

for it or caught bys-l

How are we going to use our lan¢c? ©

Many of these decisions have been made for us, since a lot of the land in Mc- Dowell County is owned by the federal

> can be used to house an expanding |

dustrial base, new tourist serv: lore small businesses and artists ‘e other choices.

] with the long-term 7 of catastrophic illness, stop

alcohol abuse and generally

creaté-a whole vision for life in this county that-gives our best the widest opportunities to serve and achieve

makes certain that those in nee cared for? *

And finally, we’d like to

What more can churches do? \ nat is. the role of the schools, law enforcement, |

the courts, the press, the Unites Way,.} the Chamber of Commerce, *MACA, | Family Services, The McDowell Hospital and other institutions, | the ways we normally think, of

functioning?

The world is going through convul citiiomanealfese in technologs changing “the way we earn. municate, travel, the dozens of see and define ourselves. 4 ‘ Some kind of planning will help us | land in the future on solid footing. 9 —

ab 3g Tickets for the Old Fort Heritage Foundation’s 1890s _. Costume Party are available _ at the MACA Arts Center on Brown Drive in Marion, the McDowell County Chamber of Commerce, Old Fort Town Hall, The McDowell News, and Landmark Beauty Salon and poche tay) Salon in ort. oie party is scheduled for 6 p.m., Sept. 27, at the Old Fort Inn and the Old Fort Depot. Guests do not have to wear costumes. The party feature horse and buggy rides, period music, dancing and decor, and a ham and turkey dinner. Olivia Ashfour will provide piano music during

the buffet dinner. Tickets are $25 per person and $49 per couple. 5

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