It was a lazy June sunset and the shadows fell quickly in the trees of Bays Mountain, but the conversation was aglow as members of the Tennessee Press Association gathered in Kingsport for their 2005 Convention.
There was a string choir performing in the loft of the old Farmstead House that served as the welcome center for the publishers and advertising/production managers from across the state. Pratt’s Barn catered the event and I met lots of folks this evening who seemed to enjoy the outing.
Keith Wilson and his wife Pam Cox were the hosts for this evening and were joined by Mayor Dennis Phillips for the barbecue setting. Upstairs, I had dinner with Alan Broyles and Tom Harris with The Johnson City Press. I was surprised to be greeted by Robin Phaelan and Betty Davis, two former Times-News employees who now work for other newspapers.
Other than that, I met several publishers from Franklin, Lafollete, Gallatin, Jefferson City, Rogersville, Erwin and a few other media affiliates. Nice conversations and I ended the evening walking the park with Diana and Gerald Meredith in front of the Bays Mountain Wolf Den.