Pennington Research Association

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PRA 2002 Nashville Annual Meeting Review

Well, you may have thought Nashville was awful far and that since most of us wear overalls and just have one pair of shoes (though we do have 2 shirts), that Nashville wouldn’t be the most spectacular meeting. Well maybe it wasn’t spectacular but those of us that did come had a great time.

Thursday was full of meeting updates (thanks to Gene Pennington for organizing this day as well as leading several of the sessions). We got updates on the PRA genetic research study. Looks like more than a few groups are definitely related. We’re still looking for volunteers from several groups to participate in the study. Contact Nick Penington (e-mail is npenington@downstate.edu) for more information. In brief, we’re looking for male (got to have that Y chromosome) Penningtons from each family group. No needles or blood, just a simple swab off the cheek. The cost is just over $100 but will be paid by PRA if you are unable to do so.

As Nick Penington was unable to attend, Gene agreed to read the paper and present the PowerPoint presentation Nick prepared. Gene did a great job but we sure wish Nick could have come.

The Reverend Dr. Jasper Green Pennington gave a very interesting overview of Earlham College of Richmond, Indiana, the new designated repository for Pennington research materials. There has been some concern that much of the work of older generations could be lost as those researchers passed on. Now we have a place to gather those items. Jasper has graciously agreed to be the archivist in charge of organizing this project.

After Jasper finished a 30 minute presentation, Gene informed him we still had 30 minutes until the next presentation, so Jasper gave an impromptu presentation of many of the European connections including a group of Pennington bell makers (many of whose bells are still in use around England). His vast and diverse knowledge was impressive to say the least. If you missed this, you missed a real treat.

Gene also gave an overview of internet tools useful for research. If you missed this you can find most of the information on the PRA website (www.penningtonresearch.org).

Rodney Swanson gave a moving retrospective (including pictures!) on his background and search for his roots. It was a great story.

Thursday night a small group went to the Wildhorse Saloon and the Spaghetti Factory (big yum!). Flo Readiger, Shirley Erickson and I were even brave enough to try a little line dancing at the Wildhorse. They’ve got moves you’ve really never seen.

Friday morning we started with a tour of Nashville. Jim Pennington (NC) later confessed he expected this to be boring (“something that old people do”) but was surprised to have a quite a good time seeing homes of Martina McBride, Web Pierce (guitar shaped swimming pools and “silver dollar car”), as well as a stained glass window made of over 9,000 pieces of glass at the Upper Room with a life size carving of the last supper and several other works of art and 9 ton granite globe at the “Centenial Mall” by the Capital rotating freely on 0.25” of water. I think a few of the group actually turned the world upside down before having the pleasure of listening to a brief song on the quarter hour played on the 95 bells hung in some 50 odd towers at the end of the mall.

After leaving the Upper Room, I thought we were going to lose Shirley as she worked herself up into an excited frenzy when we passed a life-size metal sculpture of a piano and pianist off Music Row (turns out she collects pictures of pianos as well as small pianos).

Friday afternoon was spent perusing the Country Music Hall of Fame. I learned Dolly Parton got her start as co-host on the Porter Wagoner Show (which I found apparently everyone else already knew). We were pulling out on the bus when Flo suddenly realized she left her goodies from the gift shop somewhere inside. Fortunately, after a brief panic, we retrieved the misplaced items and all was well.

Friday night was a wonderful trip to the Grand Ole Opry. We were treated to entertainment by Porter Wagoner, Little Jimmy Dickens, Vince Gill, the Osborne Brothers and a host of others. Little Jimmy said he came from a big family, 15 children … 6 boys, 6 girls and 3 other (well it was funny when he said it!).

Saturday morning at 8:30 am (after being out to nearly 11 pm) the few hard core researchers went over to the Tennessee State Archives for a little research. I learned they have a wonderful web site with much of their material indexed (see http://www.state.tn.us/sos/statelib/tslahome.htm ).

Saturday afternoon was the annual meeting and then the banquet Saturday night which was capped off with wonderful singing by Melanie Pennington (I am of course totally objective) and piano accompaniment by Dave Gant (formerly played with such well known artists as Willie Nelson and Garth Brooks).

All in all we all had a good ‘ol time. Y’all come back now, ya hear!

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