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SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – A
three-person Executive Committee has been appointed
by the Celebration Board of Directors to assist
Interim CEO Virgil Johnson, according to board
chairman David L. Howard. The committee will
consist of board members Charles McDonald, John T
Bobo, and Howard.
McDonald is the current
vice-chairman while Bobo is the past-chairman and
Howard the current chairman.
“Our board has complete
confidence in Virgil’s ability to run the everyday
operations of The Celebration®, said
Howard. “This executive committee will be a group
he can lean on for advice on any particular issue,
or issues, he feels necessary.”
Johnson was appointed
to the interim post last Friday and began his duties
on Monday, December 3rd.
Johnson has a long
relationship with The Celebration®. He
was elected to the TWHNC® Association in
1991 and Celebration Board of Directors in 1993. He
served as its chairman in 2002-03, before reaching
the board’s mandatory retirement age. He was also
inducted into the Celebration Hall of Fame in 2004.
A native of
Minnesota, Johnson
and his family moved to Shelbyville in 1970 to
manage the Jostens manufacturing facility.
A search committee is
currently being formed to find a permanent
replacement for Ron Thomas. The board is hopeful
that a new CEO can be named in 60-90 days.
The Celebration®
is the longest continually- running event in
the state of Tennessee, dating back to 1939. The 70th
Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration®
is scheduled for August 20-30, 2008 at the
Historic Celebration Grounds in
Shelbyville.
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