Part 3
"A lawyer's time and advice are his stock in trade." --- President Abraham Lincoln
No write-up on Wayne Kuhn would be complete without the Washington Parish Fair with which he first became ardently involved in 1975. Ken Knight sagely recommended that he join the Stage Committee; accordingly, Wayne became Chairman of the Washington Parish Free Fair Stage Entertainment from 1976-1982, from 1984-1989, and then again in 1991. Twelve terrific years, total. And he served on the Board of Directors from 1991 until around 2020, almost thirty years.
Mr. Wayne explained that once Coca-Cola agreed to give the Fair a sponsorship, they had enough funds to step up the entertainment. The sky was the limit. He and the committee --- Wayne is always quick to say, "It was not just me" --- were able to bring in a cavalcade of top performers including Sylvia, Marie Osmond, Ronnie Millsaps, Ray Stevens, Tammy Wynette, Bill Anderson, and Charlie Daniels.
Once they had the Coke money, friend and fellow Fair volunteer Bill Durden piped up, "Now you can afford to get Jerry Reed." And so, they did. You know, "When You're Hot, You're Hot."
Awash in memories, I couldn't help but recollect Ronnie Milsap's long ago performance at the Washington Parish Fair. I well remember because my better half was reluctant to travel home to Franklinton to attend the Fair. But I stood my ground. Either come with or stay home, but I am going to see Ronnie Milsap.
For the record, I once knew all his hits - "Smokey Mountain Rain," "It Was Almost Like a Song," and "What a Difference You've Made in My Life" - word for word. Rodney was right by my side at the stage, front and center --- what a wonderful evening. You know, "I Wouldn't Have Missed It for the World."
Local lawyer Wayne Kuhn gave generously of his time and advice to the Washington Parish Fair Association. A natural negotiator, he didn't miss a beat securing the talent --- except for once.
As the former long-time Chairman of the Washington Parish Free Fair Stage Entertainment, Mr. Wayne described in detail what transpired. He received a call out of the blue from one of the booking agents he regularly dealt with --- the fellow had "a new group that he thought I ought to get," according to Mr. Wayne. It was a mother and daughter country music duo who had only one hit record.
The cost was $4,000 which was at the tip top of what the Fair Association was paying --- at that time, major moolah. So, exercising due diligence and focusing on the bottom line, Mr. Wayne passed.
They were The Judds, Wynonna and her mother Naomi, who went on to record a litany of number one hits and who also won multiple Grammy and Country Music Association Awards. And after Naomi's tragic death in 2022, they entered the Country Music Hall of Fame.
But as with all things, hindsight is twenty-twenty. Still, Mr. Wayne likes to lament. And he mentioned how much the market has changed today --- the prices are sky high, and the productions are colossal.
In 1990 Wayne became President of the Washington Parish Fair Association. And it was then that the playground, nicknamed Kuhnland, came into being. His wife Sarah regularly brought their children to meet him at the Fairgrounds where the family picnicked --- their picnic spot was selected as the site for the playground. An attractive area that was more remote with a hill and water nearby. The initial playground was modeled after a smaller playground that Curtis Long and his wife Shelia had helped construct at Centenary Methodist Church. The two of them collaborated with Mike Mobley (landscape architect) and Walt Sylvest (accountant), and together they designed and built it out of wood. The Washington Parish Fair Association contributed the materials. And Mr. Wayne was the heart and soul of the Playground (hence its nickname), adding music and Disney characters to the delight of all.
While they hoped the structure would last ten years, it lasted thirty --- three times as long as expected --- even with the vandalism. Vandals caused unfortunate damage at night, and the team diligently repaired it in the daylight.
In good time, a dynamic group of young mothers took over the Playground with Julie Foret and Hope Bickham chief among them. Experts at fundraising, they raised money for the Playground, selling handprints. My parents purchased one for my daughter who, with my daddy - her Pa-pa - was a regular at the Playground in the 1990s. They enjoyed some special times together there before he succumbed in 1999.
The Playground was eventually rebuilt around the original structure, and children's shows and acts were brought in for the enjoyment of little ones and adults alike. And in the off season, locals hold birthday parties there.
Mr. Wayne added that Alex McElveen, and her husband Bryan, became the new Playground chairmen last year. With the introduction of the Dinosaur Experience at last year's Fair, they brought innovative children's entertainment to the Playground. And plans are progressing to build a new Playground. Wonderfully so, ensuring that memory making and magic can continue.
