SEVENTH ANNUAL TOY RUN HELD IN HOUSTON COUNTY

By TERESA N. SETTLE
TENNESSEE EXPRESS NEWS WRITER
Photos by MIKE DAVIS

* The seventh annual Houston County Toy Run took place last Saturday, Oct. 16,
netting over $4,000 plus a trail and a truck bed full of toys.
* The chilly morning weather may have deterred a few, but over 150 motorcycles
made the 17-mile trek from Danville to Erin’s Court Square.
* However, by the time the bikers got downtown, the weather was just right, and
Court Square was packed with cyclers, clad in their riding gear and black
leather. Strapped to their Harleys, Hondas, and other varieties of motorcycles
were a vast assortment of children’s toys.
* Erin Police Chief Tommy Parchman and Erin Fire Chief David Hardin, along with
Gina Bell, Director of the Toys for Tots program, were all excited about the
turnout and the haul.
* The toys and money collected will be used to help make needy children’s
Christmas this year in Houston County.
* Area residents sat in their yards in lawn chairs or stood on the roadside
waiting to get a glimpse of all the motorcyles as they made their way to
downtown Erin.
* Just across from the Southernaire Restaurant in Danville, Paul Baggett and
his daghter Mary Morgan Baggett, age 8, of Clarksville, lounged on their four-
wheelers.
* The two, who have a campsite in Danville at the Tennessee River, were in
Houston County for “a weekend getaway,” according to Paul. When they woke up at
their campsite, they heard lots of motorcycles, so they went to the bait shop
to find out what was going on.
* Toy run participants got to enjoy Houston County’s rural scenery, from
horses, barns, creeks, tractors, and country front porches, to the trees just
changing from greens to yellows, reds, and browns.
* They travelled from Danville via Hwy. 147, then turned right at Gray’s
Crossing in Tennessee Ridge, onto Hwy. 49 to make it to Erin’s Court Square.
This year, rather than gathering at the Betsy Ligon Park Pavilion, the cyclists
just parked right in the middle of the square, where music, food, and an
auction beckoned.
* For an event to raise money for children,it was neat to see two local youths
contributing themselves. Jack Jennings, a seventh grader at HCMS, and his
brother Sam, a fifth grader at Erin Elementary School, decided to empty their
piggybanks for the charitable event.
* Their mom Lou Anne Jennings of Erin said her sons has been collecting rolled
pennies, change, and dollar bills for months, but they gave it all today.

LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT
* It wasn’t just bikers or wanna-be bikers who came out to the event, either.
* David and Gloria Green say they come every year.
* “It’s getting bigger and better every year,” David said.
* The couple’s daughter, Kathleen Wallace, an eighth grader at Houston County
Middle School, also seemed to enjoy the event.
* Entertaining the crowd prior to the arrival of the bikers was another eighth
grader, Mica Massie.
* Massie, 14, has been singing since she was little. Some of the songs she sang
were “No One Else On Earth,” “Crazy,” and “Red Neck Woman.”
* Among her many supporters were her dad Jessie Massie of Erin and her proud
grandmother, Wanda Self.
* Massie has a spot every Saturday night on “The Grand Ole Hatchery” in
Dickson. She sang earlier this year at the Magnum Toy Drive, and she tried out
recently at the Wild Horse Saloon. Massie was named Junior Miss Houston County
2003.
* Other entertainers were the “Rambling Breeze Band.” They included three
locals: Howard Bailey and Glenn Bailey, playing rhythm guitar, Don Rye of
Dickson playing bass, and Marlene Edwards of Erin singing and playing rhythm
guitar.
* Edwards also served as a lively emcee of the event. A regular on “The Grand
Ole Hatcher,” Edwards said, “I think it’s absolutely wonderful,” referring to
the day’s events.
* “Bikers do an awful lot of good things,” she said.

TOYS FOR TOTS
* Toys for Tots Director Gina Bell was very busy overseeing the auction,
entertainment, and Toys for Tots booth sales.
* “We had a great day and a good turnout,” she said. “We appreciate everybody
coming in to Houston County to help out the kids.”
* “All year long we work at this,” Bell said, adding that area churches and
missions help the Toys for Tots program by providing lists of deserving
children who may not have a great Christmas with this program.
* Local auctioneer Randy Gill contributed his time to help with the event.
* If you want to contribute to the program or nominate a deserving child,
contact Bell at 289-1919 or Parchman at 289-2727.
* Helping at the Toys for Tots booth were: Sandi and Alex Short, Peggy and
Ashley Parchman, Ruby Simmons, Betty Beard, and Laurel Crook.
* At the booth you could buy hot dogs, chips, and drinks, or you could purchase
Toy Run Smart Cards, patches, or T-shirts commemorating the event.

ERIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
* Erin Police Chief Tommy Parchman was very pleased with the event’s success.
Chief Parchman told a huge crowd of community members and bikers down at the
square, “Thank everybody for being here and showing up.”

ERIN FIRE DEPARTMENT
* Erin Fire Chief David Hardin said this year’s event was a smooth ride for all
involved.
* “It was great. The weather was great. The people in town were great,” he
said, adding that on a typical Saturday you won’t find a packed square in
downtown Erin.
* Hardin said no accidents were reported as the cyclers moved rapidly from
Danville to Erin. Erin Police officers and fire department volunteers helped
with the toy run traffic flow at intersections.

BIKERS WHO CARE
* The Clarksville BWC has been the “driving” force of this local event,
bringing many out-of-town participants to the small town of Erin to help a
neighbor in need. BWC member Booger Watson presented the police department with
a check for $500.
* “It’s great that it’s seven years and still happening,” Watson said of the
Houston County toy run. “The turnouts are getting bigger and better. [We were]
blessed with beautiful weather.”
* Watson, the assistant director of the Clarksville BWC, said about 40 members
from Clarksville attended this event.
* “I’m proud to ride with a bunch of giving people,” he added.
* Steve Eckart, webmaster for the BWC group, was snapping lots of digital
pictures of the event, too. You can see a listing of BWC events and his
pictures by going to bikerswhocare.org.

BETTY WYATT MEMORIAL FUND
* The family of the late Betty Wyatt of Houston County was also on hand to
participate in this year’s event. Danny and Sandy Wyatt said their mother loved
Christmas and kids.
* She used to manage the local Dollar Store and often donated toys at Christmas
time. After she died, her family decided to continue the tradition. It’s their
fifth year to be a part of the run.
* This year the Betty Wyatt Memorial Toy Fund came up with a grand total of
$1,700 worth of toys, plus a $500 check.
* They always hold a yard sale the first Saturday in June on Main Street, and
back in September, they hosted a poker run.
* They also choose to hold this year’s toy run in memory of Danny “Spider”
Spears, a local Houston Countian who died last Dec. 4.
* His son JoDann Spears and his mother Dale were present also for the Toy Run.
Throughout the year, they have yard sales and sponsor a dance as a fundraiser.
“It’s a lot of fun and a lot of work,” he said.

WHAT IS A TYPICAL BIKER?
* At the toy run, it was really hard to tell what makes a “typical” biker, but
here are a few glimpses:

* Becky Winegardner and her husband Steve looked the part of the “typical”
biker couple. Steve looked macho on his Harley, wearing a ball cap instead of a
helmet. His wife, who sported a bowl-shaped helmet, was styling on a brand-new
2004 Harley Custom Low Rider.
* Their occupations? He’s the pastor of First Assembly of God church in Erin,
and she’s the music minister, as well as a language arts teacher at Houston
County Middle School.

* The event was a great father-son outing, according to Dennis Downs and his 11-
year-old son Jed. Jed, a sixth grader at HCMS, has ridden in the toy run for
the past several years.
* He and his father enjoyed breakfast at Southernaire Restaurant before the toy
run, while Jed’s sister and mother stayed at home.
* Even though he was bundled up against the chilly weather, Jed said, “I loving
riding the Harley,” and he even predicted having a motorcycle himself one day.

* Larry Sykes, President of the local motorcycle club “Wheels of Freedom,” rode
in the toy run with his wife Pam. Sykes said the local group, which has 47
members, was well-represented. They meet once a month and ride more often than
that.

* Erin Mayor Rhyne Largent, along with his wife Melissa, rode with several of
their regular riding buddies: Kristie and Bret Parker of Erin, Ben and Lori
Pendergrass of Erin, and Dan Baker of Tennessee Ridge.
* It was actually the mayor’s first time to ride in the toy run. His wife said
he is often out fishing, instead.
* Largent said what he and his wife enjoy about riding is the “enjoyment of the
togetherness” with their friends. Kristie added, “No kids.”
* The Largents had a baby doll and an Elmo doll to donate at the toy run, while
the Parkers had a doll and a monster truck set. The Pendergrasses had a toy
oven, and Baker had a Dale Earnhart racecar that he said was donated by NAPA
Auto Parts of Tennessee Ridge.

* Baker, a Vietnam Vet (Airborne), who is retired, doesn’t just spend time on a
motorcycle. In fact, this is his busy season since he raises and sells mums. A
few years ago he drove to Kentucky to pick up mums for resale. Later, he
decided to raise his own.
* According to Baker, he learned about the watering system and now raises his
own mums on about a half acre.
* He plants in June and harvests the last of September.
* This year he raised 2,000, and he has already sold 1,900. Anyone interested
in mums for $3 or $4 may call him at 721-2416.

* Riding isn’t just for the young and restless. Ask local residents Bonnie and
Frank Rayl (ages 69 and 74, respectively). The two enjoy their Honda Shadow.
Frank has been riding for at least 50 years.
* “You’re just out there by yourself doing your thing,” he said.
* When asked if he had ever wrecked, he stated, “I’ve put ‘em down, but I’ve
never had a wreck.”
* Bonnie is not at all worried about riding with her husband. “He’s a great
driver. I wouldn’t be on there if he wasn’t.”
* The two have five children, seven grandchildren, and nine great-
grandchildren, who all seem very understanding of the Rayl’s hobby.
* “They get a thrill out of it,” said Bonnie. “They think it’s neat.”

* Larry Key of Clarksville, a Bikers Who Care (BWC) member, served his first
time as Santa for the event. Key said he was standing in for his brother Billy,
who usually serves as Santa. Tragically, Billy wrecked his bike back in April
and has been paralyzed from the chest down.

* Ronald “Donkey” Nolen was riding a softtail Harley. He traded in his Ultra
Classic dresser for the softtail in February of this year. Nolen, mechanic
supervisor at Standard Gypsum, was not alone. His working buddy, Jesse Juter,
maintenance manager at Standard Gypsum, rode in the run and brought a Heritage
doll set to donate.
* Earl Wallace, a retired TVA steam plant employee, was in high spirits before
the toy run.
* “I’m the mayor of West Dover,” Wallace said, sporting a unique helmet with
two-foot long horns on it.
* “This whole thing is about the kids,” Wallace said. “We do all of this for
the kids. They enjoy it.”

* Cumberland City alderman David Dunlap, a TVA employee, stated, “I enjoy
riding ever second I can get on it. I enjoy doing stuff for kids,” he said.
* Dunlap said the Cumberland City Fire Department has a toy run in August which
was also successful.

* Caryn Largent wasn’t riding a Harley, but she was DRIVING a Harley-Davidson
truck.
* Largent, office coordinator for Magnum Manufacturing, was actually only
borrowing Doug Shroeder’s spiffy Harley truck, one of only two owned locally.
She was accompanied by Tammy Eads, accounts payable specialist.
* The back of the the Harley truck was loaded with toys that Magnum employees
have collected and donated.
* When asked how she liked driving the Harley truck, Largent was blasé when she
replied, “I drive it all the time.”
MORE PHOTOS