Mullings – Robert Penn Warren Birthplace Committee and the City of Guthrie Hosted Recent RPW Circle Events on April 4, 5, and 6

Born on April 24, 1905, Robert Penn Warren etched out a place not only in the history of literature but also in the history of our county, state, nation, and world, being honored as the First Poet Laureate of the United States, a distinction few writers ever achieve.

Born at what is now 122 Cherry Street in Guthrie in what is designated as the Robert Penn Warren Birthplace Museum, Warren’s name is almost immediately associated with his most famous novel – All the King’s Men. For the past 33 years, a group of Robert Penn Warren enthusiasts, many whom are college-level scholars from around the country and the world, have sojourned to Guthrie to pay homage to Todd County’s renowned writer, one who left our world on September 15, 1989. Hosted by the Robert Penn Warren Birthplace Committee and the City of Guthrie, a group of RPW enthusiasts dubbed the Robert Penn Warren Circle enjoyed an annual event this past Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Mrs. Bobbie T. Dorris, vice-chair of the RPW Birthplace Committee, shared this was the third year all events have occurred in Guthrie, something Ms. Dorris says the group hopes will continue to be repeated yearly.

Events for this year’s historic meeting began on Thursday evening with the City of Guthrie hosting a reception at “The Old Oaks Farm” located at 2130 Fairgrounds Road in Guthrie. Known as the “True Love House,” the farm, which was established in 1867, now provides a picturesque venue for those who want to enjoy the beauty of a popular historic home built in the 1800s. The unusual sobriquet of the mansion is credited to Robert Penn Warren, who penned “True Love,” a poem depicting Warren’s first encounter with love. The inspiration for Warren’s poem was a young girl who lived in the “The Old Oaks Farm.” This year’s three-day April celebration also included guest presentations and panel discussions by various college professors at the Guthrie Transportation Museum located at 218 South Ewing Street. Also present at Saturday’s event included members of non-profits including Guthrie Partners on Main, Guthrie Tourism, and Historic Todd County, Inc.

Those in attendance at the three-day event included travelers from many states with one other speaker participating via Zoom. Hosted by Leverett Butts of the University of North Georgia, Thursday evening’s event saw an opening session and an open mic in honor of Jim Perkins, a well-known retired professor and authority on the late Warren. Friday’s event, one occurring at the Guthrie Transportation Museum, saw several guest speakers, all familiar with the talents of Warren. Friday also saw a slot devoted to lesson plans to assist local educators at the middle and high school levels in incorporating Warren into their classes. Saturday also saw a continuation of activities with a luncheon sponsored by Elkton Bank & Trust Company and the RPW Birthplace Committee which was held at the Guthrie Senior Citizens’ Center. The special guest speaker for the luncheon was TCCHS graduate Steve Haley, a marketing agent for P.L. Marketing and a guest columnist for the Todd County Standard. Steve is known for his writings about Guthrie, his beloved home for the early years of his life. His storytelling on Saturday focused on his sharing memories of the friendship of Warren and Kent Greenfield, a noted baseball player who maintained a lifelong friendship with Warren.

Sadly, the late Elaine Longhurst and Rebecca Jessup, two strong advocates for the Robert Penn Warren Birthplace Museum were recognized at the event. Mrs. Bobbie T. Dorris also shared that during the past year almost 250 individuals took time to visit the Museum, a number she and other board members are hopeful will continue to increase yearly. At 2:00 PM on Saturday at the RPW Birthplace, winners of the local poetry and coloring contests were recognized with attending students reading their poems to the gathering there. Those in attendance at the Saturday celebration also had the opportunity to purchase several collectibles including mugs, Warren books, and note cards featuring pics of the Homeplace.

As with any event, especially an event encompassing three days, the Robert Penn Warren Birthplace Committee expressed its thanks to several groups and individuals. One of those to be thanked includes Dale Wetterhahn, Director of the Museum. Other members of the RPW Board include Scott Marshall, Chair; Bobbie T. Dorris, Vice-chair; Ray Wheeler, Secretary; Teresa Sanders, Correspondence Secretary; Nancy Outlawe, Treasurer; Joe Nell Waters, Events Chair; Steve Haley, Publicity; Ms. Helen Bellar, Advisory; and Tori Slack, Advisory. Others to be thanked include the City of Guthrie; Connie Wofford; Monica Sears; Guthrie Mayor Jimmy Covington, Ms. Betty Webb, DeeDee Webb Power, the Guthrie Senior Citizens’ Center; the Guthrie Transportation Museum; the Todd County Board of Education; and the Todd County School District. Ms. Bobbie T. Dorris shared in a message, “I am so very proud to be a part of a committee consisting of hard-working and enthusiastic members who are so invested in keeping the legacy of Warren alive.” Kyle Taylor, secretary of the Robert Penn Warren Circle, shared in his comments on Saturday that Todd County is such a “welcoming community,” one he stated always made the Circle members feel at home.

2024 Robert Penn Warren Circle Meeting Coloring and Poetry Contest Winners:

Coloring Contest

Pre-K

First Place Jamma Burks

Second Place Karter Finnegan

Kindergarten

First Place Grace Monroe

Second Place Charlotte Key

Third Place Reese Mansfield

Honorable Mention Dylan Stewart

1st Grade

First Place Brantley Arvin