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Memories from Past Presidents

"HOWARD COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION - I cannot think of any one thing that has had more of an impact on my life.

"As a child and youth the Fair gave me a learning and growing environment.  As a young adult it provided a teaching and foresight school for me.  As an adult it provided me with a management and leadership seminar.  The Fair also gave me a Howard County Farm Queen as a wife and an environment for our children to learn and grow in.

"Many years ago I felt that I was a 'Self Made Man.'  Today, at 54, that man does not exist.  What does exist is Gene W. Mullinix, son of Sara and Roland, husband of Charlotte, with a touch of Harvey Hill, John Widdup, Howard Clark, Mary K. Eyre, Gordon Warfield, Jim Moxley, etc.

'''Those who touch our lives. bend our thinking, ' by association - 'HOWARD COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION.'''

- Gene W. Mullinix

"Memories of the Howard County Fair are many and varied for me.  The beginning, the Laurel Raceway, moving from place to place and finally to its permanent home where it is now, which for our family is just across the road.  The Fair has been a family event for the Moxleys from day one.  My mother exhibited, my father donated the lumber for the first 4-H barn, my sister being Farm Queen, Dessi charring the Household Building for seventeen years, my presidency during its 25th year and then all our children enjoying the competition and camaraderie of 4-H competition.  There is family after family that have been similarly and totally involved.  This continuity of involvement is one of the main reasons for the growth and success of the Fair.  One could never remember all the families that have been involved, but one I shall mention is the Harvey Hill family.  I have been very close to them in many ways.  I'll always remember Mr. Hill and I up on the square of the 4-H building when we were beginning to set rafters with a crane.  He said, 'Jimmy you get out in the middle, you are young.'  I said, 'When will they stop telling that?'  He said, 'They will not have to tell you.'  And he was so right."

"The contributions the Hill family have made to the Fair are much too numerous to mention, but I use then as an example of the many families I referred to earlier.  "Many people have been involved voluntarily.  When time comes to do a job, people just show up.  Gene Mullinix once said the Fair has a spirit.  It is the spirit of the people involved that makes the Howard County Fair so dear to so many.  It's nice that it still has a local rural flavor.  May it always keep it.  "Congratulations to those leaders involved now, I am especially pleased that our son Rob is President for the Fair's 50th year.  I know he will have the cooperation and help of so many and that the Fair will go on for at least another 50 years." 

- James R. Moxley, Jr.

"It's been a great pleasure to recall the many years of my activity at the Howard County Fair -- mowing and putting up fence on the Montgomery Road site, helping to erect buildings at the present site, taking gate money night after night, and serving as President for four years.  Much hard work!  Yet the fellowship with all the workers of the Fair plus the opportunity to help further the work of the farming community and the youth made all that effort worthwhile."

"I especially find joy in seeing the youngsters of my tenure now operating the Fair.  Louise and I wish you continued success."

- John B. Widdup

"My turn to be President of the Howard County Fair came when it was a fledgling organization.  We had no permanent home and very few funds.  The one thing we did have in abundance was a large number of enthusiastic, hard working Howard Countians who pitched in to insure that the Fair would go forward and succeed"

"The first year of my term we held it at the Ellicott City high School on Montgomery Road -- not a very satisfactory site since we had no facilities for livestock."

"The next year we made an arrangement with the Laurel Raceway to hold the Fair there for two years while we looked for a more permanent home."

- James Clark, Jr.