I’ll say it again, WOW. What an honor to be selected as the 2022 Hall of Fame inductee. I know it seemed like I dragged out the acceptance but, to me, it seemed like just a minute. What I did is, what I was trying not to do. I left people out, so I guess this is the time to get everyone thanked, even though I know I will leave someone else out, that is not my intention at all. I want to start with my wife, who kept this a secret (which she is not usually good at), somehow she was able to get my family to the convention and in the room without me knowing it. She has been my steady and my ear to bend over the years. Next the people who got me into the industry and guided me though all of the times when I needed guidance, it started with Richard McClain talking me into becoming the manager at the Highlands County Fair, then the group that turned into the “has- beens” Keith Hessy, Patsy Brooks, Jean Grant, Ron Becky, Horace Carr, Ellany Johnson, Martha Leverock, Alta Mosley, David Viers, Gary Roegner. Jack Griffith & Darwin Fuchs. And, I am sure that we all remember Mozelle, she had her way of getting us to do exactly what she needed and how to do it. All of these people made me feel like a son and helped whenever I asked. Then there is a group, that may technical be “hasbeens” but are still highly involved with the Federation today. These people are more like my brothers and sisters: Jeannie Keaton, Clark Converse, Dan West, John Foster, Rick Vymlatil, Lance Fuchs, Happy Norris, Dawn Rowe, Gayle Hart, Jim Ward, Tracy Thompson, Paul Davis and Tom Umiker, then there is Vicki Chorus and the girls... enough said, Lisa Hinton (which I am neither confirming nor denying that I voted for her when she ran against Tom Umiker for State FFA Treasurer, back in 1974), now add my Fair Mom, Aunt, Sister, and friend Doris Graska to this group, that after 30 plus years of being involved, still keep up with one another and their families. Now we move onto, what the old guys call the new guys. I could spend the rest of this newsletter debating what the difference is, some of us call them pups, they are the ones that have taken the Federation to where it is today, just to let you know, most of them where in college or high school when I first met them, Bill Olson, Rhonda Ward, Felecia Chivington, Stacy Wade, Hal Porter. We now have our President this year, he is our new, old guy. I would suggest that if you get a chance to talk to Terry Atchley, do so, he is your father or brother depending on what you need him to be. I am sure that anyone who gets into this industry and sees this award given to someone, says to themselves, first that is a very cool award, second that it is not given to just anybody, third I hope someday I get to that level. You hear people that have received this award say what an honor, I am going to say WOW this is the Greatest Honor in our Industry, once you are in the Fair industry for some years you will begin to realize just how great the Florida Federation of Fairs is, and what an Honor it is just to be a member. I want to thank my wife again, for joining me in this journey throughout the years because, as most of you know, I met her at a Federation Convention some years ago and was able to convince her to be my wife and enjoy all that the Fair Industry has to offer. Thanks again to everyone involved in making this possible and hope you all have a wonderful fair year.
Artie McIntyre Inducted in 2022 Hall of Fame Florida Federation of Fairs President 2010
PS – Please join me at next year’s convention to share stories of conventions past, and remember, whoever is telling the story it’s their story and they can tell it anyway they want to. That is the only rule of storytelling.
Artie McIntyre From left: Deborach McIntyre (Sister), Melody McIntyre (Wife), Artie, Louada Floodine (Mom), Bobby Floodine (Step Dad), Robin McIntyre (Sister-in-law), Kevin McIntyre (Brother)
Summer 2022/31
