County bicentennial marker unveiled

A permanent marker commemorating Bedford County's bicentennial in 2007 was unveiled on Wednesday, although one element of the marker -- a display of the official county seal -- had been in discussion long before the bicentennial.

The marker is located on the southeast corner of the county courthouse lawn.

The original motion by Bedford County Board of Commissioners to approve a county seal in 2004 referred to eventually displaying it on the courthouse lawn. That part of the proposal wasn't acted on until the Bedford County Bicentennial Organizing Committee, which ended 2007 with a surplus, decided to use its funds for a permanent reminder of the bicentennial that would also serve to showcase the seal.

No county funds were used for the marker, according to County Mayor Eugene Ray.

The marker bears the names of county officials, members of the committee which drafted the seal, and of bicentennial committee members.

Ray, Bicentennial Organizing Committee Chairman Dixie Parker, and county historians Tim and Helen Marsh were among those participating in Wednesday's ceremony. All four living county mayors or executives -- Ray, Jimmy Woodson, Paul Parker and Dorothy Orr -- were present for the ceremony.

Bicentennial committee member Garland King and local funeral home operator Bill Doak, who was responsible for obtaining the marker, unveiled it.

The Marshes told the Times-Gazette that they, King, Ray and County Clerk Kathy Prater were the original promoters of the marker.