Callaway County residents gather for Kingdom of Callaway Supper

Diners packed into Tucker Dining Hall for a meal of honey cured ham and Kingdom of Callaway Turkey Tuesday for the 108th annual Kingdom of Callaway Supper. This year's guest of honor was Kyle Cave, who told of his upbringing in Callaway County as well as his research in psychology.
Diners packed into Tucker Dining Hall for a meal of honey cured ham and Kingdom of Callaway Turkey Tuesday for the 108th annual Kingdom of Callaway Supper. This year's guest of honor was Kyle Cave, who told of his upbringing in Callaway County as well as his research in psychology.

Hundreds of Callaway County residents gathered Tuesday evening at William Woods University for the 108th annual Kingdom of Callaway Supper at the Tucker Dining Hall followed by speeches and entertainment in the Amy Shelton McNutt Campus Center.

Every year the Kingdom of Callaway Supper honors someone who was born in Callaway County and moved away from the county to gain success and high achievement.

As this year's supper president, Vicki Backer McDaniel had the honor of choosing the Guest of Honor for this year's event. She chose Kyle Cave, a psychology professor at the University of Massachusetts.

"He happens to be my brother-in-law. But that doesn't detract from his achievements," McDaniel said.

The Kingdom of Callaway Supper each year also honors a Callaway County resident who was born elsewhere but came to Callaway County to gain success and high achievement. This year's honoree is New Bloomfield resident Dave West, who received this year's Settler's Award from the Settler's Committee of the Kingdom of Callaway Supper.

Each year the Kingdom of Callaway Supper presents its Distinguished Service Award. This year's recipient is the Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society, headed by curator Barbara Huddleston.

Ron Elliott, owner of Elliott's Custom Cabinets of Fulton, was announced Tuesday night as the 2014 Kingdom Supper president.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.