Former US president headlines trivia contest

Fulton Mayor LeRoy Benton (center) picks a name of a president out of an antique top hat Thursday morning at city hall. The chosen president will be the topic of this year's Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society's trivia contest Feb. 24. Helping with the ceremony are Jim Buffington (left), Barb Huddleston, Bryant Liddle, Benton, Joe Holt and Susan Krumm, with Darin Wernig, city of Fulton public information guy, taking pictures.
Fulton Mayor LeRoy Benton (center) picks a name of a president out of an antique top hat Thursday morning at city hall. The chosen president will be the topic of this year's Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society's trivia contest Feb. 24. Helping with the ceremony are Jim Buffington (left), Barb Huddleston, Bryant Liddle, Benton, Joe Holt and Susan Krumm, with Darin Wernig, city of Fulton public information guy, taking pictures.

Born in 1732 in Virginia, and by trade a surveyor, soldier, farmer and statesman, this year's featured trivia president was chosen Thursday morning at Fulton City Hall.

A specific U.S. president is always the topic of the annual President's Day Trivia Night. This year's event, hosted by the Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society, will be Feb. 24 at Callaway Electric Cooperative Community Room.

"I'm excited it's a familiar president," said Barb Huddleston, president of the historical society. "I was looking at the list last night, and I wanted to have a fun one. I think we got a fun one."

This president was a founding father whose great-grandfather immigrated to Virginia in 1656 and began accumulating land. His father was a tobacco planter and justice of the Westmoreland County Court.

He survived smallpox, was a Freemason and served in the French and Indian War. He gained prestige as a soldier, and while he lost battles in the American Revolution, he never surrendered. His dedication led the new nation to freedom, but he didn't quit there. His post-war retirement was short lived, and he was unanimously elected president by the Electoral College - the only president to receive the totality of votes.

After serving his time as president, he returned home. He fell ill in December 1799 after receiving several weather-related soakings working around his property and quickly died of a "violent inflammation of the throat." This was complicated by several overzealous bloodletting procedures which emptied his body of half it's blood. His last recorded words were, "'Tis well."

Gathering at Fulton City Hall to see Mayor LeRoy Benton draw the name of a president out of an antique top hat has become a tradition. The hat belongs to Don Earnst, historical museum volunteer. Past presidents who were trivia topics include Jimmy Carter, Warren G. Harding, Grover Cleveland and William Howard Taft.

Benton drew out this year's name to whoops of excitement: George Washington, the nation's first president. There will be nine rounds of trivia  on the featured president, and funds will go toward new electronic equipment needed at the historical society.

The event is being co-chaired by Bryant and Kathy Richey Liddle. The meal, catered by Sam Richards, will start at 6 p.m. with trivia beginning at 7 p.m.

Tables of eight persons are $200, or $25 per person. People can register at the historical museum, 513 Court St., or call 573-642-0570.