The featured president at this year's Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society's President's Day Trivia Night once said "I cannot live without books."
He was the primary author of the United State's Declaration of Independence. An enthusiast for architecture, he designed his own home, Monticello. He served as the third U.S. president and in a long list of other public offices. Jefferson City is named in his honor.
If you've guessed the president in question is Thomas Jefferson, you'll excel at the seventh annual trivia competition. This year, it's planned Feb. 22 at Callaway Electric Cooperative.
"We hope everyone gets a hundred percent on that round," the historical society's Diane Burre Ludwig said. "You have a month to study."
Even if historical trivia isn't your strength, you still have a chance to strut your smarts, Ludwig said.
"Most people don't realize that it's not a history quiz - we've had questions about sports, movies, TV shows," she said Monday. "Our goal is to have two questions every round that everyone should be able to answer, no problem; a couple that are more difficult; and the rest somewhere in the middle."
"We try to balance some easy ones with some not-so-easy," historical society member and trivia night co-emcee Joe Holt said.
The President's Day Trivia Night serves as the historical society's biggest annual fundraiser. This year's profits will help fund continuing renovations and upkeep at its new research center.
"Having two buildings gets expensive," Holt said.
Entry costs $25, or $200 per table of eight. Mulligans are also available for purchase. Interested participants can register in person at the museum (513 Court St., Fulton), which reopens Monday following its annual winter break, or by emailing [email protected].
Doors open and the meal - catered by Sam Richards - starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by trivia at 6:30 p.m.
"That's our big change - having it start at 5:30," Ludwig explained. "We want to get everyone home by 9."
In addition to the meal, which will include nonalcoholic drinks and desserts, light snacks will be provided. Participants are welcome to bring their own snacks and sodas.
Holt, Susan Krumm and Bruce Hackmann will serve as emcees during the event, guiding competitors through nine rounds of trivia. Traditionally, the historical society reveals the featured president in advance; all other rounds remain a surprise.
"(Competitors) need to remember that this year is Callaway 200, so they can expect something related to that," Ludwig hinted. "The bonus questions are always about the historical society itself."
Fulton Mayor Lowe Cannell chose this year's president, pulling the slip out of a top hat Monday at City Hall. He said he plans to attend trivia night, though, he joked, he expects to "find out how dumb I really am."
Ludwig and Holt hailed Jefferson as an excellent pick - as the orchestrator of the Louisiana Purchase, Jefferson has a special place in Missouri's history.
"Last fall, I got to tour Monticello for the first time," Holt said. "I've seen enough photos of the site that there weren't really any surprises, but just being there made the hackles stand up on the back of my neck. You're in the middle of such history."
Though the draw is random, and Ludwig swears she'd never cheat the process, she's rooting hard for Harry S. Truman to be next year's pull.
"2021 is Missouri's 200th anniversary," she pointed out.