March 8, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
A former longtime President and Coordinator of the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival has been honored by the Tennessee General Assembly.
A proclamation paying tribute to the late Neil Dudney was signed last fall by Speaker of the State Senate Randy McNally, State Senator Mark Pody, and State Representatives Terri Lynn Weaver and Clark Boyd.
Dudney passed away on October 16, 2018
Neil was very involved with the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree from the beginning in 1972, where he began as a sound technician and later served as the President/Coordinator for 16 years until 2008.
The proclamation states:
“WHEREAS, we were greatly saddened to learn of the passing of Neil Dudney of Smithville; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Dudney was an exemplary public servant and consummate professional, who worked assiduously to improve the quality of life for his fellow citizens in numerous capacities; and
WHEREAS, the son of John Lyman and Ruby Mae Birdwell Dudney, Neil Dudney was born on October 5, 1932, in Jackson County; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from Jackson County High School, Mr. Dudney went on to receive his Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from Tennessee Technological University; his first job as a federal employee was as a substitute rural mail carrier for five years with the Gainesboro Post Office; and
WHEREAS, in 1957, he began working with the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Services in Linden and was later transferred to Lawrenceburg and then Wartburg; in August 1967, he was transferred to Smithville, where he worked as a district conservationist. He retired in 1987 after thirty years of exceptional service; and
WHEREAS, no stranger to awards and accolades, Neil Dudney was awarded a certificate of merit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1979 for outstanding performance of duties, one of only two given in the State; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Dudney was committed to serving his community, as evidenced by his integral work as a member of the Board of Tourism, Chamber of Commerce, Board of Center Hill Academy, and Lions Club; he also helped make major improvements to Green Brook Park in 1979 and helped establish Smithville Day School; and
WHEREAS, Neil Dudney was a devoted member of the Church of Christ since his baptism at Whitleyville Church of Christ in 1948; after moving to Smithville, he served the Smithville Church of Christ as a deacon for twelve years and an elder for eighteen years; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Dudney was a man of many passions, one of which was music; he was involved with the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree since its inception in 1972, serving first as a sound technician and later as president/coordinator, in which capacity he served for sixteen years until 2008; and
WHEREAS, deeply devoted to his family, Mr. Dudney always endeavored to remain true to family values of the highest order; and
WHEREAS, left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of fifty-six years, Emma Jean Wilmoth Dudney; twin daughters, Janet (Brian) England and Susan (Brian) Berry; four grandchildren, Dr. Laura England (Brandon) Ross, Brandon (Sara) Shaw, Ethan (Rachel) Shaw, and Dylan Shaw; two great-grandsons, Carson Shaw and Charles Ross; one sister-in-law, Frances Dudney Crowder; one niece, Linda Dudney; and one nephew, John Dudney; and
WHEREAS, in addition to his parents, Neil Dudney was preceded in death by two brothers, Joe Lester Dudney and Charles Clark Dudney; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Dudney leaves behind an indelible legacy of integrity and probity in public life, compassion and loyalty in private life, and diligence and dedication in all his chosen endeavors; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting that we should remember the bountiful life of this exceptional public servant and human being; now, therefore,
I, Randy McNally, Speaker of the Senate of the One Hundred Tenth General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, at the request of and in conjunction with Senator Mark Pody, Representative Clark Boyd, and Representative Terri Lynn Weaver, do hereby proclaim that we honor the memory of Neil Dudney, reflecting fondly upon his impeccable character and his stalwart commitment to living the examined life with courage and conviction. We offer our condolences to the family of Mr. Dudney.
Proclaimed in Nashville, Tennessee, on this the 22nd day of October 2018.”