Roy Clark looking forward to another visit to Linton: Tickets available for show, dinner and golf tourney

The Greene County Foundation Festival Weekend is just around the corner and headline performer Roy Clark says he is rested and ready to entertain the folks in Linton.

There are still tickets left for the annual Roy Clark and Friends Show and some spots available for the celebrity golf tournament.

There are also some seats remaining for the Shrine Club Celebrity Dinner.

Country music legend Roy Clark is ready to make another visit to Linton. (GCDW File photo by Nick Schneider) [Click to enlarge]

The Greene County Foundation will present the yearly Roy Clark and Friends benefit show at 7 p.m. on May 31 at the Linton-Stockton High School gymnasium.

The Friends of Phil Harris Golf Tournament will be staged Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1 at Phil Harris Golf Tournament in Linton.

The Greene County Shrine Club Celebrity Dinner is set for 6 p.m. on Friday, May 30.

Begun nearly three decades ago the event began as the Phil Harris Scholarship Festival and continued after his death as the Greene County Foundation Festival, Clark says he always looks forward and enjoys coming to Linton.

A guest of the late Harris, who was a native of Linton and founded the show, Clark first performed with his long-time friend in Linton for the first annual scholarship festival in 1981. Clark once again entertained the Greene County crowd in 1996. He has returned every year since 1998 -- except 2006 when he was ill -- to headline the show.

Harris passed away in August 1995.

The 75-year-old Clark, who underwent surgery to replace his left hip on Feb. 18, told the Greene County Daily World in a telephone interview from his home in Tulsa, Okla.. on Thursday afternoon, he can't wait to perform for one his favorite audiences anywhere.

He plans to try out his new hip a couple times on the golf course before he arrives in town for the festival weekend and hopes to be able to play in the local tourney.

Clark underwent surgery two years ago to replace his right hip.

Since his latest surgery, he and his talented band have done about six shows.

Clark said the Linton show is always one of the dearest to his heart.

"If I don't come to Linton, it's just like I didn't attend a family reunion," he said without hesitation.

Clark said the visit to Linton is really special because of the hospitality of the people in the community.

"I think it started with Phil Harris. The attitude and the fun that he interjected into the whole weekend is lasting. It has just carried on," Roy said with a familiar chuckle.

Clark talked specifically about the Hoosier hospitality that is extended every year to him, his wife and band members.

"The band when we hit the last note at the barbecue out there (at the Elks) on Sunday and start to leave town they start counting the days before we'll be coming back. I can't think of any other place that we go that they do that. They just look so forward to this show," Roy explained.

He also likes helping out with this weekend because the money raised goes to college scholarships.

"To help young people and think maybe you have helped a little bit, that is what life is all about," the talented musician said.

Clark and his band, along with Justin David and his band, will headline this year's show.

Two new first-time performers -- John Adam Murph and Heather Myles have been booked for the show.

Clark said they both come highly recommended.

Linton native and aspiring Nashville singer Holly (Dunn) Lynn will also make a return to the stage.

Other "regulars" on the show, that will be emceed by comedian Woody Woodbury, will be sing-songwriter Wayne Carson, as well as Grand Ole Opry performers Jan Howard and Jerry Chestnut.

Tickets for show are still available on a first come, first serve basis with plenty of good seats left, according to ticket manager Kathy Matthews.

Proceeds from the show go to benefit the Greene County Foundation Scholarship Fund which provides assistance to graduates from all five Greene County high schools.

Floor seats are $24, reserved bleacher seats (rows 2-6), $14 and general admission bleacher seats $10.

Tickets are available at Francis' Jewell Box at 145 N. Main Street in Linton.

Walk-ins for ticket purchases are welcome during business hours Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday 9 a.m. to noon; Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tickets can also be obtained by mail at Roy Clark Show Tickets, 145 North Main Street, Linton, Ind., 47441 or by phone at (800) 299-7445 or 847-9950.

Please make checks payable to the Greene County Foundation and include $2 processing fee, per order.

Besides the Roy Clark Show, the festival weekend includes the Friends of Phil Harris Golf Tourney on Saturday and Sunday.

A full field of more than 400 golfers is expected to participate in the two-day scramble golf tournament, according to tournament director Bart Beard.

Entry fee is $70 for one day or $140 for both days.

The entry includes green fees, cart rental, lunch and tee package.

Deadline to enter is May 23.

Proceeds from the golf tournament are earmarked specifically to provide scholarships for Linton-Stockton High School graduates and to benefit the Phil Harris Charities Fund.

Beard said the event will once again feature a host of former Major League Baseball and National Football League standouts, area college administrative officials, state and local politicians and many other golfing enthusiasts, who annually make the trip to Linton for the tournament.

Most of the musical celebrities who play in the show also participate in the golf tournament.

The visiting celebrities are matched up with one of the six-person scramble teams.

"We've got a pretty good field right now," he said on Thursday morning.

Beard pointed out without the "army" of 30-40 local volunteers putting on a tournament like this wouldn't be possible.

"We do have a lot of volunteers and you get a lot of things done that way," Beard pointed out. "There are a lot of people who take a lot of time to help us out. If it wasn't for the volunteer we would never, never be able to put this tournament on.

"It's amazing how it comes together each year. It's amazing how people step up and help."

The weekend also features the Budweiser Shootout Golf Tournament on Friday, May 30.

Prizes will be given for the top net and gross scores.

Contact the golf course at 847-4790 to set up tee times, which are available from daylight to 2:15 p.m. Entry fee is $50 a person, which includes green fees, cart rental and lunch.

On Friday night, the entertainers and community members gather for a Celebrity Dinner at the Greene County Shrine Club. The event offers a great meal attendees get "sneak preview" of the entertainment and chance to fellowship with the performers. Cost is $75 a couple or $37.50 for a single person. Contact John Wilkes at Mercury Cleaners in Linton for tickets by calling 847-7966.

Tours are also available of the Phil Harris/Alice Faye Collection by appointment. Call the Greene County Foundation Office at 659-3142 to schedule times.