Partin honored as Citizen of the Year

Ruritan member and former president Doug Jacobs was presented the Ruritan of the Year award by Sue Anderson at the organization’s banquet Saturday night. Jacobs is well known for playing Santa during the annual Christmas Parade.

During his acceptance speech Partin, who, with his wife Linda, owns and operates Warren County Furniture, had the crowd alternating between uproarious laughter and reaching for a tissue to wipe a tear. The laughter actually began when Partin was called upon to introduce his family prior to the award.

He began by explaining how nervous he was speaking in front of a crowd.

‘I have only in my life spoken to this many people maybe three times before,’ Partin said. ‘So at any given time I could just fall out.’

Partin first introduced his two sons, John and Cody, and their wives. John is an attorney with Galligan and Newman, and his wife Tara is a PhD candidate at Vanderbilt University studying special education. Cody is an associate at Dow Lohnes in Atlanta, while wife Sara is an associate with Alston & Bird in Atlanta.

Partin then expressed amazement at the number of other family members present at the banquet.

‘It’s rare, in my lifetime, that I’ve been around this much family at one time and not been in a funeral home,’ Partin said amid general laughter. ‘It’s sort of a blessing. Sorry about that Joe Michael,’ Partin then quipped to High Funeral Home employee Joe Michael Woodside, generating another round of mirth from the crowd.

After the introductions, County Commissioner Gary Prater took the podium and lauded Partin for his community service, particularly his rather unusual radio ads.

‘Ed has been known over the years for using his radio commercials to promote and recognize community events,’ Prater said. ‘He’s been called the ‘Voice of Warren County.’ He’s always been supportive of individuals in need, schools, churches, civic organizations and benefit auctions.’

Prater went on to list Partin’s many community activities and accomplishments, after which Mike Holland, chairman of the Ruritan’s Citizenship and Patriotism Committee, presented the 2008 Citizen of the Year award.

A smiling Partin then took the podium for the second time to give a memorable acceptance speech.

‘I am so appreciative and so honored to have so many people that I respect, so much, here tonight,’ Partin said. ‘And I thank God every day for giving me the foresight to marry my best friend, my wife Linda. That’s been a blessing, and I thank Him every day. Some days I thank Him more profusely than others,’ Partin added as the crowd roared with laughter. ‘But I always thank Him.’

Partin’s talk then took on a serious note as he dedicated the award to two people who had influenced his life, the first being his aunt Daisy Harrison, affectionately known as Leda, who has passed away.

‘The other person that’s been an inspiration to me is here tonight,’ Partin said. ‘I have a special place in my heart for caregivers.’

Partin then talked about his love of sports, particularly the Braves and Titans and athletes like Steve McNair.

‘But those people aren’t the heroes of the world,’ Partin said. ‘Those people are incredibly talented and get paid a lot of money to entertain people. The heroes of the world are the people who do what they don’t have to do for somebody else, but they do it out of love. The Bible says that you should have faith and hope and love, but the greatest is love.’

Partin went on to talk about how his this person was the epitome of a caregiver.

‘My hero is this lady right here,’ Partin said. ‘Maggie McPherson. ‘She has taken care of me all these years like I was her own child. And as a military wife she was accustomed to taking care of people,’ Partin continued, ‘but the calling of her life came in 1996 when, of all places, at church my father-in-law, the late Jim McPherson, got a little lightheaded and went outside to get a breath of fresh air. He lost consciousness and fell, suffering a spinal cord injury.’

After weeks of rehab in Baptist Hospital, doctors determined he would not even be able to hold a spoon to feed himself.

‘After they determined the simplest skills weren’t going to be coming back,’ Partin said, ‘they went to my mother-in-law and they said, ‘Where do you want us to make arrangements? He’s a veteran and we can put him in a VA hospital.’ And Maggie said, ‘Well, Jim and I have talked about this, and I think we’re going home.’

‘So for the next 14 years, except for a few times when he had to go to the hospital for various problems, he was at home,’ Partin said. ‘So tonight I have the opportunity to publicly tell you that this lady is my hero and I’m proud to recognize her, and by extension, all the caregivers of the world. Thank you for this honor, and good night.’