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TR comes to life in Jenkinson performance [UPDATED]
Published 9:39am Friday, October 26, 2012 Updated 11:40am Friday, October 26, 2012Earlier this year, my wife Sharon and myself had the good fortune to attend a book signing and presentation by Clay Jenkinson in Fargo.
Mr. Jenkinson was there to promote a book on Merriweather Lewis that he had recently written and had published. The evening was a memorable experience as the author brought to life the Lewis and Clark Expedition and engaged with the audience in a personable and humerus fashion.
I must confess that I normally don’t travel in circles where I bump into people who have been a Rhodes Scholar as this gentleman has been, yet we found him to be an interesting admixture of intellect, humor, and humility who has a passion for bringing history to life.
After Clay’s presentation, I had the chance to speak briefly with him. I learned that he was familiar with our fair city of Fergus Falls as his grandparents lived here when he was growing up.
Since several other audience members had told me that Clay does remarkably scintallating impressions of one of my all time heroes Teddy Roosevelt, I asked him if there was any possibility he would ever come to Fergus Falls to do T.R. I remember he said (somewhat coyly) “well, you never know.”
Perhaps you can appreciate my elation when Otter Tail County Museum Director Chris Schulte informed me that Clay Jenkinson will be giving a presentation where he imitates T.R. for the Historical Society’s annual meeting on Nov. 1 at M State.
The good news is that this event is open to the public and that tickets can be purchased at our outstanding museum.
I would invite anyone who appreciates that nothing ever happened in the past, because when it happened it was in the present and folks didn’t know how things were going to turn out, to take advantage of this entertaining evening. Come and witness the epic Teddy Roosevelt come to life.
I normally am reluctant to make predictions about anything to do with the future, but I have no apprehension in stating that anyone who takes advantage of this adventure will be glad they did.
Do yourself a favor, step back in time and hang out with the one and only Teddy Roosevelt.
Charlie Bacon
Fergus Falls
