Welcome to the home of 

Kansas Oldtime 

Fiddlers, Pickers and Singers

_{Walnut Valley Chapter               First Saturday at 5pm               Walnut Valley Chapter}  

WHEN:  First Saturday of the month @ 5:00pm  

WHERE:  320 South A St, Arkansas City, KS 67005

Picture Album click on this picture to view all pictures a new window will open, just close it when you are done KOFPS Convention 2008 - hosted by Walnut Valley and Cow Creek Chapters
PRESIDENT:	Marvin Simonton
VICE PRESIDENT:	Norman Ransford
SECRETARY:	Nita Simonton   jmsimon@sutv.com
TREASURER:	Nita Simonton
STATE REPRESENTATIVE:	Marvin Simonton till Spring 2009
ALTERNATE STATE REP:	Marva Ransford
EMCEE:	Pat Lundy
ALTERNATE EMCEE:	Bonnie Henry
COMPUTER REPRESENTATIVE:	Nita Simonton  jmsimon@sutv.com

map by MapQuest

This chapter was formed in December 1972.  Lester Jones and John Logsdon attended the 1972 Music Festival and from that the Walnut Valley Chapter was born.  Marvin and Doris Gough helped establish this chapter.  The Walnut Valley Chapter was known for many “firsts” as well as innovative promotions.  They initiated the Saturday night party, the weekend musical campout, and were first to move to a Saturday night program.  Walnut Valley had 68 Charter Members, which is more than any other chapter.  Charter members still participating include Jack Kelsey and John Nickle both Music Festival winners in 2005.

John Logsdon was the Walnut Valley public face; as an officer, an entertainer, and an emcee, he made people feel welcome and want to come back.  His wife Louise  was a longtime secretary-treasurer who did the behind the scenes work to promote and advertise, as well as greet people at the door for several years.  John Logsdon passed away in 2005 and will be missed.  Early programs had over 70 performers and over 500 in the audience, with the largest membership of any chapter, over 300 each year for several years.

Bud and Lulabel Wolf, very active members, proposed a statewide scholarship program.  It was defeated by the State Board, but was instituted at Walnut Valley.  Several youth were blessed by Bud and Lulabel’s forward thinking.

Pat Lundy has been a mainstay in KOFPS, not only as a local officer (and worker), but also as a lady to be imitated, as she is the personification of elegance on stage.  She also has become the most awarded musician in KOFPS history.  Her husband Jim did the behind the scenes things that helped Pat make it look easy.

Marvin Simonton and his family still support Walnut Valley and KOFPS.  In the 1970’s three of his four children performed with him.  Today, his grandchildren continue to perform.  He has held many offices, and is currently Chapter President, and State Board Representative.  Marvin was the first person to win three first place awards at the Music Festival.  Marvin’s wife Nita is Chapter Secretary-Treasurer, and she works many hours on State Board record keeping.

Jean and John Gough (Marvin and Doris’ son) moved to Arkansas City (Jean’s hometown) in 1973 and joined the fledgling Walnut Valley Chapter.  Crowds enjoyed Jean’s outstanding fiddle.  People continue to inquire about Jean and John’s children who entertained for many years.  John has served for over 30 years as an officer at the local and state levels.  John developed the Music Festival in its current format.  John has proposed changes to keep up with the times, but members have stayed with his original plan.  John also initiated the practice of inviting bands from other chapters to entertain at special activities.  More promotion of friends and chapter inter-relations needs to be done.  John and Jean are currently members of the Northeast Chapter. 

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