2008 Convention Special Awards

presented by KOFPS State President Blaine Gee

Heritage Award

Read the Presentation
The mission of the Kansas Oldtime Fiddlers, Pickers, and Singers is to preserve and promote oldtime music.  With this in mind there is a couple who has spent considerable time and talent doing exactly that.  We would like to honor this couple with the "Heritage Award."  They are Marvin and Doris Gough.

The tradition of preserving and promoting of music started long ago in the Gough family.  Marvin's grandfather and his family played for the community.  During the Depression, Marvin and his mother played for many house dances.  

When Marvin joined the service in WWII, he took his fiddle.  Many evenings he spent bringing a little bit of home to the soldiers in the Pacific.  

After Marvin and Doris married and started their family, they began to teach their five boys oldtime music.  The five boys have passed their music to their children.  Marvin and Doris' grandkids are the fifth generation performing music for others' enjoyment.  

Marvin and Doris and their boys joined KOFPS in 1966.  They have given over 40 years to the organization.  Their leadership and contributions are many.  

- Visionaries for promoting and expanding KOFPS

- Championed re-organization to allow many Chapters

- Administered By-Laws preparation, advocating equality to each member 

- In 10 years as President, instrumental in forming first 8 new Chapters

- In next 7 years, instrumental in forming 3 of the next 6 new Chapters 

- By example, practiced effective operating principles of a successful Chapter
     - Foremost ----- is entertaining the audience
     - Present and prepared, polished, performance to the audience
     - Keep audience entertained between performances
     - Advertise widely and regularly and often
    
     - Every musician gets their time on stage -- as they want it
     - Musicians share the joy of music by listening as others perform
     -New members and guests welcomed 

- Established the Annual Meeting, so every member can speak and vote

- Established Convention, to attract people to KOFPS and for member fellowship

- Encouraged audience participation through dances and dance parties

- Donated funds for many activities

- Membership jumped from less than 50 to exceed 1000 

Retirement took them out of Kansas, traveling full-time in an RV.  They continued promoting oldtime music as they performed throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada, while keeping their ties to KOFPS.  Marvin participated in numerous contests and programs from Nova Scotia to Arizona, and Florida to Alaska, always spreading the familiar tunes of Kansas fiddlers. 

Marvin enjoys repairing fiddles and loaning them to others interested in learning to play.  Many times someone presented Marvin a box of pieces and parts brought down from an attic and asked him to "fix" their grandfathers fiddle.  Each time, he reproduced the fiddle that once entertained another family.  Many times Marvin and Doris visited schools and gave a historical fiddle program to students, encouraging them to learn their heritage of music, for themselves.  He offered fiddles to students who wanted to play. This included several youth in KOFPS.  

Please join me as we show our appreciation by presenting this "Heritage Award" to Marvin and Doris Gough for a lifetime of preserving and promoting oldtime music.  

Presented by Kansas Oldtime Fiddlers, Pickers, and Singers President Blaine Gee 

Legacy Award

John Gough - Northeast Chapter for service as past State President [4 years] and State Secretary of the Kansas Oldtime Fiddlers, Pickers, and Singers 

Legacy Award

Glenn Woolaway - Kaw Valley Chapter for service as past State President [2 years] of the Kansas Oldtime Fiddlers, Pickers, and Singers 

Most active Contest member Award

Kenneth Gee  - Yates Center Chapter for attending 36 individual Kansas Oldtime Fiddlers, Pickers, and Singers chapter meetings in 2007

State Presidents Award

State Presidents Award

State Presidents Award

State Presidents Award

State Presidents Award

State Presidents Award

State Presidents Award