HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.08.26 Board Correspondence - FW_ Request for Letter of Support from the Butte County Board of Supervisors Re_ Lawrence Welk Show 70th Anniversary.ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening
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From:Clerk of the Board
To:Pickett, Andy; Jessee, Meegan; Stephens, Brad J.; Cook, Holly; Little, Melissa; Sweeney, Kathleen; Zepeda,
Elizabeth; Lee, Lewis; Krater, Sharleen
Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Request for Letter of Support from the Butte County Board of Supervisors Re:
Lawrence Welk Show 70th Anniversary
Date:Monday, May 11, 2026 9:33:48 AM
Please see Board Correspondence Received.
From: Scott Wheeler <wheelerscott77@yahoo.com>
Sent: Friday, May 8, 2026 5:43 PM
To: Connelly, Bill <BConnelly@buttecounty.ca.gov>; Durfee, Peter <PDurfee@buttecounty.ca.gov>;
Ritter, Tami <TRitter@buttecounty.ca.gov>; Kimmelshue, Tod <TKimmelshue@buttecounty.ca.gov>;
dteeter@buttecountyca.gov; Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.ca.gov>
Subject: Request for Letter of Support from the Butte County Board of Supervisors Re: Lawrence
Welk Show 70th Anniversary
Hello,
My name is Scott Wheeler, I live in Tallahassee, Florida and would like to see if it is
possible to have an item placed on the agenda for an upcoming Board of Supervisors
meeting: to request a letter of support for my project regarding Lawrence Welk. Welk
was a longtime national television and musical celebrity known among other things for
patriotism, family friendly entertainment, his show's performance of music from a
variety of genres, including Country, Polka, Jazz, and Patriotic, and he performed at a
1957 Presidential inaugural ball for President Dwight D. Eisenhower. This year is the
70th Anniversary of "The Lawrence Welk Show"'s national debut (July 2, 1955), its
original run was more than 25 years (1955-1982), and repeats shown to this day in
many states across America. Please know I am not asking for any money from the
Board of Supervisors.
Since beginning in January 2025, there have been letters of
support/proclamations/resolutions from county commissions/equivalents across 24
states (OR, UT, FL, NY, MO, ND, SD, NE, KS, MN, IA, MI, OH, WI, IN, PA, WV, MD,
NH, ME, GA, NC, AL, MS) in some way commemorating the anniversary from former
Congressman Collin Peterson who was chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture
Committee, the respective native counties of Lawrence Welk (Emmons County, ND),
his wife Fern (Morton County, ND), and Myron Floren (Day County, SD) as well as
Floren's hometown of Roslyn, the city (Abilene, Kansas) and county where President
Eisenhower grew up, (Dickinson, KS) the Agriculture Department and Division of
Performing Arts respectively at North Dakota State University, the National FFA
Organization (aka Future Farmers of America), the Northarvest Bean Growers
Association, and other organizations.
I care about this in part because I am the third generation in my family to watch the
show as my mother grew up watching it with my grandfather, and sometimes when
the tap dancer Arthur Duncan performed, she would go in the kitchen and pretend to
tap dance.
Please find below a draft letter of support text that can be modified if desired, and I
am happy call into a meeting whether by phone or video to be available to try to
answer any questions anyone may have (this is optional). Please find below some of
the numerous connections Lawrence Welk, "The Lawrence Welk Show" and cast
have had to the Golden State of California; below those are draft/template texts that
can serve as templates but please feel free to put in your own words.
I am happy to provide letters, resolutions, etc so far received. Ultimately, the goal is
national, I am reaching out to all 50 states and believe for these and other reasons it
would be both relevant and an honor if I could include Butte County, California as a
valued part of this nationwide goal in America's 250th year.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Scott A. Wheeler, Jr.
(850) 728-7618
Tallahassee, Florida
Some Important California connections:
-Lawrence Welk has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of
Fame: https://walkoffame.com/lawrence-welk/
-The Lennon Sisters also have a star: https://walkoffame.com/the-lennon-sisters/
-In 1972, Lawrence Welk was the Grand Marshal of the Rose Parade also known as
Tournament of
Roses) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Marshals_of_the_Rose_Parade
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Parade
-Lawrence Welk's final concert (1982) was in Concord, Contra Costa
County. https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1982/06/20/no-more-ah-one-ah-
two/62881092007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-
epti=z114836e1140xxv114836d--53--b--53--&gca-ft=273&gca-ds=sophi
-P. 275 of his 1971 Autobiography mentions a mobile home village in Escondido they
had
The Lawrence Welk Show: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lawrence_Welk_Show
(KTLA, Los Angeles 1951-1955, ABC 1955-1971 national television from Los
Angeles, Los Angeles County, 1971-1982 it was in syndication and continued to be
be filmed in Hollywood)
3 of the 6 Welk Resorts were in California (Palm Springs, Riverside County, San
Diego, San Diego County, Northstar, Placer
ahead-carefully/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welk_Resort_Group
Most of the following were born in California:
Anacani: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anacani
(Born in Mexico, later lived in Escondido, San Diego County)
Norma Zimmer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norma_Zimmer
(Born in Idaho, later lived and died in Brea, Orange County)
The Lennon Sisters: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lennon_Sisters
(Venice, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County)
Arthur Duncan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Duncan
(Pasadena, Los Angeles County)
Bobby Burgess: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Burgess
(Long Beach, Los Angeles County)
Barbara Boylan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Boylan
(Long Beach, Los Angeles County)
Tanya Falan Welk-Roberts: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanya_Falan_Welk-
Roberts (Glendale, Los Angeles County)
Sandi Griffiths: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandi_Griffiths
(San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County)
Ron Anderson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Anderson_(singer)
(San Francisco)
Steve Smith: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Smith_(American_singer)
(San Francisco)
Richard Maloof: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Maloof
(Graduated from San Juan High School Citrus Heights, Sacramento County)
Jo Ann Castle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo_Ann_Castle
(Bakersfield, Kern County)
Draft Letter of Support
The Butte County, California Board of Supervisors is happy to support your efforts in
California and nationwide to raise awareness of and celebrate the 70th Anniversary of
"The Lawrence Welk Show"'s national debut; and the positive contributions to
American culture and television of Lawrence Welk, Myron Floren, and the cast and
staff of the "Lawrence Welk Show" from across America who made positive
contributions, and believe these contributions are worthy of recognition by way of a
resolution by both houses of the United States Congress.
The stories of both men, each sons of farmers are examples of what someone from
anywhere in America can achieve with perseverance.
"The Lawrence Welk Show" played a variety of genres including Country, Jazz,
Polka, and Patriotic, included tap and other dancing, and sought to be family friendly
entertainment. It's original run including syndication was more than a quarter century
(1955-1982), and repeats are still regularly aired across much of America.
We respect Lawrence Welk and "The Lawrence Welk Show", and recognize its long
continue to be treasured and handed down to future generations, and that he and the
show will be a source of unity and inspiration for Californians and other Americans.
Sincerely,
_____________________
Here is the draft text of my proclamation proposal, of course it can be modified.
Whereas, July 2nd, 2025 marked the beginning of the 70th Anniversary of the
national debut of "The Lawrence Welk Show" on television; a show which aimed at
family friendly variety in acts and music which spanned numerous genres such as
Country, Jazz, Pop, Polka, and Patriotic.
Whereas, Lawrence Welk, a native of Strasburg, North Dakota took to the national
stage values and love for music that started like crops in North Dakota soil and the
harvest benefited generations of Americans during times of war and peace, prosperity
and difficulty allowing an opportunity for Americans across regions and backgrounds
to come together for an hour for a common shared experience..
Whereas, Lawrence Welk and Myron Floren were each the sons of farmers, and as
first generation Americans with sincere gratitude and love of country, took advantage
of the opportunities America offers and in so doing have made it a better place
through sharing their gifts. The success stories of Lawrence Welk and Myron Floren
are among the examples of how far Americans from anywhere in America can go with
hard work and perseverance.
Whereas, repeats of "The Lawrence Welk Show" are still aired regularly across
America in a number of states.
Whereas, his aim at family friendly entertainment is an example of a worthy goal in
any generation as is the idea of bringing together quality from the past and present.
NOW, THEREFORE, We, the Butte County, California Board of Supervisors do
hereby extend congratulations on the 70th Anniversary of "The Lawrence Welk
Show"'s national debut, as we celebrate our country's 250 year history, we support
keeping this legacy alive for future generations to enjoy, including raising awareness
of the 70th Anniversary, the positive contributions to American culture of Lawrence
Welk, Myron Floren, and the cast and staff of "The Lawrence Welk Show" who made
positive contributions, including the goal of congressional (House and Senate)