Jim Stafford honored with special proclamation

BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer

With many in attendance, Branson honored a true music legend and Branson icon on Tuesday.

Jim Stafford was celebrated Tuesday evening, when October 17 was proclaimed Jim Stafford Day in Branson.

Mayor Larry Milton presented with a proclamation, celebrating his years in the music industry, which said, in part, “Whereas, it is recognized that around the turn of the decade, in the 1990s, Jim began performing to thousands in his very own theater, alongside his family, and became a staple among the Branson entertainment scene; and, whereas the memories Jim provided this community are timeless; memories of him sliding across the stage, a duck taped guitar; and the brilliant marquee that lit up the night sky, marking the very heart of Branson that none of us will ever forget.”

The evening celebration was staged in front of the giant guitar neck that once graced the front of the Jim Stafford Theater on Branson’s 76 Country Boulevard. The historic piece has found a new home at the Song of Hope Museum, founded by Branson’s Marshall Howden.

Howden explained, “The Song of Hope is our movement. We believe that live music shows and theaters should continue to be the number one driver to our tourist market.”

Howden introduced a member of the Song of Hope Board and a former intern of Jim Stafford, Matt Bailey. Bailey, who along with Howden, secured the sign in an auction, spoke on the impact Stafford had on his life, as well as the experience of securing the sign.

“For three decades, the guitar neck stood atop the Jim Stafford Theater, the official neon welcome to millions of guests as they entered the beating heart of Branson, the center of the 76 Strip,” noted Bailey. “For two years it sat dark as the world stood still. And the corporate owners of the Jim Stafford Theater made a difficult decision to tear down the theater to, as everything evolves, make way for something new. I knew immediately that something had to be done to preserve that pink and blue icon. I knew I could bid on it at auction, but what about after we won. I was connected to Marshall Howden. I soon found that we shared the undying passion for preserving the history of music here in Branson. And we shared the same goal, ‘Save the guitar neck.’”

For his part, Howden recited a humorous poem he composed about the challenges in getting the sign taken down and relocated.

Howden has plans for a capital campaign to raise funds to get the giant neon guitar neck restored and standing at the Song of Hope Museum, greeting guests, just as it did at the Jim Stafford Theater for so many years. The fundraising will also help secure the future of the Song of Hope museum.

Stafford thanked those in attendance for their loyalty and support throughout the years, quipping that he hoped people remembered him as well as they do the neon sign. When asked his thoughts on his more than 30 years of entertaining Branson crowds, Stafford noted, “What a ride!”

Jim Stafford has performed several shows in Branson this month. His final show in this current limited engagement is set for Friday, October 20, at 5 p.m., at the Shepherd of the Hills Playhouse Dinner Theater. Join Jim as he performs “Nuggets from the Horse I Rode in On—The Life and Times of Jim Stafford” on Friday night. For tickets, call 417-334-4191.