Of These Mountains Light the

Flame

By Kendall R. Rumsey

Back in the Summer of 1996, I was living in Atlanta, working for a Special Events company, preparing to welcome the world for the 1996 Summer Olympics. It was a heady time, the world’s eyes were on Atlanta and being in the mix of things made it even more exciting.

The company I worked for coordinated housing and ticketing and transportation and outside activities for several major corporations. As the Olympics drew near, workdays were usually 18 – 20 hours each, but it was an experience I would go back and do all over again given the chance.

During that time, the Olympic torch had been relayed across America. Thousands of people from all walks of life had the opportunity for their Olympic moment by carrying the torch. Large cities and small towns alike burst with excitement as the torch made its way across America and towards Atlanta.

Just a couple of days before the Games began, I worked it out where I could take the day off, my last one for several weeks until after the Olympic flame was extinguished. There was one place I wanted to be, the only place I wanted to watch the Torch Run was Clayton, Georgia. It just so happened that the route would run right through my hometown and my heart was drawn to my place in God’s Country to watch the once in a lifetime opportunity.

There were thousands of Americans chosen to run the torch. They were nominated for their service to their community and Rabun County was represented well with Gail Crowe, David Rogers, Judy Berrong, Betty Kelly, Rodney Houghton, Andy Hunter, Rion MacDonald, Joye Spates, Ron Spencer, Gwen Thurmond, Steve Thurmond and Perri McCraw Carver, who lost her battle with cancer just days after finding out she had been chosen as one of the honorees. Perri’s leg of the torch was to be run by her husband and son, Jim and Jim Bob.

That evening downtown Clayton was abuzz with excitement, red, white, and blue was everywhere. The Rumsey clan was no different, we lined up on the sidewalk at Veteran’s Park adjacent to the intersection of Savannah Street and Main Street.

The excitement of history coming to Clayton was palpable and then as the evening turned to night, in the distance police lights, the torch was on its way to the heart of Clayton.

Moving up the long hill that leads to Downtown Clayton, like a heartbeat, the torch progressed, crowds cheered and then the moment we had all waited for, the 1996 Centennial Olympic Torch passed by and continued its way to Olympic Stadium. In an instant the flame had passed, but like all great memories, in that instant the memory was engrained forever.

I was fortunate to see the flame two more times before it was lit in Olympic Stadium, with clients and co-workers as it passed through Conyers, Georgia and again as it passed through Midtown Atlanta with friends.

Each time I saw the torch, my soul could feel the history that it represents, I was filled with pride and excitement for what the coming days of the Centennial Olympic Games would bring to Atlanta.

I’m still proud of those days and the hard work and hospitality of the people of Atlanta, but that fleeting moment in Downtown Clayton will always be my Olympic moment. That evening the Olympic torch, lit in Athens Greece 100 years earlier, was our moment for history, the moment the Olympic ideal came to Clayton. Kendall Rumsey is a resident of Clayton, Georgia. He is owner of the lifestyle brand Of These Mountains, located at 39 East Savannah Street in Downtown Clayton. www.ofthesemountains.com