Thursday, September 4, 2025 |
The County Commissioners chose not to officially support a Florida resident’s campaign to honor The Lawrence Welk Show.
During Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, County Clerk Lisa Smith announced that she had received an email from Scott Wheeler of Tallahassee, Florida. Clerk Smith said Wheeler is collecting letters of support for his effort to get Congress to honor the Lawrence Welk Show’s 70th anniversary with a symbolic resolution recognizing its contribution to music and family entertainment. Welk performed at Elk Mountain’s Garden Spot Pavilion sometime in the 1940s or 50s.
Born on March 11, 1903, in Strasburg, North Dakota, Lawrence Welk was a bandleader and television host. In 1951, Welk created The Lawrence Welk Show. The musical variety show debuted nationally on July 2, 1955, and continued in syndication until 1982. With over 1,000 episodes, the show became a Saturday night staple for families across the country.
Florida resident Scott Wheeler is leading a national effort to honor The Lawrence Welk Show on its 70th anniversary by asking Congress to pass a resolution recognizing the show’s impact on American culture. Wheeler is also planning a July 2nd celebration to mark the show’s 1955 nation-wide debut.
Back at Tuesday’s meeting, Commission Vice Chairwoman Gwynn Bartlett asked if the Board should take official action on Wheeler’s request. Commissioner John Johnson said he did not believe the initiative would benefit Carbon County.
Vice Chair Bartlett said Clerk Smith’s mention of Wheeler’s letter had drawn sufficient attention from the Board and the matter was quickly dismissed.
