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By Bev Davis FEATURES/LIFESTYLES EDITOR one one, come all, is the special invitation first lady Rachael Worby is extend ing for the Jan. 17-18 inaugural festivities in Charleston. During a telephone interview this week Worby elaborated on ex tensive preparations which have been made to accommodate guests of all ages and walks of life. “This is not an occasion just for people from Charleston, but from the whole state. It is not just for those who can walk; it is for the physically challenged. It is not just for the hearing, but for the hear ing impaired as well. I want every person in the state to feel wel come,” Worthy said. Accessibility for persons with disabilities has been carefully planned and orchestrated, and many of the functions, including the inaugural ceremony, will be signed for the hearing-impaired. Every school in the state has been contacted and given an invi tation to send a student, principal and a parent-teacher representa tive to the inaugural events. “We hope to have a member of every community present,” Worthy said. “In order to create an atmo sphere which will be inviting to people from all ages, classes and walks of life, I have made an effort to create what I hope will be an en ticing couple of days for everyone.” Four inaugural halls have been planned, each with its own sepa rate style of music. Big ban sounds, rock and roll, jazz and country will be provided by enter tainers Worthy described as “gigan tic name bands.” She declined to name them, however, saying she wanted to include a few surprises for those who attend. Several performances by nation ally acclaimed artists have been announced. Country music star Michael Martin Murphey and his band will join Maestro Worthy and the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra for a free Super Pops Concert Sun. Jan. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Charles ton Civic Center. “Every artist and every conduc tor have a certain kind of rapport sometimes wonderful, some times terrible. With Michael and me, the rapport leaps right off the stage. People have told us that when we’re performing, we are jolting like molecules,” Worthy said. Fayette County native and na tionally acclaimed vocalist Ollie Watts Davis will be featured dur ing the inaugural ceremonies, which will be held at noon Monday, Jan. 18 on the State Capitol steps. In addition to her performance during the program, Davis will close the event by joining with the audience in singing “Amazing Grace.” “In lieu of a benediction, I would like to see all 1.8 million people from the state come together and hold hands and sing Amazing Grace. That would be my goal, and I can’t think of a better benediction to be bestowed on Gaston than to see the entire state come together like that,” Worthy said. Rotating chairs, invited from all areas of the state, will be perform ing throughout the afternoon. The inauguration will be pre ceded by an 8:45 a.m. celebration in honor of the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The service will be held at the state cultural center. “We hope this will be as moving a ceremony that has ever been con ducted in West Virginia,” Worby said. Admitting that coordinating a program to accommodate the vast diversity of tastes and lifestyles within the state has been no small undertaking, Worby said she more in mind than bringing people to gether in support of the governor. “I’ve traveled the state and I have met the physically chal lenged, the Afro-Americans, the children, the workers, the business people, and I want them to all spend time with each other. “It’s like when you have different best friends, and you want them all to meet each other. I know the beauty of the state’s diversity, and I want to see its people realize how magnificent it can be if we came to gether to form a beautiful collage,” Worthy said. Tickets are needed for all events, including the free concert and can be obtained by calling 342-1992 or by writing the 1993 Inauguration Committee, PO Box 37111, Charles ton, WV 25337. Rachael Worby
Newspaper Details
Beckley Evening Post
Beckley, West Virginia, US
Sun, Dec 20, 1992
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Gavin W.
USA 22 Jul 2026
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