Request for Letter of Support from the Orange County Commission Re: Lawrence Welk Show 70th Anniversary

[Scott Wheeler]

Hello,

My name is Scott Wheeler, I am 37, live in Tallahassee, Florida and would like to see if it is possible to call into an upcoming Commission meeting to request a letter of support for my project regarding Lawrence Welk who was a longtime national television and musical celebrity he and his show were known among other things for patriotism, family friendly entertainment, including a variety of genres, 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, and repeats are shown to this day in many states across America. 

Many Americans themselves or their parents, grandparents/other relatives watched and enjoyed, and for this reason could also be a fitting way to pay tribute to generations no longer with us or today fewer in number from a variety of occupations and regions such as my late grandfather who I was close with (Pennsylvania) for more than 30 years after serving in the Army in World War II; my mother grew up watching the show with him and when Arthur Duncan tapped, sometimes she'd go in the kitchen and pretend to tap dance. My father's side had Midwestern (Wisconsin) farming roots like Welk and Myron Floren, and he's enjoyed watching repeats, so three generations just in my family.

Since beginning in January 2025, there have been letters of support, proclamation, or resolution approved by 63 county commissions/equivalent across 11 states including Lawrence Welk's Emmons County, North Dakota, his wife Fern's Morton County, North Dakota, and Myron Floren's Day County, South Dakota and hometown of Roslyn; former U.S. Congressman (Minnesota) Collin Peterson who was chairman of the House Agriculture Committee the Cuyahoga County, Ohio (home to Cleveland and nearly 1.3 Million people, along with letters of support from North Dakota State University's Division of Performing Arts, Agriculture respectively, and other organizations. Myron Floren, one of the show's biggest stars performed in the USO during World War II and was honored by the Future Farmers of America (FFA) in 1971 respectively. I am happy to provide a draft letter of support text that can be modified if desired. 

I am happy to provide such as attachments, and call in/speak to members and be available to answer any question they may have. Please know I am not requesting any money from the commission. 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 Orange County, North Carolina 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

[Scott Wheeler]

I have to apologize for a typo, the "more than 30 years" only referred to my grandfather's time as a Steelworker, just wanted to clarify that. I would appreciate if this would please be shared with your colleagues.