The state has honored the life-time work of one of the pioneers of the Fiddlers’ Jamboree, issuing a proclamation in memory of Neil Dudney.

“I was really taken back when this came in,” said his wife of 56 years, Emma Jean Wilmoth Dudney. “We were overwhelmed. It brought me to tears. I wish he could have known it.”

The proclamation, signed by Speaker of the Senate Randy McNally and State Senator Mark Pody, was made upon Mr. Dudney’s passing this past October and copies of the proclamation sent to Mrs. Dudney more recently. The resolution was made at the behest of Senator Pody and Representatives Clark Boyd and Terry Lynn Weaver.

“Whereas, Mr. Dudney was an exemplary public servant and consummate professional who worked assiduously to improve the quality of life for his fellow citizens in numerous capacities,” the proclamation sponsored by State Senator Mark Pody begins, noting his extensive work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service. “Whereas, Mr. Dudney was a man of many passions, one of which was music; he was involved with the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree since its inception in 1972, serving first as a sound technician and later as president/coordinator, in which capacity he served until 2008.”

Mrs. Dudney recalled she and her husband were part of the genesis of the Jamboree, working thought it’s high and low points.

“He worked in many different areas,” she recalled of the beginning of the Jamboree, noting it was all volunteer work. “We never asked a penny.”

Her husband’s devotion to the Jamboree, for which he worked tirelessly until his health forced him to step away, came from his desire to help the people of DeKalb County. “It brought more people in here and helped the economy,” she noted. “It helped get more sales tax for the schools. Everything he ever did, he did it freely. So many times when you ask people to volunteer they ask how much does it pay. We heard that many times over the years.”

Mrs. Dudney is happy the state legislature would pause to remember her husband’s life-time of work, something for which she will always be grateful.

“It is befitting that we should remember the bountiful life of this exceptional public servant and human being,” the proclamation adds.