First Annual

Governor Bert T. Combs

Symposium

The Governor Bert T. Combs Symposium is held annually on the Friday of Labor Day Weekend. You are cordially invited to attend.

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Two hundred people gathered to honor the life and legacy of former Governor Bert T. Combs at the First Annual Bert T. Combs Symposium held September 1, 2006, at the Clay County Justice Center in Manchester, KY. The keynote speaker, Kentucky State Historian Dr. James Klotter from Georgetown College, presented an overview of the life and accomplishments of Governor Combs. Highlights included Governor Combs’ lasting contributions to the people of Kentucky in education, highways, civil rights, and the formation of the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Chief Judge Sara Combs, widow of Gov. Combs, and Lois Combs Weinberg, daughter of Gov. Combs were special guests at the Symposium. Other guests included Fontaine Banks, Governor Combs' Chief of Staff, and Rev. Harold Dorsey whose friendship with Governor Combs reaches back to the 1950’s.  

According to Chief Judge Sara Combs, "The symposium illustrated that people hunger more than ever for the idealism, decency, and vision exemplified by the leadership of Bert Combs."

Rev. Kenneth Bolin from the Manchester Baptist Church organized the symposium to keep alive the memory and legacy of Bert T. Combs. “We are quite pleased by the amount of participation in the event and very encouraged by the results. This will be an annual event,” said Rev. Bolin. “The press was very good to us and we want to thank WYMT-Television, the Lexington Herald-Leader, and the local newspapers.”

“As well as the statewide interest and participation in this project, we also have two local goals,” continued Rev. Bolin. “We will have a Bert T. Combs scholarship for a deserving Clay County student and we hope to have a statue of Governor Combs in our community.”

The Governor Bert T. Combs Symposium will be held annually on the Friday of Labor Day Weekend in Manchester, KY. The focus of next year’s event will be Governor Combs’ contributions to education in Kentucky. Everyone is invited to attend.

Videos and DVD’s of this year’s symposium are available for $20. You may contact Rev. Kenneth Bolin by mail at 308 Main Street, Manchester, KY 40962, by email at preachermanken@hotmail.com, or by phone at 606 599-6820.