Published: October 31, 2009 07:06 pm      

New Albany Mayor's Community Prayer Breakfast has rich tradition

41st annual breakfast is Nov. 14

Who needs a trip to a local mall to get into the holiday spirit? A ticket to the annual Mayor’s Community Prayer Breakfast is all that is really need according to Sandy Boofter.

“I enjoy the prayer breakfast. It’s something special for the community,” she said. “It helps get the holidays started in the right direction.”

The 41st annual event will be

held Nov. 14 in the New Albany High School cafeteria. This year’s guest speaker will be Patrick Henry Hughes, who gained national recognition by playing in the University of Louisville band despite being blind and physically disabled, with the help of father. His family also appeared with him on the ABC show “Extreme Makeover Home Edition” last year.

“It’s a time for us to come together and be thankful for our blessings and the community we live in,” said New Albany Mayor Doug England. “It’s like Harvest Homecoming ... everyone likes getting together to fellowship.”

Hughes will speak and perform in the school’s auditorium following breakfast in the cafeteria, The ecumenical service also includes music and scripture readings.

“It a time once a year to come together and reflect,” said Floyd County Clerk Linda Moeller, a member of the committee which organizes the event. “All churches are invited and it’s a way of unifying the community at least once a year.”

The Mayor’s Community Prayer Breakfast was started by Garnett Inman in 1969 and continued on by his six predecessors. Over the years speakers have included Steve Alford, Denny Crum and former baseball great Carl Erskine. In 1975, fresh off a World Series victory, Cincinnati relief pitcher Rawly Eastwick was the guest speaker. In 40 years of the event, 18,904 tickets have been sold. The most successful year was 1982 when 1,032 people came out to hear television personality Grady Nutt.

“It’s a good place to come and see friends, hear good music and a good speaker,” England said.

Former mayors who attend will be recognized during the event. And for one day a year, it doesn’t matter if you are a Republican or a Democrat, according to Cheryl Cotner, a member of the organizing committee who is England’s administrative assistant.

“The prayer breakfast is a long-standing tradition that unites the community, putting politics aside,” she said.

Moeller agreed.

“It’s a time once a year to come together and reflect,” Moeller said. “All churches are invited and it’s a way of unifying the community at least once a year.”

Boofter has been on the mayor’s prayer breakfast committee for more than 20 years. She is hoping this year’s event is a success.

“I hope so,” she said. “I think he will be a good draw.”

England said getting Hughes was not easy due to his busy schedule.

“He goes all over the world and speaks,” he said. “He is a real inspiration with what he’s accomplished despite his disabilities.”

“He is an excellent speaker,” Moeller said. “I think it will go really well this year.”