CELINA-It was a big night for the Clay County GOP here as nearly 250 Republicans came together for the annual Clay County GOP Reagan Day Dinner Saturday, April 5th.

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett speaks to the approximately 250 in attendance at the 2014 Reagan Day Dinner, explaining the purpose and functions of the Secretary’s office.

A special meet and greet with appetizers one hour before the dinner centered around the Republican 13th Judicial candidates giving them full exposure to the local voters who will go to the polls for the May 6th Republican primary.

Following the meal catered by Dale Hollow One Stop BBQ, Chairman Dwayne Craighead welcomed the crowd and recognized the sponsors and dignitaries and then introduced the night’s first speaker, candidate Jerry Lowery, running for Congress in the 6th district, a seat held by Congressman Diane Black.

State Senate candidates Clark Boyd and State Senator Mae Beavers each took a turn at the podium before  State Rep. Kelly Keisling, unopposed in the primary and general elections, introduced the keynote speaker of the evening TN Secretary of State Tre Hargett, who gave a detailed description of what his office does and its responsibilities.

Chairman Craighead, presiding over his last Reagan Dinner as Chairman of the Clay County GOP, closed the evening with remarks thanking those in attendance for supporting the party during the four years of his term and with this quote from Ronald Reagan.

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We did not pass it to our children in the blood stream it must be fought for, protected and handed on to them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States when men were free.”