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Twigs and Branches
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Linton's favorite son - Phil Harris June 24, 1904 – August 11, 1995 Phil Harris started a festival in Linton, Greene, Indiana and all proceeds goes to Phil Harris Scholarship Foundation & The Phil Harris Charities Linton is also home of the Phil Harris Celebrity Weekend. This is an annual event which Phil Harris was hosted by himself until his death in 1995. The event is held the weekend after the Indy 500. This event included a variety show with Phil Harris and friends. The Phil Harris Golf Course is host to a golf tournament held in conjunction with the weekend events. The tournament contributes its proceeds to scholarships for local graduating seniors to further their education. Many celebrities have taken part in this worthwhile event including Jimmy Dean, Roy Clark, Tommy Smothers just to name a few. Phil's mother and her family came from Linton; Phil was born there as Wonga Philip Harris, and went to school there through 7th or 8th grade. Harris actually grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and identified himself as a Southerner (his hallmark song was "That's What I Like About the South"). His upbringing accounted for both his trace of a Southern accent and, in later years, the self-deprecating Southern jokes of his radio character. Phil and Alice actively renewed these ties with an annual festival and charity celebrity pro-am golf tournament (at the Phil Harris Golf Course, naturally) starting in 1979. Thanks to the warm welcome they and their friends got at those events, the Harrises decided that Linton would appreciate having a collection of their show business memorabilia too. The name has been changed to: Festival of the Greene County Foundation, which tries to perpetuate some of the atmosphere of the festivals held when Phil and Alice were alive. From the Vintage Guitar Magazine of Aug. and Oct. ’99 issues Roy Clark said : I’ve been going to one in Linton, Indiana for about 15 years that was the Phil Harris tournament. Since Phil passed away, I’ve sort of inherited the “caretaking” of it, but we still call it the Friends of Phil Harris tournament, and it pays for scholarships for kids that can’t afford to go to school. In 1979, the golf course was renamed after the late Hollywood star, Phil Harris. The Annual Phil Harris Golf Tournament was started in 1978. He would inspect the grounds, sign autographs, and have his picture taken with golfers during the day. Harris attended the tournament annually until his death in 1996. This gives the up to date info on the weekend festival The the and Faye Harris memorabilia location Ambank , 89 West Vincennes Street Linton, Indiana Phil Harris Golf Course - Linton, Indiana   |
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