A look inside: American Legion World Series Host City Welcome kickoff dinner
- Chuck Thompson
- 3 hours ago
- 8 min read
By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent
SPORTS / FEATURE — The American Legion World Series (ALWS) Host City Welcome is the ceremonial event that marks the official kickoff to the series. Robert Farrow, this year's overseer of the event, was followed around by the Shelby Independent before the dinner to take a look inside the event.
To say Robert Farrow is difficult to keep up with is an understatement and there’s not really a good way to describe what it was like as The Shelby Independent tagged along with Farrow, who serves on the Steering & Executive Committees which he helps to plan, organize, and operate the annual tournament hosted at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium, among other things.
Before the dinner last Wednesday evening, Farrow was already at full speed.
At four o’clock that afternoon he hurried down the steps of The LeGrand Center in his red cross-training sneakers to let this lowly reporter inside who was being held at the door. Farrow handed me my all-access pass and quickly shook my hand, “We need to hurry back upstairs, there’s a lot to do, follow me!”
I could barely keep up. I followed behind him up the stairs as we walked into the main banquet room decorated in the colors of the American Legion World Series and the eight regional championship team colors. Balloons were tied to every table, and each table was delicately and meticulously dressed in a black tablecloth, with a red napkin and a program menu laid on the tables in front of every chair.
Robert Farrow moved back and forth from the Special Events Hall to the hallways in the back, speaking briefly with other employees of both The LeGrand Center and ALWS, as they all moved back and forth, focused on their preparation for the big event.
Mason Humphries, a local ALWS intern and Gardner-Webb student, was there assisting Farrow as needed. He spoke on his opportunity to be a part of the American Legion World Series.
“I’ve got to meet a ton of people from the national board and a lot of people here that work really hard," said Humphries. “I’ve learned a lot through this experience and have enjoyed it.”
Before I realize it, Farrow was twenty yards away, speeding between the dinner tables as I scrambled to catch up to him.
We moved to the back of The LeGrand Center where both Shelby Police and deputies from The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office were stationed in various locations. Some were positioned as security for the event while others were providing protection for the special guest speaker to arrive at any moment.
Farrow moved outside where a dedicated team was cooking chicken and rack ribs in the blazing heat. They had been out back all night and day, pushing through the sweltering heat, compounded from the heat from the cookers, as a delicious aroma filled the air and drifted into the open doors of the back of The LeGrand Center.
Skip Warrick was cooking away, prepping to serve the entire cascade of honored guests and patrons. Warrick took a gracious moment from his work to show The Shelby Independent what was to be served as the night’s main course for the few hundred people in attendance.
Warrick and his team prepared 416 halves of chicken and 255 racks of ribs.
“We started about six o’clock last night,” Warrick said at about four-thirty in the afternoon the next day, a couple of hours before the meal was to be served, showing the dedication it takes to prepare hundreds of chickens and ribs for such a large crowd.
All the while, as the delicious ribs and chicken were showcased, Farrow was still moving, getting updates from workers, talking to law enforcement about the arrival of the special guest speaker and also Republican Congressman Tim Moore. The Color Guard arrived, needing to prep; the singer of The National Anthem practiced, and Farrow coordinated and either asked questions or answered questions with everyone from cook-extraordinaire Skip Warrick, LeGrand Center General Manager Carver Hooper, Molly McKinney Huss, Jason Falls, Capt. Justin Etters of The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, Bryson Perry who handled the lighting during the program presentation. He also spoke with Cleveland County Sheriff Alan Norman, Shelby Police Chief Brad Fraser, and Farrow also went over the seating and schedule of the event with Eddie Holbrook to make sure everything was pristine and in order for the evening.
Eddie Holbrook, a major force in bringing the American Legion World Series to Shelby, praised the many people involved in making such an event happen, from the workers, volunteers and supporters.
“This is really the kickoff to the series. This is such a major event for our local people because without them it wouldn’t be possible. Our dedicated local team puts so much into making this possible by their sweat-equity and other support for this dinner. They make the whole series possible. This is something our community is especially proud of and demonstrates to the national crowd that Cleveland County takes this seriously and truly enjoys this series. I’m proud of what they do and what they demonstrate.”
Holbrook said he couldn't praise their small team enough for the hard work put into the American Legion World Series in Shelby.
"Our local people really work hard," noted Holbrook. “The labor intensity that is put into such an event is astronomical. The numerous hours put into this is just phenomenal.”
ALWS does all their own promotional material. It’s mostly designed in-house by Wendy Cobb, someone Farrow describes as a graphic designer and marketing wizard.
“If I need anything I just tell Wendy I need it,” said Farrow. “She does it and we’re thankful for her.”
As the clock ticked closer to the start of the dinner, security tightened as about two dozen law enforcement officers and other security personnel maintained high alertness as ALWS and The LeGrand Center prepared for the arrival of Congressman Tim Moore and the special guest speaker, Staff Sgt. Johnny 'Joey' Jones.
Jones, a Marine and broadcast journalist, provides military analysis across all Fox News media platforms, including Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network, also serving as a fill-in host for many of the most popular shows. Additionally, he hosts several series and specials on the network’s digital streaming service, Fox Nation. Jones was wounded in Afghanistan in August 2010, by an IED which cost him both of his legs from just above the knees.
As the moment arrived and guests began entering from the front, Jones’ own security detail arrived at the back entrance of The LeGrand Center.
Farrow waited at the door as Jones entered and the two men greeted each other. Farrow explained that he had a green room for Jones to rest and prepare before his speech.
(Story continued below photos from the ALWS dinner event...)
There, Jones met with Farrow, Sheriff Norman and Holbrook. The Shelby Independent tagged along as Farrow went over the basic layout of the agenda and where Jones would enter the room and walk on stage.
Holbrook thanked Jones for coming and the importance of the dinner and what ALWS means to the economic viability of Cleveland County.
Sheriff Norman thanked Jones for for his service and sacrifice to the country.
As the dinner began, Farrow’s work didn’t end. He was still moving back and forth making sure things continued to run smoothly.
During the event, Congressman Tim Moore, recognized Eddie Holbrook for his service to Cleveland County and Farrow was right there, standing behind both men, making sure everything was moving along as scheduled.
“Moore praised all the local people involved to make the series happen and especially Holbrook’s work to make the American Legion World Series possible.
“Eddie doesn’t know this but come here,” Moore said, as he brought Holbrook on stage and recognized him for his dedicated hard work.
In return, Holbrook thanked everyone involved in making ALWS happen in Shelby.
Then came time for Joey Jones to give his motivational speech about overcoming difficult challenges. With light-hearted and sometimes comical wording, his sincere speech focused on his own fight to overcome barriers in life.
Jones, who was born and raised in Dalton Ga., served as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician, deploying to both Iraq and Afghanistan. On Aug. 6, 2010, while deployed in Afghanistan, he stepped on an IED, resulting in the above-the-knee amputation of both legs and severe forearm damage. Spent an extensive recovery period at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he began advocating for fellow wounded service members.
His speech served as a positive reinforcement to anyone struggling with physical and mental barriers and how it’s all about having the right attitude and never giving up.
A red blur continued to pass by once in a while, and as I tried to snap a photo of Farrow on the move, but the photos looked more like a blurry Bigfoot sighting wearing red athletic shoes and an ALWS shirt. Never one to hardly sit still, Farrow continued on, moving across the room from one pace to another, right up until the end of the night.
Chairman of the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners, Kevin Gordon, spoke to The Shelby Independent about the ALWS dinner event after it concluded.
“The Host City Welcome officially opened the series by welcoming teams and their families, recognizing the dedication of ALWS volunteers, and celebrating the community’s role in hosting the event,” explained Gordon.
“Staff Sergeant Johnny 'Joey' Jones delivered a powerful message to those in attendance, emphasizing that people do not have to experience catastrophe to learn meaningful lessons,” continued Gordon. “He reminded the audience that the right words at the right time can make a lasting difference. He also highlighted gratitude and service, saying, ‘Thank you for being worth serving,’ and described his journey as proof that people can choose to live, not merely survive.
“It was an honor to attend the event, recognize the commitment of ALWS volunteers, and welcome the teams to our county," Gordon added. "The evening served as a meaningful reminder of the debt we owe to veterans and public servants who serve our communities each day and help protect the freedoms we cherish."
The kickoff dinner wrapped up with Jackson Martin, of Wolfman Woods Disc Golf Club, organizing a game of disc golf for the eight regional championship teams playing in the American Legion World Series.
For anyone interested in learning more about ALWS, you can email them: info@alws.us or call 704-466-3103.
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Chuck Thompson is a reporter and columnist for The Shelby Independent.
2026 The Shelby Independent.
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