Downtown hotel transformed into “Rosy’s Diner” for 80th birthday of beloved cartoonist Charlie Daniel

More than150 folks donned “Rosy’s Diner” baseball caps and filed into the ballroom of the Crowne Plaza hotel Friday night for a laugh-filled celebration of News Sentinel editorial cartoonist Charlie Daniel’s 80th birthday.

Daniel and "Rosy," aka Donna Colburn

Daniel and "Rosy," aka Donna Colburn

Rosy’s Diner is a staple location for much of the action that takes place in Daniel’s cartoons. Good sport Donna Colburn of the News Sentinel put on a vibrant red wig and played the part of “Rosy” for the evening. She looked exactly like the cartoon. “Wow,” said Daniel. “I’ve never really seen Rosy before!”

One of the evening’s highlights had to be the choice of food. It was exactly what you would expect to be served at Rosy’s Diner: fried chicken AND meatloaf accompanied by mashed potatoes with gravy and country style green beans (meaning they had bacon in them!).

“We could have had this party at Wright’s Cafeteria and then we could have just gone through the line,” quipped Bob Griffitts of Congressman Jimmy Duncan’s office.

The evening’s master of ceremonies was News Sentinel columnist Sam Venable who introduced a variety of speakers close to Daniel.

Patsy and Charlie Daniel wearing a Universtiy of North Carolina Santa hat

Patsy and Charlie Daniel, wearing a University of North Carolina Santa hat

  • Ginny Weatherstone, the executive director of Volunteer Ministry Center on whose board Daniel serves, said of him, “Charlie Daniel lives at the intersection of good humor and love.”
  • Jack McElroy, editor of the News Sentinel, said he is glad Daniel is only 80 years young. “Charley is turning 80 and surely he is good for another 10 years. I’m 56 and Scripps editors have to retire at age 65, so I’m glad I won’t have to replace Charlie. Because he’s irreplaceable.”
  • Harry Moskos, editor of the News Sentinel from 1984 to 2001, said he became friends with Daniel when Daniel worked for the competing Knoxville Journal and drew a cartoon of Moskos himself. He said he was delighted to eventually have the opportunity to hire Daniel. “The readers of the News Sentinel don’t know how lucky they are. The News Sentinel actually has two cartoonists – Charlie and Dan Proctor. That’s very rare.”
  • Congressman Duncan said he met Daniel when he himself was an assistant state editor at The Knoxville Journal. Duncan said his father always told him, “Everything looks easy from a distance.” He said Daniel makes cartooning look easy, but it isn’t.
  • City Councilman Marilyn Roddy read a beautiful proclamation honoring Daniel from Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam. It took about 10 minutes to read. When she concluded to hearty applause, she picked up another proclamation and tossed it to emcee Venable. “Oh,” she said. “The county also sent one.” Big laugh.

Door prizes were a hit. Especially the Charlie Daniel calendars – for the year 2009!

But Charlie got the last words – and some of the best.

“School kids ask me how they can become a cartoonist when they grow up,” Daniel said. “I tell them, ‘Don’t grow up.'”

Daniel said he himself has never grown up: “I was as surprised as you when I found out I was 80!”

“For cartoonists, the greatest award you can get is being stuck up on a refrigerator,” Daniel said. “But this is greater.”

Standing ovation. Sweet night.

Some of the other folks there: Rose Moseley, Fred Brown, Tom Chester, Jack Lail, Amy McCrary, Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt Canady, Georgiana Vines, Ben and Jo Byrd, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Calloway, Susan and David Lauver, Jack and Doris Sharp, Duane and Marsha Grieve, Barry and Leslie Henderson, Ed and Donie Green, Ed and Corrine Patrick, Bill and Margie Snyder, Joe Johnson of A&W Office Supply and a LOT of members of Daniel’s family.

Dinner was fried chicken, meatloaf, country style green beans and mashed potatoes with gravy

Dinner was fried chicken, meatloaf, country style green beans and mashed potatoes with gravy

Bob Griffitts digs into the "light" dinner! Julie Webb is in background.

Bob Griffitts digs into the "light" dinner! Julie Webb is in background.

Harry and Victoria Moskos

Harry and Victoria Moskos

Gosh, who looks good in a baseball cap? Mary Costa, of course!

Gosh, who looks good in a baseball cap? Mary Costa, of course!

From left: Cathy Byrd, her dad Ben Byrd, Georgiana Vines and Jo Byrd

From left: Cathy Byrd, her dad Ben Byrd, Georgiana Vines and Jo Byrd

Ginny Weatherstone and Sam Venable

Ginny Weatherstone and Sam Venable

Marilyn Roddy enjoys a laugh

Marilyn Roddy enjoys a laugh

Councilman Roddy talks to News Sentinel Editor Jack McElroy

Councilman Roddy talks to News Sentinel Editor Jack McElroy

From left: Betsey Creekmore, Congressman Jimmy Duncan and Mary Costa

From left: Betsey Creekmore, Congressman Jimmy Duncan and Mary Costa

Newly elected City Councilman Duane Grieve and Mary Costa (everyone wanted to pose with her!)

Newly elected City Councilman Duane Grieve and Mary Costa (everyone wanted to pose with her!)

Giant cartoons of Charlie himself provided directions

Giant cartoons of Charlie himself provided directions

Hahaha!

Hahaha!

Everybody received one of these caps!

Everybody received one of these caps!

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4 Responses to Downtown hotel transformed into “Rosy’s Diner” for 80th birthday of beloved cartoonist Charlie Daniel

  1. Wanda McMahan, on December 19th, 2009 at 12:51 pm said:

    I loved reading about Charlie’s party. What an amazing man. Harry Moskos looks pretty darned good, too.

    Happy Birthday Charlie. I still have some wonderful memories that you drew for me.

  2. Terry McWilliams, on December 21st, 2009 at 11:44 am said:

    Congratulations and happy birthday, Charlie! I have always admired and appreciated your good sense of humor — even toward Kentucky fans. I still treasure your “Go Big Blue!” cartoon when I left the Knoxville Journal in 1986. Best wishes and continued happiness….

  3. Alan Carmichael, on December 21st, 2009 at 5:45 pm said:

    Charlie is a Knoxville (U.S. too) treasure. Charlie, thanks for drawing the wonderful Front Page Follies cartoons over the years.

  4. joe stewardson, on December 23rd, 2009 at 9:58 pm said:

    Charlie, Charlie, Charlie… Charlie?

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