Edwina Kay was honored Friday, May 9, at the Truman Days dinner held at Centennial Hall at the fairgrounds by being named to the Moniteau County Democrat Hall of Fame. The award was presented by her son, John Kay.
Moniteau County Democrats hold the Truman Day dinner each year and this year, Democrats from Cole, Miller, Boone and Morgan counties were also in attendance. Resa Dudley served as Master of Ceremonies. Music for the function was provided by Phil Lewis and Jacob Hampton. A highlight of the evening's activities was the induction of Edwina Kay into the Moniteau County 2014 Democratic Hall of Fame.
Edwina began attending Democratic meetings as a child accompanying her Father J. T. Lee. Mr. Lee served as County Treasurer and Mayor of California and her uncle Chas E. Lee was elected as State Superintendent of Schools. Her affiliation with Moniteau Democrats didn't stop there. After World War II she married Norris Dean Kay. His father J. P. Kay was County Superintendent of Schools and his Uncle Roy Kay was County Prosecuting Attorney. In 1960 Norris Dean was elected County Treasurer, a position he held until his death in 1966. Governor Warren Hearnes appointed Edwina to complete his term and she continued to serve as County Treasurer until 1991. Her son John Kay was elected County Prosecuting Attorney in 1980 and served in that office until 2011. Every member of the family was elected and proudly served as members of the Democratic Party.
Educated to be a teacher like so many other members of her family, Edwina believes public education is the foundation of the American democracy. To her, politics is our state motto: SALUS POPULI SUPREMA LEX ESTO - The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law. Many in the local community remember her as their fourth grade school teacher at California elementary school.
Given Edwina Kay's long history with the Moniteau County Democratic Party the recognition was well deserved and way overdue.
There were two excellent speakers for the evening - John Wright, Missouri State Representative from the 47th district and Roy Temple, Chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party. Representative Wright represents parts of Boone, Cooper, Howard, and Randolph Counties. He gave the audience a picture of what happened this year in the Missouri Legislative session, pointing out the good and bad legislation passed as well as the vetoes over ridden. Temple in his remarks called attention to the stark differences between the Democratic and Republican party, adding that a voter has a clear choice in what direction they want this state and country to go
This year's Truman Day Planning Committee was chaired by Gail Hughes with members Resa Dudley, Ralph and Barb Gaw, Stuart Inglish, Phil Lewis, Charlie Roll and Carol Rackers.