City of Warner Robins to celebrate 75th anniversary

The city of Warner Robins will be turning 75 on March 5, 2018, but to kick-off the momentous occasion Mayor Randy Toms, elected officials and representatives from Robins Air Force Base, the Warner Robins Convention and Visitors Bureau and Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce invite all to celebrate on March 4 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and festivities throughout the afternoon.

Warner Robins Convention and Visitors Bureau director, Marsha Priest Buzzell, said March 4 will be filled with exhibits, music, food and more.

“75 years, isn’t it amazing,” Buzzell said. “It was on March 5, 1943 when the community known as Wellston, officially changed its name through the Georgia Legislature to Warner Robins, after Army Air Force Gen. Augustine Warner Robins. The town started out with a population of 53, with families who saw great opportunities to now today where we have over 75,000 residents. This is definitely a special occasion to celebrate.”

Buzzell said the event takes place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at E.L. Greenway Center Train Depot, 99 Armed Air Forces Boulevard North, which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The ribbon cutting will take place at 1:30 p.m.

“The festivities will include the Wellston Winds Brass Ensemble performing from 1:30-2:30 p.m.,” Buzzell said. “We will have a special train display from the South East Railway Museum in the Elberta Depot Heritage Center; there will be kiddie train rides as well as balloons, face painting and giveaways for children. The caboose will be open and we will have a gentlemen dressed up as a flagman. We will show a railway movie inside the convention and visitors bureau and we will have a food truck vendor and snow cone vendor available on site.”

“I just think it’s a wonderful opportunity for the community to come out, celebrate and have some fun,” she went on to say. “Again it was thought by many that this city wouldn’t make it, but it did. The Atlanta Journal Constitution referred us as the city of destiny. Look at what we have now, a great education system from Pre-K to College and endless career opportunities. Our brand is “Planes, Trains and Heroes”. That comes from where the city got it’s start from the trains and planes, and our heroes are our military members, public safety officers, elected officials, students, residents; everyone.”

Buzzell also mentioned that other events are planned throughout the year to continue the celebration of the 75th anniversary. She said there was a parade that was planned for March 24, but now has been postponed until November, however on the evening of March 24 there will be a USO dance at the Wellston Center featuring music from the 1940’s. April 20-21 the Robins Flying High BBQ Festival will take place at the Wellston Center. Judge resgistration and cook team applications are available online at https://gba.wildcat.org or by calling Burt Jimmerson at 478-954-2115. Buzzell said the Warner Robins Independence Day Celebration is also planned to be a bigger event this year and more details will be announced at a later date.

For more information about the March 4 kickoff event and to keep up with future events call the Warner Robins Convention and Visitor’s Bureau at 478-929-7259 or go online to www.warnerrobinsvisitorscenter.com.

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