Kent Gwaltney Memorial Celebration is St. Patrick’s Day

A special event to honor the memory of the late Kent Gwaltney will be held at the MEC Building on the Missouri State Fairgrounds on St. Patrick's Day.

"On Friday, March 17, we will have a fundraiser for the Kent Gwaltney Memorial Fund in memory of St. Patrick Kent The Main Event!" said Joe Beykirch. "This will be a great night to honor our friend."

"We're going to do a celebration of life for a good friend of ours," said Ron Ditzfeld, who is helping to put on the event, along with Beykirch, Mark Thompson, and others. "We're hoping that everybody will show up at the MEC Building and bring their favorite Kent story."

Gwaltney was well known in the community as the owner of downtown Sedalia bar PK's, and as a youth sports coach. "When he passed on, Ron and I wanted to do something, and Mark Thompson, and a number of us," said Beykirch. "The first thing that came to mind was that we're going to have a celebration...let me repeat, a celebration...of life. We're doing it on St. Patrick's Day, which is the absolute perfect time to do it."

Doors will open at 4:30 on Friday. There will be a chicken dinner, and Dirt Road Addiction will be playing during the event beginning at 5:30. There will also be a DJ and live and silent auctions. Tickets are $10. Advance tickets are available at Perkins Restaurant and at Fitter's. Tickets will also be available at the door.

"I think anybody that ever knew Kent, or spent any time with him, would know that this would be his idea of a celebration of life. Kent loved life and he lived it. That's why Joe and Mark and I want to continue this thing on St. Patrick's Day in his honor," said Ditzfeld.