Congregation, community 'honor' Locke at Library Roast

The Wilson County community gathered Tuesday night to roast Dr. Larry Locke, the College Hills Church of Christ minister who is retiring after 30 years of leadership.

They honored his loving, accepting spirit, his ministerial creativity, his thriftiness, his slowness and his lengthy sermons.

"He was so cheap he had 'MOM' tattooed on his belly instead of his chest so he wouldn't have to pay for the 'O,'" said John Bryan, a church member who identified himself as a Baptist "spy" who infiltrated Locke's congregation by marriage.

There were many references to Locke's jogging, which is "awfully slow," as congregation member Dr. George Robertson put it.

"Larry's the only one who's been issued a citation for causing a traffic jam at the Don Fox track," Robertson said. "They told him he could jog in the lane people are supposed to be walking in."

Prior to his 30-year ministry at College Hills Church of Christ, Locke served at churches in Tennessee, Ohio and West Virginia.
The Shelbyville native was educated at David Lipscomb University and Kent State University.

Locke has been married to his wife, Carol, for 43 years and the couple has two children and four grandchildren.

The 17th annual roast, sponsored by Toshiba America, benefited the Wilson County library system. To date, the event has raised almost $145,000 over the last 17 years.

"Mainly, the proceeds go toward technology upgrades – the computers and new operating systems," said Alesia Burnley, director of the Lebanon Library.

State Rep. Stratton Bone said the annual roast "draws attention to the public library, because this has become a tradition. Everybody will leave feeling better. They'll laugh a lot, and that's what it's all about."

Past roast "honorees" include Wilson County Library Board member George Harding, Lebanon City Councilor Kathy Warmath and the late Mildred Hearne, who was instrumental in starting the Wilson County library system in 1938.

"There have been some fine people who have been a part of this in the past," Locke said. "I'm proud to be a part of that distinguished list. It's a fun night. It's an honor to be a part of it."

Staff Writer Hayli Morrison may be contacted at 444-3952, ext. 45, or by e-mailing hayli.morrison@lebanondemocrat.com.