David Browning is not the kind of keynote speaker to just stand behind the podium.
In fact, the featured guest at the 55th-annual meeting of the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce barely sat still long enough to eat dinner.
The meeting was held at Cross Creek Country Club on Thursday night, where The Mayberry Deputy entertained and uplifted a crowd of about 200 people.
It was a change of pace for the chamber members who typically hear from a more business-oriented speaker.
Ben Cooke, who the chamber named Citizen of the Year at the meeting, shared his impression of the Browning’s performance when accepting his award.
“When I heard he was going to speak I didn’t know what to expect, and wow, that blew me away,” Cooke said. “He did a wonderful job. I thank him for that.”
For most of his “speech,” Browning worked the room with his spot-on impersonation of the bumbling but beloved deputy, pulling a few lucky guests into the act.
Vann McCoy became Opie for a few minutes, Michael Green was tapped as Mr. Schwump and Burke Robertson an impromptu Goober complete with a brown felt Goober hat.
The bits garnered plenty of laughs from the audience, sometimes at the expense of the chamber members, who were good sports throughout.
But the deputy later made good by handing out gifts to the three unwitting volunteers.
Chamber President and CEO Randy Collins (whom Browning referred to as Tom Collins early in the show) said all the reports he’d received about the speaker had been very positive.
“I thought he was funny and engaging,” Collins said. “It was a little different from what we’ve had in the past. This year we thought we’d pay tribute to tourism as an industry, and we we’re very pleased with the outcome.”
Browning is a familiar face locally as he has appeared in character as Barney Fife from The Andy Griffith Show at every Mayberry Days for 25 straight years.
But he makes a living off Mayberry the rest of the year, and he shared his perspective of what the town means to those who don’t live here.
“Wherever I am in the country people say Mayberry is a wonderful town. You already know that,” he said.
“Some people just dream of one day getting to come to Mount Airy,” and save for years just to make the trip. “It’s an exciting thing for them. Those of us who are still inside of it, we cannot afford to let ourselves lose the magic.”
Browning turned philosophical towards the close of his performance.
“We are all in effect Mayberry deputies,” he said, going on to use each letter in the word “deputy” to create a motivational acronym. For example, “D” stood for deciding to make a difference in other people’s lives on through “Y.”
“Yesterday is gone, we have to take today and move forward with all the energy we possess,” He finished.
In addition to Browning’s performance and the the presentation of the Citizen of the Year award to Cooke, the chamber also addressed other matters.
Three retiring members of the chamber board were presented with plaques for their service to the chamber: Roger Cramer, of Rogers Realty, Curtis Taylor, of Surry Telephone Membership Corporation, and Jason Pike, BB&T Blue Ridge Burke Insurance.
The 2016 board of directors were sworn in, which included three newly elected members: Chad Tidd, of Chik-Fil-A Mount Airy, Mike Horne, of Kelly Office Solutions, and Dale Draughn, of Edward Jones.
Julie Perkins, 2015 chairman of the board, passed the symbolic gavel to the incoming chairman, Denise Watson.
Watson thanked Perkins for her service.
“I truly will give you 100 percent of what I can to lead this chamber,” she said, looking ahead to 2016.
“It’s going to be a great year.”
David Browning, “The Mayberry Deputy” performs as the keynote speaker at the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Thursday at the Cross Creek Country Club.
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David Browning, “The Mayberry Deputy” performs as the keynote speaker at the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Thursday at the Cross Creek Country Club.
Terri Flagg | The News
David Browning, “The Mayberry Deputy,” performs a bit with audience member Michael Green standing in as Mr. Schwump from The Andy Griffith Show. Browning was the keynote speaker at the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Thursday at the Cross Creek Country Club.
http://mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_160128_Browning_02.jpg
David Browning, “The Mayberry Deputy,” performs a bit with audience member Michael Green standing in as Mr. Schwump from The Andy Griffith Show. Browning was the keynote speaker at the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Thursday at the Cross Creek Country Club.
Terri Flagg | The News
Rhonda Bunker gets her picture taken with David Browning, “The Mayberry Deputy,” who was the keynote speaker at the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Thursday at the Cross Creek Country Club.
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Rhonda Bunker gets her picture taken with David Browning, “The Mayberry Deputy,” who was the keynote speaker at the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Thursday at the Cross Creek Country Club.
Terri Flagg | The News
David Browning, “The Mayberry Deputy,” places a felt hat on Burke Robertson, making the audience member an honorary Goober from The Andy Griffith Show. Browning was the keynote speaker at the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Thursday at the Cross Creek Country Club.
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David Browning, “The Mayberry Deputy,” places a felt hat on Burke Robertson, making the audience member an honorary Goober from The Andy Griffith Show. Browning was the keynote speaker at the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Thursday at the Cross Creek Country Club.
Terri Flagg | The News
Denise Watson, 2016 chairman of the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce board, takes the podium after Julie Perkins, 2015 chairman, finished speaking at the organization’s annual dinner Thursday at the Cross Creek Country Club.
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Denise Watson, 2016 chairman of the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce board, takes the podium after Julie Perkins, 2015 chairman, finished speaking at the organization’s annual dinner Thursday at the Cross Creek Country Club.
Terri Flagg | The News
Members of the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce 2016 board of directors are sworn in at the chamber’s annual dinner Thursday at the Cross Creek Country Club. Front row from left are Dr. Greg Little, Mount Airy Public Schools; Rocky Killon, Shenandoah Furniture; James Etringer, Workforce Unlimited; Julie Perkins, BB&T Blue Ridge Burke Insurance; Robbie Gardner, First Citizens Bank; Andrea Kniskern, CPA. Back row from left are Todd Tucker, Surry County Economic Development Partnership; Chad Tidd, Chick Fil A, Mount Airy; Mike Horne, Kelly Office Solutions; Dale Draughn, Edward Jones; Doug St. Louis, Hanesbrands, Inc. Board members not pictured are Denise Watson, Mountain Valley Hospice; Adam Martin, Surry Yadkin Electric Membership Corp; David Shockley, Surry Community College; Dr. Leslie Stoklosa, Chiropractor; Jessica Roberts, Surry County Tourism Development Partnership.
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Members of the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce 2016 board of directors are sworn in at the chamber’s annual dinner Thursday at the Cross Creek Country Club. Front row from left are Dr. Greg Little, Mount Airy Public Schools; Rocky Killon, Shenandoah Furniture; James Etringer, Workforce Unlimited; Julie Perkins, BB&T Blue Ridge Burke Insurance; Robbie Gardner, First Citizens Bank; Andrea Kniskern, CPA. Back row from left are Todd Tucker, Surry County Economic Development Partnership; Chad Tidd, Chick Fil A, Mount Airy; Mike Horne, Kelly Office Solutions; Dale Draughn, Edward Jones; Doug St. Louis, Hanesbrands, Inc. Board members not pictured are Denise Watson, Mountain Valley Hospice; Adam Martin, Surry Yadkin Electric Membership Corp; David Shockley, Surry Community College; Dr. Leslie Stoklosa, Chiropractor; Jessica Roberts, Surry County Tourism Development Partnership.
Terri Flagg | The News
Vann McCoy laughs during the keynote address delivered by David Browning, “The Mayberry Deputy,” at the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Thursday at the Cross Creek Country Club.
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Vann McCoy laughs during the keynote address delivered by David Browning, “The Mayberry Deputy,” at the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Thursday at the Cross Creek Country Club.
Terri Flagg | The News
David Browning, “The Mayberry Deputy” performs as the keynote speaker at the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Thursday at the Cross Creek Country Club.
http://mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_160128_Browning_08.jpg
David Browning, “The Mayberry Deputy” performs as the keynote speaker at the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Thursday at the Cross Creek Country Club.
Terri Flagg | The News
David Browning, “The Mayberry Deputy,” performs a bit with audience member Michael Green standing in as Mr. Schwump from The Andy Griffith Show. Browning was the keynote speaker at the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Thursday at the Cross Creek Country Club.
http://mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_160128_Browning_09.jpg
David Browning, “The Mayberry Deputy,” performs a bit with audience member Michael Green standing in as Mr. Schwump from The Andy Griffith Show. Browning was the keynote speaker at the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Thursday at the Cross Creek Country Club.
Terri Flagg | The News
David Browning, “The Mayberry Deputy,” performs a bit with audience member Michael Green standing in as Mr. Schwump from The Andy Griffith Show. Browning was the keynote speaker at the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Thursday at the Cross Creek Country Club.
http://mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_160128_Browning_10.jpg
David Browning, “The Mayberry Deputy,” performs a bit with audience member Michael Green standing in as Mr. Schwump from The Andy Griffith Show. Browning was the keynote speaker at the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Thursday at the Cross Creek Country Club.
Terri Flagg | The News
By Terri Flagg
tflagg@civitasmedia.com
Reach Terri Flagg at 415-4734.