Bob Warner to be Honored at February Dinner

Bob Warner, known throughout his years in Vernon as a veteran, a church leader, a sports coach, a politician and as Republican Town Committee Chairman Harold "Hal" Cummings puts it, "citizen extraordinaire," will be honored at a dinner next month. 

The dinner, sponsored by the town committee, is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 22 at Adams Mill in Manchester. Cocktails are slated for 6 p.m. and dinner an hour later. 

The dinner will have a bi-partisan flavor with Warner's son, U.S. Sen. Mark Warner as the special guest speaker. He is a Democrat who served as governor before being elected to the Senate and is a Rockville High School graduate. 

In addition to "a Connecticut Yankee who somehow managed to get elected in Virginia," the guest list includes a "who's who" of local, state and national figures "with ties to both parties," Cummings said with a chuckle. 

U.S. Rep Joseph Courtney, a Vernon resident, and Vernon Mayor Daniel Champagne are on the guest list.

Bob Warner served in the Marine Corps in World War II and saw action in the Iwo Jima and Guam campaigns. 

He is also know for being a deacon at the First Congregational Church, a Meals-on-Wheels volunteer, the founder of the Vernon Toastmasters and a longtime leader of the Aetna Toastmasters, a Vernon Town Council member, a softball coach and a VRTC member. 

Tickets are $60 per person and include hors d'oeuvres, dinner and dessert. There will be a cash bar. Checks are payable to the VRTC. 

A donation will be made to Meals-on-Wheels, Cummings said. Attendees must RSVP by Feb. 15 to Patty Noblet - pattyn44@aol.com or 860-875-5487.