Title
Proclamation Honoring the RFD Boys
Memorandum
PROCLAMATION
Honoring the RFD Boys
July 20, 2015
WHEREAS, the RFD Boys have been a favorite bluegrass band around the Ann Arbor area for more than four decades and are considered by many residents to be the house band for The Ark music venue; and
WHEREAS, they have been delighting local audiences with their wonderful musicianship and well timed humor since their beginning in 1969; and
WHEREAS, the band’s original members (Richard Dieterle, Charles Roehrig, Paul Shapiro & Willard Spencer) met while they were students at U-M and played regularly at the now defunct Pretzel Bell; and
WHEREAS, in 1983 and again in 1989, they served as good will ambassadors by travelling to our Sister City of Tuebingen, Germany as part of our Sister City cultural exchange program; and
WHEREAS, the RFD Boys were well received as guests during their visits to Tuebingen, Germany and warmed the hearts of their hosts with their music and down home hospitality; and
WHEREAS, original founder and fiddle player, Richard (Dick) Dieterle, passed away in February of 2012. As a lasting tribute the RFD Boys vowed to continue playing and asked friend and fellow musician, David Mosher to step in and fill Dieterle’s shoes; and
WHEREAS, on May 30th, 2015 the RFD Boys rekindled their friendship with Tuebingen,Germany with their performance at County Farm Park as part of our Sister City’s 50th Anniversary celebration.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Christopher Taylor, Mayor of Ann Arbor, Michigan, do hereby proclaim and honor the RFD Boys as our international goodwill ambassador for the City of Ann Arbor, and commend them for going above and beyond the call of duty to provide entertainment for our Sister City guests.
I hereby set my hand and seal
This 20th day of July, 2015
Christopher Taylor, Mayor