Remember 15–20 years ago when the West Knox Republican Club packed the Copper Cellar every month? It was standing room only, thanks to leaders like the late Haywood Harris and Wallace McClure, who knew how to unite all Republicans under one roof.

Back then, the club’s annual July Picnic was a highlight—held at the Deane Hill Recreation Center with free hamburgers, hot dogs, and all the fixings. The funding came from a spirited auction of cakes, pies, and desserts. When the city failed to keep the A/C running a few years in a row, Rothchild Catering stepped in to host the event indoors with the same great food and hospitality.

Fast forward to 2025, a year when Republicans should be organizing and rallying in full force ahead of a crucial election cycle—yet the West Knox Republican Club’s picnic was held at a seafood restaurant with a “Dutch Treat” setup. No community meal, no buzz, just individuals ordering and paying for their own food. A half-hearted dessert auction brought in less than $1,000—one of the weakest showings in recent memory.

Meanwhile, other Republican clubs across Knox County are thriving, growing, and engaging with their communities. When the Knox County Republican Party Chairman said at a recent CEC Meeting that he would ask anyone associated with West Knox Republican Club to disassociate from it, the question must be asked: What happened to West Knox?