Hometown Removes Randy Travis’ Name From Sign
“Home of Randy Travis & Country Living” was the slogan that once greeting visitors and passers thru of Marshville, North Carolina where Randy Travis was born and raised. But the two signs that sit beside U.S. Hwy 74 both entering and exiting the small town in Union County showing love for their hometown boy have been changed. Any mention of Randy Travis was removed by the town recently, and some Randy Travis fans are not happy about it.
Randy Travis—born Randy Bruce Traywick in Marshville in 1959—has been in the midst of a run of bad health that was preceded by a bout of bad behavior. After a bitter divorce from his long-time wife and manager, Randy Travis was arrested in February 2012 for public intoxication while sitting in his truck in a church parking lot. Then in August of 2012, Randy was arrested again after his car was wrecked and Randy was found naked at the scene.
Then in July of 2013, Travis began to have severe health issues that have sidelined the country performer to this day. Randy was hospitalized on July 7th for a severe heart condition called viral cardiomyopathy. While in treatment, he suffered a stroke and had to receive emergency brain surgery. Randy eventually recovered and was released, but he still suffers from paralysis, though is slowly regaining his ability to walk by himself, and is said to be slowly regaining his ability to speak. Some photos of Randy hanging out with high profile friends have surfaced recently, but the specifics on his condition remain unclear.
Doctors insist Randy’s health issues had nothing to do with Randy’s previous alcohol issues, just as the City of Marshville insists the removal of Randy’s name is nothing personal.
Town Manager Fern Shubert says Randy’s name was removed while the signs were being updated because they were “too busy.” They’ve been replaced simply by “Welcome to Marshville North Carolina.” Previous versions of the Marshville signs also had homages to Randy Travis (see below).
“It’s nice, it’s dignified and it gets the job done,” Shubert says of the new sign. “There was no disrespect to Randy Travis. It looks more like your traditional welcome sign.”
But some Randy Travis fans inside and outside of Marshville are disappointed about removing the distinction, especially as Randy continues to struggle to regain his health. “In a time we should embrace Randy Travis and show support you choose to slap him in the face with something this stupid,” one online commenter said, while another observed, “When Mr. Travis pass[es] on…that city/town will be pumping it up! Randy Travis born/raised here….oh,….they will be singing a whole other tune…just watch….”
Others point out that Randy never did very much for Marshville, and that when he was younger, he was known in in the town for breaking into houses and cars.
Randy currently lives at his ranch near Tioga, TX.
Earlier Marshville sign touting Randy Travis.
September 8, 2014 @ 10:57 am
I just don’t want this post to be comment-less because I feel for the guy, with all the troubles he’s having, but I don’t much know what to say about the sign without having an inkling of why it was really done. Seems like bad timing though, would it have really hurt much to not do it now?
Prayers up for Mr Travis.
September 8, 2014 @ 8:05 pm
Ditto
September 8, 2014 @ 11:01 am
Like almost every decision, it should be up to the citizens of the town.
September 8, 2014 @ 11:54 am
I’m not sure what say so the citizens had in this case. It sounded like a decision by the City Manager. The reason town’s do this sort of thing is to entice people to stop and visit and spend money.
September 8, 2014 @ 12:00 pm
In my town, the manager is hired by the commissioners. The commissioners are elected by the citizens. We have a pretty good manager, but in other towns where the manager does something that is disliked, they can certainly be removed.
September 8, 2014 @ 1:09 pm
I’ve driven by those signs many times and will miss seeing that reminder.
September 9, 2014 @ 6:17 am
I got a different take on this. Randy Travis has moved on and so should everyone else. It’s up to Tioga, TX, to take up the label now if they so chose.
September 12, 2014 @ 11:11 am
@Country Boy – When they say ‘Home of Randy Travis’ it does not mean where he currently resides. It means where he was born, where he was from. Therefore Tioga, TX cannot take over that title.
September 10, 2014 @ 4:28 pm
Ungrateful bastards.
September 12, 2014 @ 7:43 am
He stole Peggy Hill’s song so he’s getting what he deserves;
September 20, 2014 @ 10:21 pm
Your comment was stupid and NOT FUNNY kevin w!!!!! Shame on you!!!!!
March 31, 2015 @ 1:42 pm
Hypocrites!
the article says:
“…Randy never did very much for Marshville, and that when he was younger, he was known in in the town for breaking into houses and cars.”
When Randy was successful, Marshville loved having his name on the sign. Most people consider that as giving back. They used his name to attract fans to their town to spend money and add to the town’s coffers.
But, when Randy fell on bad times, Marshville makes a new sign without his name. under the guise of, “…It looks more like your traditional welcome sign. So the obvious conclusion is: your not allowed to have problems and bad health, in Marshville?
SHAME ON YOU MARSHVILLE!!!!! Kicking a man when he’s down!
March 31, 2015 @ 1:54 pm
I was so angry when I wrote my previous comment that I that I didn’t say what I originally meant to say, which is:
Randy’s breaking into houses and cars was not an issue when he was successful.
But
Randy’s breaking into houses and cars WAS an issue when his mental, emotional and physical health is failing.
Hope Marshville’s city officials are “proud of themselves”. How much time and taxpayer money did it take to come to the “sign” decision?? Just askin’.
April 20, 2015 @ 9:12 am
It really is sad to kick a guy when he’s down…you should be ashamed of yourselves and should have spent the time and effort to pray for the guy like you’ve never prayed for anyone before instead of replacing your sign…I know I did when I heard about his meltdown, heart attack, etc…he needs “our” help and support–not a kick in the face. It would have been 100% better if you had just added a statement asking everyone to pray for Randy…I still love hearing him sing.
January 28, 2018 @ 9:58 pm
Fast forward January 2018. Randy has turned his life around. Turned his life to God. He can sing and sang Amazing Grace at the Country Music Awards in 2016, God Bless you Randy Travis.
February 7, 2018 @ 12:47 pm
I’m glad each one of us doesn’t have a sign and when we stray from gods path it goes down. For all have sinned. The sign was a recognition of his huge accomplishments. Maybe they should think of putting it back!