Tweetsie Discussions

One of the greatest thrills I've ever had was working with Fred Kirby while I was a marshal at Tweetsie. I'd grown up watching Fred on WBTV...and to meet him, then actually get to work with him, was one of the greatest things I could ever imagine. He was bigger than life! And when he was at Tweetsie, it was like being around a rock star! People, especially children, loved Fred. He was so warm and genuine and he truly loved children. And no one cared about children with disabilities more than Fred!

He cared about them in a way that showed so much love. What a treasure he was. Later, when I came to work at WBTV, I was thrilled when I once again go to work with Fred. We often ate lunch together in our cafeteria...and the stories he could tell! He was a wonderful man and a true gentleman.

He had such a wonderful demeanor. He had an incredible sense of humor and his laughter was contagious! We think of him often and the joy he brought to so many. Thanks so much to Tweetsie for so many marvelous memories of a man who was as big a star as there is!

John Carter, Anchor, WBTV News

To say Fred Kirby had a lot of friends would be a serious understatement. Like Will Rogers, Fred never met a man (or child) he didn’t like. You could not go anywhere with the man and not feel like you were with royalty. Walk into a restaurant with Fred and you’d be lucky to eat. Before I could be hired to be the Marshal at Tweetsie, the Robbins brothers insisted that I spend a couple of days with Fred and his wife Mary at their home in Indian Trail. They wanted to make sure that Fred was okay with who would be wearing the badge and representing the “good guy”. Those couple days of looking through old photos, listening to records and stories were fantastic. I not only had a chance to see what an amazing spirit Fred had but also see the real man. He was just what you saw on television. He loved all children, horses, music and life. A friend to everyone, I am especially proud to say he was mine. Happy Birthday Fred! Up on the Big Rock Candy Mountain, I’m sure the horses are fast, the children are all playing sweetly and the chorus is on key.

Tracy Brown
Executive Director Blowing Rock TDA
Tweetsie Marshal and friend of Fred Kirby