When Georgia State Trooper Melvin Simmons approached Richard Varnadoe of Lenox Welding with the idea that he make a grill for the Tifton State Patrol Post to use at community events, he had no idea Varnadoe had been looking for something to do to show his appreciation for the people who protect the public.

“Ever since 9/11, I have wanted to do something for the men and women in uniform and I had been praying about it,” Varnadoe said. “This was the opportunity.”

“When I walked in and saw this thing, I just about fell out,” Simmons said.

The finished work is eight feet long and was built from a 250-gallon tank. The fire box was built from a 100-gallon tank. Varnadoe estimates the value of the grill at $2,500, but said he was glad to donate it to Tifton’s GSP Post 13, which serves Berrien, Cook and Tift counties.

“It is an opportunity for me to give back for the freedom that we have in this great land,” Varnadoe said.

David Money of Southern Body Works in Nashville decorated the grill with the GSP logo and lettered the back of the grill with a message that it was in memory of Russell Harrelson, the deceased father of Rusty Harrelson, who served as the post’s commander before Scott Woodell took over.

Harrelson, who now serves out of Perry as Assistant Troop Commander, and his mother, Jan Harrelson, were on hand at the presentation Friday.

“My father would have been honored,” Rusty Harrelson said. “It emphasizes how we are as close as a family.”

Jan Harrelson said her husband was proud their son was “part of such a good organization.”

Woodell said that troopers stationed at the Tifton post recently met and decided that they would donate their time and take the grill to local civic, church and school events and cook for the groups.

“If a group wants to organize the event, we’ll pull the grill up and do the cooking,” Woodell said. “Our mission with the state patrol is first, but if anyone wants to use the grill, they need to call me.

“There’s an overwhelming outpouring of support from the community for what we do, and we have always looked for a tool to use in the community.”

Woodell said he would consider offering the grill and cooks to any organization that was hosting an event that did not include alcohol-related sponsorships or alcohol sales or use during the event. He can be reached at 386-3333.



To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.