Sunny weather and Donna Fargo fans filled downtown Mount Airy yesterday as the city celebrated the dedication of the “Happiest Road in the Whole USA.”

The dedication of a 5.8-mile stretch of N.C. 103 as the Donna Fargo Highway took place at 11 a.m. in the city parking lot between Brannock and Hiatt and Old North State Winery.

The lot was also filled with Fargo fans from across the nation. After the event, Fargo said, “I was afraid three people would show up ... but it was a nice crowd.”

Arnold Lakey, a member of the North Carolina Board of Transportation, was the master of ceremonies for the event. The ceremony began with the presenting of the colors by North Surry High School JROTC. Dale Watson, Mount Airy chief of police, then led the Pledge of Allegiance along with Graham Atkinson, sheriff of Surry County.

The North Surry Greyhound Band and Mount Airy Granite Bears Marching Band were on hand to perform the national anthem, and David Beal, Mount Airy commissioner, led the invocation.

Mayor Jack Loftis then welcomed the crowd to Mount Airy.

Loftis said, “During a previous visit to Mount Airy, we presented a key to the city to our own Donna Fargo, and we’re so pleased she has found a number of times to actually use that key, and especially happy she used it for this today. Donna, we’ve not changed the locks, have no plans to do so any time soon, and we want you to use your key as often as your schedule will permit.”

Craig Hunter, chairman of the Surry County Board of Commissioners, next addressed Fargo and the crowd. He said, “We are humbly honored to acknowledge her today and would like to emphasize what a great day it is in Surry County.”

Richard Vaughn, chief executive officer for John S. Clark Company and cousin of Fargo, next gave brief remarks. He spoke of growing up with Fargo, who was then known as Yvonne Vaughn.

“As she pursued her career, she never forgot her heritage and her Mount Airy friends and family ... Her name on the highway will forever be a reminder that she is from Surry County,” Richard remarked.

Ann Vaughn, executive director of the Gilmer-Smith Foundation, spoke next. She is also a close friend of Fargo.

“She is easy on the eyes, you guys. Easy on the ears, my dears. And easy on the heart, right from the start. You meet Donna, you go away a better person,” said Ann.

Ann went on to add, “She paved the way for women in country music, and she did it with class, with style, and success.”

The keynote speaker for the event was Eugene Conti Jr., secretary of the NCDOT. He said, “It’s not often that a city has two roads dedicated. We came up this morning on the Andy Griffith Parkway ... And now we’re doing the Donna Fargo Highway. Mayor, we need a list of the upcoming people you want us to recognize so we can plan it.”

The crowd laughed when Conti turned to the mayor. But Conti went on to say, “This area has produced some incredible people.”

Conti next praised Fargo, “Donna had an outstanding musical career — a shining example of having a dream, setting a course, pursuing it, and achieving it.”

Conti called Fargo up at the end of his speech to unveil a sign reading Donna Fargo Highway. The award-winning country music star then came up to address the crowd.

“I would need a new language to tell you how much this means to me. I am humbled and honored,” Fargo remarked.

Fargo had the crowd smiling and laughing as she talked about life growing up in Mount Airy and told several funny stories and jokes.

She praised her hometown by saying, “Welcome to the world’s best kept secret, the best hometown anywhere — Mount Airy, North Carolina.”

Fargo said, “To me, my hometown represented the best values in America — our love of God, our dedication to our country and families and friends. Mount Airy is where we taught each other to practice the Golden Rule, appreciated the joy and the significance of freedom and the spirit of patriotism. These are the values that always find their way into my songs.”

She ended with a caution about the highway named in her honor, “It’s kind of curvy, kind of like life. It can be dangerous if you drive too fast on it, so be careful, take your time. Sometimes there’ll be detours, so slow down a little.”

Fargo’s speech was followed by the unveiling of a larger sign reading “Donna Fargo Highway.” This took place while the North Surry High School “Greyhound Sounds” and Mount Airy High School Girls Chorus sang “God Bless America.”

People then proceeded to the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History for the ribbon cutting for the new Donna Fargo exhibit. Fargo signed autographs there for the rest of the afternoon.

Ann Williams is the information specialist for the Gilmer-Smith Foundation and also manages Fargo’s Web site and newsletter. She was thrilled with the event.

“It was fabulous. I can’t even conceive something like that happening to me. It was overwhelming,” she said.

Today, Fargo is signing autographs at Windows on Main (Main-Oak Emporium) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and signing books at the Mount Airy Public Library from 3 to 5 p.m.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.