Mr. Cash began with his most popular song, “I Walk the Line,” and moved on to perform most of his standard late-1960’s live concert repertoire – including “Orange Blossom Special,” “What is Truth,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “Jackson” with wife June Carter, and “Folsom Prison Blues.”

No audio recording of the LaFayette show is known to exist, but it closely mirrored Cash’s infamous Folsom Prison concerts held almost three years earlier. A live album recorded from those shows, “At Folsom Prison,” is highly recommended for anyone with a slight interest in pre-1990’s Cash music or the LaFayette concert. (The remains of Patton Stadium are a good place to listen to it, at least until bulldozing begins.)

A score of politicians from across Georgia came to the show, including governor Lester Maddox. The contents of Maddox’s speech aren’t available, but he (like almost everyone else in leadership at the time) claimed to be a close personal friend of all the performers. Maddox, Georgia Governor from 1967 until 1971, is best known for his segregationist views and for threatening to beat negroes with axe handles if they tried to eat in his Atlanta restaurant.

Also at the concert was 46-year-old Georgia State Senator Jimmy Carter, who was busy campaigning to take over Maddox’s job. He won the governor’s race that November, served as Georgia’s chief executive from 1971 to 1975, then became 39th President of the United States in 1977. His presidency was considered (at best) unproductive and he’s best known now for diplomatic service and volunteer work done after retirement.

Despite hailing from the same state and same political party, Maddox and Carter were politically opposite in almost every way. Maddox clung to segregation and ways of the past, appealing mostly to older voters; Carter publicly supported the Civil Rights Movement and came across as a progressive who appealed to the young. Both men were physically present in LaFayette at the same time on August 13, 1970, and the ideals of both were well represented among the crowd gathered for the Cash concert. Cash himself stood in a rare space of appealing to both sides; a man with a criminal reputation who had turned his life over to God, appreciated by older voters for his values and liked by younger voters for his honesty and understanding.

Local politicians also made their presences known. Sheriff Ralph Jones took the stage after Cash finished performing to present a plaque and Sheriff’s badge, making the singer an honorary Walker County Sheriff’s Deputy. Mayor Derrick then presented Cash with the Activity Complex’s ceremonial cornerstone.

Outside of one incident with an Atlanta “nightclub dancer” trying to take the stage, the crowd was well-behaved and LaFayette’s Cash concert ran smoothly. The musicians seemed to enjoy themselves, and all who were fortunate enough to be in Patton Stadium on that muggy night in 1970 had a wonderful time during the show.

Most at the LaFayette Cash Show probably realized that it was a once-in-a-lifetime event, but none could foresee it as the city’s peak before beginning a slow, painful decline. No community stays the same forever, but many changes in LaFayette over the last forty years haven’t been for the better. Today the city has lost its economic strength, good leaders, political importance, and a social fabric – leaving behind a town that few from 1970 would recognize.

All is not lost – the decline can be reversed. LaFayette can never be exactly the same as it was 41 years ago, but it can be a better place than it is today. Cash often sang and spoke about having concern for fellow man, about loving neighbors and looking out for the “poor and beaten-down.” Taking that message to heart would be a great step towards renewing the city. A lack of leadership (both elected or otherwise) willing to put the interests of others ahead of their own is one of the main reasons for LaFayette’s current condition.

A better LaFayette can be built here – but we must have love and vision to make that happen. We must step up to do the hard work, taking responsibility to create a future as strong as the past. That’s truly the best way to honor Cash and the late leaders who managed, at least on one night 41 years ago, to make LaFayette the center of positive attention and excitement.

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