2018 Portsmouth Murals Banquet

On August 16, 2017 Reds Hall of Famer and Scioto Counties favorite Gene Bennett passed away.

Mr Bennett was a vital person in the start of the the Murals Banquet.

Among other events was the Gene Bennett Classic held in June each year and his favorite charity the Wheelersburg Little League.    

The 2018 Portsmouth Murals Banquet was held Jan. 10 of this year at the SOMC Life Center in Portsmouth.    

The Banquet was geared around the life of Cincinnati Reds scout Gene Bennett who worked in the Reds organization for over 50 years.   

The banquet was fortunate enough to get MLB umpire Greg Gibson to feel in for Tom Browning, who had to cancel at the last minute.    

The banquet originally should have been the Portsmouth Murals Gene Bennett Memorial Banquet.

Mr Bennett was also responsible for the bringing in quality speakers every, but was not promoted that way to the displeasure of many of the professional participants.

It turned into a memorial when the various speakers spoke, especially with Gibson, Gullett, Nick Krall of the Reds and myself.

Cathy Jennings, Mr Bennett’s daughter, gave a moving and emotional tribute to her Dad, with her brother Dave alongside her.   

Now that Gene is gone, I don’t know where the banquet will go from here, only time will tell.