Roy Bradbury will likely be honored Wednesday night before the third annual micro sprint car race that had already been named after the longtime supporter of the Kosciusko County Community Fair.
The 81-year-old Bradbury passed away Monday as the first full day of activities began for the 101st annual Kosciusko County Community Fair in Warsaw where he volunteered for decades.
He died from a stroke following an operation for a blocked bowel, according to a family member.
Bradbury was such a mainstay around the fairgrounds – and at the race track in particular – that they named the annual Roy Bradbury Classic sprint race after him three years ago.
While such honors are often bestowed after the passing of somebody, Tony Zimmerman, fair board secretary, said they ultimately chose to honor him because of his legacy and the desire to give the race a name.
On Wednesday, as organizers prepare for the sprint races, they will likely honor him during pre-race activities, he said.
Zimmerman said Bradbury took care of maintenance on the fairgrounds for decades.
Among his many varied duties, Bradbury often worked as a flag man during races at the fairgrounds.
Zimmerman said he worked closely with Bradbury for about 15 to 20 years.
According to his obituary, which appears on page 3A today, he served on the fair board for 19 years.
“He’s been a permanent fixture year-round here. He helped set up everything,” Zimmerman said.
He said he thinks they may choose to change the name of future races to better reflect Bradbury’s passing.
Fair board members met Monday and decided to lower a flag on the fairgrounds to honor Bradbury, he said.
Trish Brown, a niece of Bradbury’s, said she appreciated the fact that he did so much without talking about it.
“He was someone who just loved his community and he had a willingness to serve his community in his own quiet, humble way,” Brown said. “I learned a great deal about civic pride by watching him through the years.”
The fair board communicated its sympathies in a post on its Facebook page.
“Roy was a member of the fair board and a staple to our county fair for the last 50 years. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bradbury family during this time of loss,” the statement said.
