Paris, TN – Paris, Tennessee is home of the “World’s Biggest Fish Fry” and the community now has a school of 15 Catfish statues to prove it! Thanks to grants received from the Henry County Tourism Authority and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Three Star Program as well as a group of sponsors throughout our community, the statues are placed in visible locations that will help promote Paris as the home of the “World’s Biggest Fish Fry”.
Henry County Medical Center is one of the sponsors and one of the 15 locations for the fish statues that made their debute in mid April. HCMC’s fish is located right at the front entrance so the community can enjoy and be able to access her for photos as many people are already locating each fish in the community for scavenger hunts and photos. HCMC’s fish has lovingly been named “Scrubs” by our very own Downtown Paris Association’s Executive Director Kathy Ray. Additionally, KY Lake Urologic Associates has a fish you can visit and get your photo with as well!
The Downtown Paris Association discussed catfish statues in 2008, according to Mike Key, who was the DPA President at the time. The organization looked at several ideas to promote “Home of the World’s Biggest Fish Fry” but there were no grants available and the statues were costly. In February of 2016, after a meeting between DPA Executive Director Kathy Ray and Henry County Mayor Brent Greer with the assistance of David Hamilton, the catfish ideas became production possibilities. In September of 2016, the artist was contracted to make the catfish mold and the search was on for a company to produce our Catfish statues. In August of 2018, the 40 inch tall statues were ordered and the fish project was becoming reality.
Kathy Ray said, “Our community sponsors made the project possible. Thank you to the Henry County Tourism Authority, Paris Henry County Industrial Committee, City of Paris, Henry County Medical Center, Board of Public Utilities, Commercial Bank & Trust Company, Tennessee Valley Community Church, FirstBank, Richardson’s Body Shop, Foundation Bank, The Peddler, Security Bank & Trust Company, Kentucky Lake Urologic Associates, and Carroll Bank & Trust. Please thank these organizations for sponsoring the statues. With the help of local artist Dan Knowles, a variety of artists were secured for this project. I hope our community will enjoy the artwork put into the catfish. Thank you to artists Dan Knowles, John Monroe, Cat McGavin, Joanna Bailey, Becky Hedges, Joel Crosno, Kaylan Buteyn, Maggie Reynolds, Luke Richardson and Jane Baars.”
Be sure to stop by and visit Scrubs and take time to visit all the fish during the upcoming World’s Biggest Fish Fry event. For more information on the HCMC fish, call 731-644-3463.
About Henry County Medical Center
Located in Paris, TN, Henry County Medical Center is a progressive, integrated healthcare organization committed to serving the healthcare needs of Henry County and the adjoining region. Including a 142-bed hospital and other facilities, the medical center provides a variety of outpatient services, as well as inpatient care. Additionally, HCMC owns and operates 8 provider clinics in various specialties. Henry County Medical Center is a county-owned and operated nonprofit institution. For more information: www.hcmc-tn.org.