Tom MacCallum

Richmond County Daily Journal

Glenn Sumpter will assume a new identity Monday night at a meeting of the Richmond County Historical Society.

Known for his acting with Richmond Community Theater, Sumpter will portray L. E. Lisk Jr., a Richmond County native who made it big in the fishing lure business.

Lisk led an adventurous life before making fishing lures, and Sumpter will impersonate him telling some of his stories from his autobiography, “I Tell It Like It Used to Be.”

The program begins at 7 p.m., Rockingham City Hall, Rockingham Road.

Lisk left the county as a teenager to seek his fortune in Greensboro.

He went through a series of adventures and misadventures including a few trips to prison.

Lisk says he was an airplane pilot, bootlegger and inventor before finding his success in the fishing lure business.

Sumpter will place some emphasis on Lisk’s years as a bootlegger.

Sumpter is a retired editor of the Richmond County Daily Journal.

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During the executive board meeting for the historical society, it was mentioned that refurbishing of the drawing room at the Leak-Wall House is under way.

Two more Victorian era chairs are being upholstered to be added to the decor.

The house and garden are rented to the public for weddings and other special events. For information, contact Neal Cadieu at 895-1660.

Work is continuing on Volume II of Richmond County History from 1900 to the present. The final chapter on education in the county is being set in type.

The society is applying for a grant to purchase an American LeFrance fire truck once used by the Rockingham Fire Department.

The society hopes to use the truck on special occasions.

The 1971 truck has 23,440 actual miles on it.

Sue Stevenson will be presenting this year’s history awards from the society to students at the junior high schools and Richmond Community College for outstanding work in local and state history.

The next meeting on Aug. 17 will be on Civil War events in Richmond County.

n Contact reporter Tom MacCallum at 997-3111, ext. 15; e-mail tmaccallum@yourdailyjournal.com.