The roast was a fundraiser for New Frontier, with proceeds going to such events as their annual "Feed the Community" dinner and food giveaways that benefit the community.
Local officials Steve Stewart, David Archer and Steve Bradley were among the roasters, as were Parnick Jennings, Ralph Love, Arthur Carter and Joe Tilley. Mayor Matt Santini was unable to attend the event, but he was still present in a recording that set the tone for the rest of the evening.
"The truth of the matter is, I'd rather be organizing my sock drawer than have to sit through yet another event where we all have to pretend that we like Commissioner Clarence Brown. He's convinced that people honor him with that money pit that you all are sitting in right now," Santini said.
Santini continued, offering praise for Brown's long career and thanking him for taking part in the event. "You're such a good sport for taking all the evil things that are being said about you tonight," he said, "because you know that this is for a great cause."
At the start of the roast, Brown was provided a 5-gallon bucket with a red light attached to the lid and the instructions that he was to flash the light whenever one of the speakers told a lie. For each lie told, the speakers were to put a dollar into the bucket as an additional source of cash for New Frontier. While Brown regularly used the light through the roast, only Parnick Jennings actually deposited any cash-- a $20 bill.
David Archer, Cartersville City Attorney, told a story about Brown sneaking a rooster into a movie theater by hiding it in his pants, which received a red flash, and gave Brown a present. It was a brass spittoon with the words, "In appreciation for too many years served as Bartow County Commissioner, Clarence Brown" written on a piece of duct tape.
"That was professionally engraved," said Archer.
Other gifts included a set of autographed James Patterson novels from New Frontier and a Spongebob Squarepants tie given by Joe Tilley.
At the end, Brown declined to roast the other men on the dais. "I'm not going to roast them tonight, but what I am going to do is write their wives a letter. Because what I've got to say, I can't really say it in public," he said.
Brown later said he was happy he accepted the invitation. "Oh, it was a lot of fun. I had a ball. I don't know when I have ever laughed so much," he said. "I just had tears in my eyes I laughed so much."
He believed that it was all for a good cause, describing Frontier's Thanksgiving meals and scholarships. "I really believe in what the Frontier Club does. That is a good group of guys that really help people in the community."