Published 9/29/07 in The Times-Herald

BY MEGAN ALMON
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Sadly, we are much too often faced with the fact that life can change in a single moment.

On Nov. 11, 2006, 19-year-old Matthew Mullis, a student at Newnan High School, was driving home in the middle of the night when he fell asleep at the wheel. His vehicle swerved off the road and hit a tree, instantly taking his life.

"This has rocked our family to the core," said Mullis' sister, Jennifer Mattingly. The family has channeled their grief, however, to prevent others from experiencing "that knock on the door" that Mattingly recalls from the night of Mullis' death.

Mattingly, who earlier this year organized the first of what she said will be an annual event to promote teen driver awareness — the Matthew Mullis Memorial Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show — has organized a second inaugural event to take place this weekend.

The Matthew Mullis Memorial Mud Bog will be held today and Sunday at Rocky Creek ATV at Culloden, Ga.

The event includes Saturday and Sunday mud bogging, a "kiddie bog" and a night ride to take place Saturday night.

Participants will have access to concessions and vendors, live music and entertainment and miles of open trails for two days. Camping is available for those who wish to camp for the night.

Adam Grant and the Robert E. Band, playing country and Southern rock music, are scheduled to perform Saturday at 7 p.m.

Proceeds will go to Coweta's P.R.I.D.E. — Parents Reducing the Incidence of Driver Error and to the Matthew Mullis Scholarship Fund. The fund is set up in his name to provide scholarships to Newnan High School students.

Mattingly said she hopes enough is raised to purchase a driving simulator for the Coweta Sheriff's Office to use in classroom settings to teach teens defensive driving skills.

For more information, contact Jennifer Mattingly at 770-252-4294, or find directions to Rocky Creek ATV at www.rockycreekatv.com .

"I did this because I can do something for Matthew's memory each year in hopes that through him another family won't have to go through this," Mattingly said.

The Matthew Mullis Memorial Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show was "dampered" by heavy rain in July.

The mud bog "can't be rained out," Mattingly said.

Both memorial events will be held annually.

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