Bonham -- With hundreds of dollars in cash prizes at stake, as well as a chance to participate in a unique event named in honor of a local legend, songwriters are down to the final days to send entries to the 2012 Ruby Allmond Songwriting Contest.  All entries must be postmarked no later than July 1, 2012.

The annual Ruby Allmond Songwriting Contest features many of the top songwriters in the region and offers a night of free entertainment for the entire family. A panel of judges, including representatives of Texas A&M University-Commerce, Austin College and Bonham High School, will study this year's entries and then select 10 finalists to perform in front of a live audience August 4 at Bailey Inglish Auditorium in Bonham.

Lou Ann Petty of Cumby, Texas won the inaugural contest in 2010 and San Antonio songwriter Michael Waid walked away with first place in 2011. The top songwriter August 4 will receive $300 and a chance to record the winning song in a studio at Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Janet Leslie Reynolds performs at the 2011 Ruby Allmond Songwriting Contest.

Ruby Allmond was a Bailey, Texas native who built a regional reputation as a talented musician, singer and songwriter that culminated when legendary Texas songwriter Cindy Walker introduced Ruby to the Nashville music scene and the artists at RCA Records. As a result, one of country music's most influential singers, Dottie West, would go on to have a top-10 hit in 1968 with "Reno," one of many songs written by Ruby Allmond. Chet Atkins produced the hit song.

Contestants are required to fill out an entry form and then submit a CD with no more than two original songs, along with two copies of the lyrics. Entries must be postmarked no later than July 1, 2012.

For an entry form, rules additional information, please visit www.rubyallmond.com

This contest is presented by the Special Collections Dept. of the James E. Gee Library, Texas A&M University-Commerce.