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Change marks July’s first week
The arrival of a new month coincides with significant changes in the fabric of our community. This week, we see four people who have been in their positions long enough to be considered institutions exit the local stage.
How will we miss the Rev. Charles Dean of East Sylva Baptist, tire store owner and former county Commissioner George Hooper, three-time state championship volleyball coach Cindi Simmons and Sylva town clerk Tommy Thompson?
Let us count the ways.
Reverend Dean has been East Sylva’s pastor for 38 years. He has led the church through a successful building program and an era of tremendous growth. He’s a true community leader and a friend to all.
From our newsroom perspective, Dean has been an invaluable resource when Baptists were making headlines. He was always willing to talk to us and took time to explain the theology behind the decisions.
Hooper, who served as a county commissioner from 1990-98, has been fixing and mounting tires at Sylva Tire Co. for almost 30 years. He enjoys a reputation for honesty and good service that is matched only by his affability.
Around the newsroom, he will be remembered for accessibility while he was in office. He never ducked the questions we asked, and we always knew where to find him.
Coach Simmons, a basketball star for Western Carolina University before she began her coaching career, has brought positive statewide recognition to Sylva. The state championship “three-peat” accomplished by her 1991-93 volleyball teams puts her in the company of a select few.
Simmons will step down as Smoky Mountain’s volleyball coach with 11 conference championships and a 340-134 record over her 21 seasons, first at Sylva-Webster, and then at SMHS.
She will be missed for her positive influence on the scores of young women on her teams. Her concern for the welfare of her players is legendary, and she has helped many girls grow into successful women.
And, last but not least, we come to Thompson, a fixture at Sylva’s City Hall for the past 15 years. Through a variety of changes, Thompson’s calmness and competence have been something everyone in town could count on.
In the days before the creation of Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority, Thompson oversaw the town’s water and sewer systems. Throughout his tenure at town hall, Thompson has always been accessible to the town’s citizens, and he’s been invariably helpful to those of us charged with reporting Sylva’s news.
While we’re saddened by their departure, we wish them all the best. We hope Dean, Hooper and Thompson find retirement to be enjoyable, and we hope Simmons’ decision to concentrate on basketball brings another championship.
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