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Editorials - 09/06/01

Ramsey represented his mountain people
Although he was a soft-spoken man, his voiced carried much weight - all the way from Ra-leigh to Western North Carolina. He was the one man who proved to state legislators that the state line didn't end at Statesville. He went on to demonstrate that state dollars could stretch from Raleigh to the mountains.

And we here in the mountains benefitted - and benefitted greatly.

Now that powerful voice is silent. Liston Bryan Ramsey died Sunday at age 82.

Serving as speaker of the House of Representatives from 1981-1989, Ramsey was the only person elected to that influential post four times. Plus, he was the longest serving member of the N.C. House. The Marshall native is one of the greatest men in the history of Western North Carolina and his legacy can be felt in every WNC county.

One of his best friends was the late Dr. H.F. "Cotton" Robinson, former chancellor at Western Carolina University. Ramsey's support for Robinson and WCU was unparalleled. They didn't name the WCU building the Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center just because the name sounds good; they named it after Ramsey to mark his gigantic contribution to our region. Like the proud son who went off to work in the big city, yet faithfully sent money home to his family, Ramsey sent us the tax dollars we had never seen before.

If it had not been for Ramsey, the North Carolina Mountain State Fair would not be taking place in Fletcher. It was Ramsey, who at the late "Mac" McGough's prodding, found the funds for the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center. And when you visit the N.C. Arboretum, remember all that beautiful flora would be nothing but Wayne McDevitt's pipe dream if it weren't for Ramsey's persuasive funding techniques.

Ramsey supported us with funding, and he supported our rural initiatives, giving us a powerful voice in the General Assembly. His lobbying, especially for WNC environmental concerns, resounded from the House floor across the state.

Ramsey proved to each of us in the "hollers" and coves that a mountain man from a rockscrabble farm could become a successful and powerful politician. And he endeared himself to each of us in Western North Carolina because he never forgot where he came from. He served as a reminder to fellow lawmakers that their number one job was to represent the people.

Ramsey was respected by everyone, and his passing marks the end of an era. We'll miss him.

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