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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2002
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Billy Cary - Banker, Community Leader - Dies |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
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Banker and community leader Billy M. Cary, age 61, of
Huntingdon died Sunday, September 1 at his home. Services
will be held at First Baptist Church, Huntingdon on
Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow in Carroll
Memorial Gardens. Visitation began on Tuesday, September 3
at 2:00 p.m. at the church and will continue on Wednesday
at 8:00 a.m. until time of services. Dilday Funeral Home
of Huntingdon is in charge of services.
Mr. Cary served as the president and chief executive
officer of Carroll Bank and Trust from 1972 to July 2002.
He served as the chairman of the board of directors of the
bank from 1972 to present. He and long-time business
partner Billy Tines purchased the Bank of McLemoresville,
expanded it to Huntingdon and McKenzie, and later changed
the name to Carroll Bank and Trust.
Cary was honored in many ways in life. In 1987, he
received the Carroll County Businessman of the Year award
and the Carroll Countian of the Year award in 1994. The
Town of Huntingdon honored him as the Outstanding Citizen
in 2001. He served his church, First Baptist of Huntingdon
as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He was a director
for Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis, chairman of the
board of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Huntingdon, and a
former trustee of Bethel College.
"I could say a lot about Billy," said business partner
Billy Tines, who worked with Cary for 40 years. The best
word to describe Mr. Cary is "solid" said Tines. He said
Cary's strong points were vision, patience, good
leadership skills, trust, and confidence. "People say
partnerships don't work. Our partnership worked great,"
said Tines. "We complemented each other," said Tines, who
added that Cary was "the obvious leader."
Tines was just 29 years old and Cary was 31 when the two
became partners at the Bank of McLemoresville in
McLemoresville later expanding to Huntingdon and McKenzie
and changing the name to Carroll Bank and Trust. Tines
recalled that a very young Cary said he wanted to be the
president of a bank and to help people. "He loved business
and talking about business," said Tines of Cary. Since his
death, Tines said one man described Cary as one of the top
five best-liked people in Carroll County.
Tines serves as the president of Carroll Bank and Trust
and sees a strong future for the locally owned, community
bank. Tines said one of his and Cary's goals was to get
Cary's son, Mike more involved and better prepared to take
a leadership role in the bank and eventually assume the
presidency. "I expect Mike to become more involved," said
Tines.
Carroll Bank and Trust offices in McLemoresville, McKenzie
and Huntingdon will be closed on Wednesday - a half-day or
full day - in honor and memory of Mr. Cary. Tines is not
certain if banking regulators will allow the bank to close
all day.
"I think he was a great person, great banker, and great
friend," said Joyce Crocker who worked with Billy Cary for
30 years - even since Cary and Billy Tines purchased the
former Bank of McLemoresville. When asked what she had to
say in remembrance of her former banking associate, Mrs.
Crocker said, "I can say a lot. But my son summed it up."
She noted that her son said young children often look up
and admire many adults in their lives. Later in life, some
of the adults show some disappointing characteristics. But
not Mr. Cary. "My son was never disappointed in Mr. Cary,"
said Mrs. Crocker.
Cary succumbed to cancer at his home on Sunday, September
1. Mrs. Crocker said she and the bank associates knew of
the cancer for eight months. She said eight months was
"not enough time" to prepare for his death. Many of the
bank associates gathered at the bank on Labor Day. "Thirty
to 35 employees met on Labor Day to be there for each
other," said Mrs. Crocker. She described the news of
Cary's death as "hard to take."
"Huntingdon and Carroll County could not have had a better
friend," said Huntingdon Mayor Dale Kelley. "He helped so
many people through the years...I cannot say enough good
things about him. He was a great person. He could think
through the issues and keep me on the straight and narrow.
He had a great sense of direction. That kind of
personality will sorely be missed." Kelley recalled that
Cary often gave of his time, energy and money to benefit
the county.
McKenzie businessman Bob Rutledge said Cary "was a
community leader who cared about the county a great deal.
He was one of the founding leaders in Leadership Carroll
County and served in a variety of roles in that
organization for years." Rutledge said Cary was one of the
persons who inspired him to pursue his dream of owning his
own specialty advertising business. "Cary was a solid
pillar of the community," concluded Rutledge.
"He was my friend, co-worker, and boss for over 29 years,
said John Baumgardner of McKenzie. Cary always wanted the
best for the county and city. Cary's death is a "great
loss for the banking community, county, and me
personally," said Baumgardner. "His impact will be felt
for years to come."
County Executive Kenny McBride said, "Billy was very
supportive of our projects and always willing to lend his
advise and input." The Executive said Cary "supported
anything he thought would move the county forward."
"Carroll County has lost one of its greatest salespeople
and ambassadors," said Brad Hurley, President of the
Carroll County Chamber of Commerce. "It did not take a
person very long to realize Billy Cary's love of Carroll
County and his love of his home...Billy Cary was truly one
of those special people that worked behind the scenes to
make life better for all Carroll Countians." Hurley said
Cary was one he could rely on for wisdom and
insightfulness. "He was a strong influence in his quiet,
humble way," concluded Hurley.
Cary was known for his intuitive nature and vision for the
future. He was a dreamer and had a great sense of knowing
where the dream and reality would meet.
"His attitude was 'everything is going to be O.K.,'"
recalled Mrs. Crocker. |
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Seventeen-Year-Olds Die in One-Vehicle Crash |
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A one-vehicle crash claimed the lives of two
seventeen-year-olds on Thursday, August 29. Dead at the
scene was the driver, Kimberly Kapsalis of Hollow Rock,
while her passenger, Eric Wilson of Paris died at
approximately 3:00 a.m. the following morning at
Vanderbilt.Tennessee Highway Patrol Officer Adam Killion investigated
the 4:17 p.m. accident, which occurred on Palestine Road
in Henry County. Ms. Kapasalis was driving south on
Palestine Road when her 1992 Toyota Corolla veered off the
right edge of the road. She reportedly then overcorrected
and went across both lanes before striking a tree on the
opposite side of the road. Both victims were transported
to Henry County Medical Center where Mr. Wilson was
airlifted to Vanderbilt for treatment of his fatal
injuries. A&B Auto reportedly towed the vehicle from the
scene. |
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Town of Huntingdon Moves Forward With Grant Projects |
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By Deborah Turner
dturner@mckenziebanner.com |
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The Huntingdon Town Council on Tuesday, August 27 granted
approval for the Town to enter an agreement with the State
Department of Transportation for the implementation of the
$720,000 Streetscape Grant. The monies are slated to be
used for the renovation and enhancement of the downtown
area. The Town plans to use in-kind labor, equipment,
supplies and materials to fund the 20% matching portion of
the grant project which is expected to stretch over a
two-year period.
The Council also acted to approve the solicitation of
proposals for administrative services and architect
services for the 1999 Tennessee Enhancement Program
(TEA-21) project that was recently awarded.2001-02 Budget Amendments
Approved amendments to the 2001-02 General Fund, Drug
Fund, Solid Waste Collection Fund, Utility Fund and Public
Improvement Fund reflected the impact of the February
opening of the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Huntingdon, with
the General Fund reflecting $33,000 in revenues over
expenses as opposed to the original estimate of $1600 in
excess revenues.
The Drug Fund reflected $18,500 in expenses over revenues
from the use of reserve funds used to purchase a vehicle
for the Police Department.
The Utility Fund's ending balance reflected expenses over
revenues of $4,400, due in part to the $75,000 capital
project expense for the first year of painting/maintenance
contract for the Highway 22 water storage tank. Also
impacting the balance was the fact that the $575,000
Community Development Block Grant project was not started
until late in the fiscal year, with only $46,850 completed
in FY2002-2003. The $528,150 balance was carried forward
to the current budget.
Huntingdon Crime Figures Show Exemplary Progress in
Combating Crime
Mayor Dale Kelley reported the Crime in Tennessee 2001
report indicates the Huntingdon Police Department had a
total of 274 offenses in 2001. The Huntingdon Police
Department cleared 143 - or 52.2% of those cases - as
compared to an average of 25.6% cleared statewide. The
cases reported included: 74 crimes against persons, 156
crimes against property and 44 crimes against society. To
see how other local municipalities ranked, see a separate
article in this edition of The McKenzie Banner.
Mayor Kelley also expressed appreciation of Collins
Concrete Specialist for the donation of labor for crack
repair and cutting of control joints on the downtown
sidewalk project.
He advised ticket sales for the September 19 Dixie Carter
Cabaret performance are "going very well" and urged
everyone to attend. |
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or
Fax (731) 352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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