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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2004
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Dr. O.C. Wells, Long-time McKenzie Optometrist, Dies |
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By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
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Dr. Orvis Clulon (O.C.) Wells Jr., died Thursday,
February 5 at McKenzie Regional Hospital following a
short illness. He was 88.
Dr. Wells independently owned and operated his own
optometry practice, Wells Eye Clinic in McKenzie from
early 1939 until 1968, except for a four-year stint in
the Navy. In 1968, he and Dr. A.L. Spivey formed a
business partnership that continued until December,
2002. Fresh out of optometry school, Dr. Spivey had
joined Dr. Wells practice in October, 1967.
"He was a fine Christian gentleman," said Dr. Spivey, "I
learned a lot not only about the practice of optometry
from him, but also about caring for people. He had a
real compassion for people."
Dr. Wells cut back to two days a week at the office in
1994 and retired in December, 2002. Dr. Wells sold his
interest in the business to Dr. Scott Spivey, who was
joining his father in the family business.
"He was a leader in his field," said Dr. Spivey,
referring to the fact that Dr. Wells was past President
of the Northwest Tennessee Optometry Association,
Tennessee Academy of Optometry, and Tennessee Optometry
Association.
He served on the Board of Trustees for Bethel College
and Board of Trustees of Union University. He was a
former board member for the McKenzie Special School
District.
"Dr. Wells has been a very local supporter of Bethel
College," said Virginia Claire Edwards. "He and his wife
Charlotte established the 'O.C. and Charlotte Wells
Scholarship Fund" here. He has always supported
education and young people."
Reared in Murray, Kentucky, O.C., Dr. Wells was the
eldest son of Dr. and Mrs. O.C. Wells. He was educated
in the Murray city school system, graduating in 1932. He
then entered Murray State University, where he studied
pre-med for three years. Deciding at that time to follow
in his father's footsteps as an optometrist, he entered
Northern Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago. In
1938, he was awarded Bachelor of Science and Doctor of
Optometry degrees, cum laude, from that institution.
Soon after graduating, Dr. Wells began an internship in
the practice of optometry at Kingsport, TN. In early
1939, he moved to McKenzie, taking over the practice of
the late Dr. C.O. Galloway.
In May, 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a
Pharmacist's Mate, serving his first few months duty at
Great Lakes Training Station and U.S. Navy Midshipmen's
School, Northwestern University. It was while at
Northwestern that he was commissioned Ensign, United
State Naval Reserve.
After receiving his commission he was sent to Harvard
University for six months indoctrination training. Upon
completing this instruction he was assigned orders to
the staff of Fleet Air Wing Eleven, with headquarters at
San Juan, Puerto Rico. His duties at that post were
assistant to the Flight Surgeon, in charge of eye
examinations and aircraft recognition training for the
fliers. This tour of duty was for 22 months.
In February, 1946, O.C. was discharged from the Navy
with the rank of Lieutenant. A few weeks before his
discharge, he was married to Miss Charlotte Wright of
Frankfort, Indiana, who also was serving as a WAVE in
the Navy.
Following his military service, Dr. and Mrs. Wells
returned to McKenzie where he resumed his practice of
optometry.
He was an active member of First Baptist Church in
McKenzie, where he was a member of the choir and had
served on the finance committee. He also served as
chairman of the building program for the Christian Life
Center there.
Locally, he was a member of the McKenzie Rotary Club and
was a Paul Harris award recipient. He had been a member
of the American Legion, VFW, and had served as secretary
of the McKenzie Chamber of Commerce. He was also an avid
golfer. |
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West Carroll Board Denies Purchase by Farmers &
Merchants Bank |
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By Pat Cole
pcole@mckenziebanner.com |
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A bid to purchase the old gymnasium property in
Trezevant by George Atwood of the Farmers & Merchants
Bank was denied by West Carroll board members during
their regular meeting. Board member Jim Pirtle noted
while the offer was generous ($75,000 for the gym,
central office, shop and 24 acres of land)for the
property, it was used for so many community and school
functions he did not believe it prudent to allow its
sale. Board members Mike Foster and Lester Scott also
voiced their opposition, noting the calls they had
received for West Carroll and Trezevant individuals who
wished it to stay part of the West Carroll school
system. Mr. Scott noted he had received more calls from
Trezevant persons the past week than in the past 25
years.
Since the completion of the junior/senior high school in
Atwood, the gymnasium has been used mainly for the
fifth-sixth grade basketball teams to practice and play
their season, as well as the voting precinct for the
citizens of Trezevant and for fund-raising opportunities
for anyone in the area, including some school functions.
Prior to the completion of the new school, the gym was
used for the junior high basketball program as well.
Board Chairman Jimmy Halford told Mr. Atwood that the
people own the gym and from the number of calls received
by all board members, they obviously do not wish it to
be sold. However, he again commended Atwood's desire to
build his general operations building in Trezevant and
upgrade the downtown area. During the January meeting,
Mr. Atwood secured a rental on the front of that
property for a temporary structure to conduct the bank's
business while the old bank was demolished and a new
structure completed. The bank had previously announced
plans to raze the present banking complex and build a
new one in that location.
Mr. Atwood asked board members if they would be willing
to sell the smaller, adjoining area which had previously
been graveled and used by school buses, which amounts to
a quarter of an acre. Board members were not opposed to
selling that area. Atwood added however, the purchase
would definitely be contingent on other things, which he
did not name. He also noted that the gym property would
be ideal for the new bank complex he had planned and
there was really no other single property which would
suffice. Mr. Atwood concluded his comments by saying,
"So the school property is not for sale at any price?"
Mr. Halford responded by saying, "Not for the price
quoted, but to say not any price, I don't know." The
main problem with the sale of the old gymnasium would be
in replacing the structure with something similar for
community events, the fifth and sixth graders basketball
games, and a precinct for voting purposes as well as a
central office.
Neither comment received further remarks from board
members and the discussion concluded with Mr. Halford
again thanking Mr. Atwood for his community concerns.
Judy Cole, Joyce Arnold and Mack Jones were all
recognized by Director of Schools Eric Williams as
recipients of TSBA awards. Ms. Cole and Ms. Arnold
received T-shirts while Mr. Jones received a
long-sleeved shirt.
Three trips were added to the list of trips for the
school year. The senior English class will take a trip
to Nashville and the eighth grade history classes will
go to the Belle Meade Plantation in Nashville. An
overnight trip to the FCCLA Convention in Nashville was
approved on first reading. All trips must receive board
approval with overnight trips requiring two readings.
Mr. Williams informed board members it was time for the
three-year asbestos inspection which will require $775
from the local board. All school systems in the county
contract this service as a group in order to receive a
lower bid.
Mr. Williams told board members the renovation grant
money was down to the final $40,000 and he wished to
take that money and add some from the general fund to
replace roofing on the primary school where leaking is
occurring. An earlier estimate received noted it would
cost $43,000 for a new roofing job rather than a patch
job. |
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Two Fill Vacancies on McKenzie School Board |
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Two new members were appointed to the McKenzie Special
School District Board of Education during their regular
meeting held February 3. Board Member Van Ramsey made
the motion to fill the slot vacated by former Board
Member Clay Kirk, whose move into Weakley County placed
him out of the school district. Superintendent James
Ward approved his letter of resignation on January 23.
Mr. Ramsey later made the motion to appoint John Austin,
Jr. to the position.
Already on the agenda was the appointment of a new
member to take the place of former member Jack Hall, who
moved to Lenoir City in East Tennessee several months
ago. That slot was filled by Spiros Roditis on the
motion of Joe Fortner. Both nominations received the
unanimous approval of the Board, which was attended by
four members Tuesday evening as Ms. Mildred Sneed was
unable to attend.
Other persons submitting letters of interest in the
position were Kyle Manns, Mona Batchelor, Mary Nolan and
Brad Davis. Ms. Batchelor was ineligible as she is not a
resident of Carroll County.
The new board members will be sworn into office on March
2 during the next regular session of the school board.
Both terms expire in August this year.
Mr. Roditis is married to the former Sandi Stafford and
is the father of five-year-old Ellie Jo who is a
Kindergarten student at McKenzie Elementary School.
I've always been interested in youth," said Roditis, who
works with high school as well as third and fourth grade
youth groups at McKenzie's First Baptist Church.
"Especially now that Ellie is in school I just wanted to
serve in some capacity in conjunction with the school,
doing my part to help the students grow as young people
and from an educational standpoint especially."
The oldest of three siblings, Roditis aspired to become
a teacher before embarking on his career as a training
NCO (non-commissioned officer) for the U.S. Army. He is
currently a member of Company A, 230th Engineer
Battalion National Guard unit in McKenzie.
Roditis was born in Greece and spent much of his youth
in California.
Mr. Austin is Human Resources Manager at Colorite
Plastics. Married to the former Natalie Surber, he is
the father of two boys: Reed, age 6 and a first grader
at MES, and Ben, age 3.
Originally from Gibson County, Mr. Austin first moved to
McKenzie as a student at Bethel College. He is also
actively involved with youth at the First Baptist Church
in McKenzie where he currently serves as coach for the
Kindergarten and first grade "Upward basketball"
program.
Mr. Austin said it was his hope to be able to "make
positive decisions that will help the students, the
teachers and the school system."
In other matters, Board Member Van Ramsey was appointed
to the Sick Leave Bank Committee to fill the position
vacated by Clay Kirk. The committee consists of two
teachers, two board members and Superintendent Ward. The
second board member on the committee is Jill Holland and
teachers are high school math and computer instructor
Linda Smith and third grade teacher Tiffany Smith.
The board has found it necessary to meet only once in
the past three years, said Mr. Ward. Teachers may donate
two days of leave to the bank, which develops the pool,
he explained. If illness depletes the leave of a member
of the bank, he or she may apply for additional leave
from the pool, which would allow up to 20 more days off
with pay. If those days are depleted, the employee can
ask for further time off from the pool.
Mr. Ward announced the resignation of the following
personnel: kindergarten teacher Dalea Perkins, middle
school food service supervisor Sylvia Cox, high school
educational assistant Peggy Kee, and Speech Therapist
Chasnie Thompson.
High school math instructor Christi Plunk was granted
maternity leave from January 1 through February 20.
Employees hired as replacements in vacated positions
were as follows: Certified elementary teacher Susan Bone
was hired to replace Chasnie Thompson, Amber Compton
replaced Dalea Perkins, Melissa Chandler, formerly a
special education aide, replaced Peggy Kee, and Margie
Delaney replaced Dorothy Jones as elementary school
custodian. JoAnn Young filled the position previously
vacated by high school English teacher Elaine Walker.
Other new employees were: Gina Harper, food service
employee, and substitute teachers Andy Corbin, David
Mead, DeAnn Forrest, Anthony Ballard, and Mark Rich. |
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Tri-County Motor Company Honored for 20 Years with
Chrysler |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
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Clay Dillahunty of Tri-County Motor Company was honored
for 20 years with Chrysler during a brief presentation
last week.
"I wish we had more dealers like him (Dillahunty), said
Bernie Kovac of Daimler Chrysler Services, based in
Addison Texas. The 20-year anniversary is a milestone
for dealers. Few individual dealers attain that number
of years.
Clay Dillahunty purchased Tri-County Motor Company in
August 1983 from J.W. Atkins, Jr. Dillahunty remembers
the days with a bit of trepidation. He described the era
as "tough times" with interest rates escalating to 21
percent. He made the decision to add Chrysler to the
stable of product offerings. Seven months after his
purchase of the business, Tri-County Motors was again in
the business of selling Chrysler products. The company
started in 1922 by selling Dodges, which were later
dropped when the Ford line was added in 1939.
Dillahunty remembers that the Chrysler K-car was the hot
item during those days. It was a fuel-efficient compact
with front wheel drive.
Today the company is staffed by: Clay Dillahunty; Barry
Dillahunty, sales manager; David Gibson, parts manager;
Dwayne Bolton, John Moore and Shea Mosley, salesmen;
Sammy Holland, assistant service manager; Kyle Chapman,
service manager; and Judy Chandler, office manager. |
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These stories and more exclusively
in the print edition: |
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- Shooting by Deputy Justified by TBI
- Gleason Basketball Facility Hosts Final Game
- Tri-County Motor Company Honored for 20 Years with
Chrysler
- McKenzian Wins New Cadillac in GM's OnStar
Promotion
- West Carroll Board Denies Land Purchase by Bank
- Carroll County's Relay for Life Receives national
Honors
- West Carroll Hee Haw How Down Delights Audience
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or Fax (731)
352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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