Wednesday, March 24, 2004

Board Member Cannon Writes Letter Defending Morris, IDA
IDA Board Member Says It Would Be ‘Travesty’ For Executive Director Scott Morris To Be ‘Driven Out’

Halifax County Industrial Development Authority board member John Cannon responded yesterday to Dr. Carlyle Ramsey's letter of resignation as chairman of that board "in hopes of quelling unfounded rumors" generated by the letter.

In the Letter To The Editor, which arrived at the Gazette-Virginian offices late yesterday, Cannon defended Morris, calling him a "visionary" who has the support of the board of directors.

"This IDA board, for the most part, is truly supportive of (Morris) and would feel that it would be a travesty if he were to be driven out by people who were not knowledgeable in true economic development."

Ramsey surprised the members of the IDA board with a letter resigning his position as chairman during a March 16 meeting.

In his letter, the board member described Ramsey's letter as a "shock" to the board members and said it "should have been presented to the board for internal discussion before being given to the media."

Cannon both defended Ramsey and suggested IDA Executive Director Scott Morris was better suited to make the quick decisions required of his position.
"Dr. Ramsey is one of the best community college presidents we have in the community college system," he said. "In dealing with decisions involving that entity, things move at a much slower pace, as opposed to an IDA where decisions are handled quickly.

"This expedience is also expected from an executive director, like Scott Morris," Cannon continues. "He (Morris) has to be very flexible in the hours spent in the creation of new jobs and holding on to existing employers so that he can close the deal and then move back to manage less pressing matters, such as office management.

"Apparently, there are members of the IDA board who think that (Morris) should be a superman and do all these things at the same time," Cannon said.

In yesterday's letter, the board member also challenged Ramsey's "concerns about the direction and effectiveness of the IDA's internal management."

"As a board member, I know that internal office management is very important and we are moving forward in updating our procedures and policies manuals through an internal subcommittee to update these to the best practices," he said.

Cannon said that Ramsey's contention that he wanted more of a voice on the board by being able to vote was not a valid reason for the resignation.
"The truth is, the chairman of the board has a greater degree of control of a situation than a single voting member," he wrote. "According to Virginia State Code, he has the right to cast a vote on any issue," as well as act as a tie-breaker.

In closing his letter, Cannon defended the executive director as "bright, energetic and tenacious."

"He (Morris) has been accepted throughout the state as a true economic developer, and his forethought on ideas that he has proposed to benefit Halifax County are truly creative," he wrote. "I cannot say that (Morris) is perfect, but he works for more hours a week than he is paid for, and he is on top of most issues that face the future of Halifax County."

Cannon defended the members of the board and the IDA staff, saying they are currently involved in many projects to create jobs in the county.

"The business of the IDA requires fast action (and) quick thinking, intelligent people making decisions to attract employers to locate their businesses in Halifax County," he wrote. "It also requires great vision and fortitude to push forward with new infrastructure and buildings that will continue to grow our job base into the 21st century."

The full text of Cannon's letter follows:

Halifax County IDA – Another View

Dear Editor:

I am writing this letter to the editor in hopes of quelling unfounded rumors that were generated by Dr. Carlyle Ramsey’s letter of resignation as Chairman from the Industrial Development Board this past week. This letter of resignation was a shock to the IDA Board. The resignation letter should have been presented to the board for internal discussion before being given to the media.

The IDA Board is presently entrenched in many projects and numerous prospects to create jobs. The business of the IDA requires fast action, quick thinking, intelligent people making decisions to attract employers to locate their businesses in Halifax County. It also requires great vision and fortitude to push forward with new infrastructure and buildings that will continue to grow our job base into the 21st century. These ventures require board members to have knowledge in employer needs, building construction, acquisition of property, infrastructure development, and financing, etc. The board needs to be able to move swiftly in dealing with employer needs, or it will be left behind the economic development curve.

Dr. Ramsey is one of the best community college presidents we have in the community college system. In dealing with decisions involving that entity, things move at a much slower pace, as opposed to an IDA where decisions are handled quickly.

This expedience is also expected from an Executive Director, like Scott Morris. He has to be very flexible in the hours spent in the creation of new jobs and holding on to existing employers so that he can close the deal, and then move back to manage less pressing matters, such as office management. Apparently, there are members of the IDA board who think that Mr. Morris should be a superman and do all of these things at the same time.

There were comments in Dr. Ramsey’s letter of resignation reflecting inadequacies in internal management. As a board member, I know that internal office management is very important and we are moving forward in updating our procedures and policies manuals through an internal subcommittee to update these to the best practices.

Also, Dr. Ramsey stated that he wanted to be in a voting position on the board, and that the chair position would not afford him that. The truth is, the chairman of the board has a greater degree of control of a situation than a single voting board member. According to Virginia State Code, he has the right to cast a vote on any issue. This gives the chairperson the ability to be a tiebreaker.

I have been on the Halifax County IDA Board for sixteen years, and I have also served as chairman of the Southern Virginia Economic Development Partnership, consisting of five counties and two cities across Southside Virginia in the past. I can tell you unequivocally that Mr. Morris is a bright, energetic, and tenacious Executive Director.

He has been accepted throughout the state as a true economic developer, and his forethought on ideas that he has proposed to benefit Halifax County are truly creative. I cannot say that Mr. Morris is perfect, but he works far more hours a week than he is paid for, and he is on top of most issues that face the future of Halifax County.

He is a visionary for long-term employment, while still trying to get jobs on a day-to-day basis in Halifax County. His ratings on his last job performance appraisal were all high. This IDA Board, for the most part, is truly supportive of Mr. Morris, and would feel that it would be a travesty if he were to be driven out by people who were not knowledgeable in true economic development.

Sincerely yours,
John R. Cannon,
Halifax County IDA Board

Martin Charged In Death Of Clover Woman
Police Believe Alcohol Played A Factor In Traffic Fatality

A 38-year-old Nathalie man has been arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter as a result of a March 14 wreck that claimed the life of a 21-year-old Clover woman, Investigator C.L. Carswell said yesterday.

Tracy J. Martin was charged Monday with the death of Fannie King, a passenger in a 1996 Ford four-door that was involved in the 2:35 a.m. accident at the intersection of College Street and Hamilton Boulevard, according to police.

According to the police report, Cpl. S.T. Moser responded to the report of the accident, where he discovered that Martin was operating the vehicle above the posted speed limit when he lost control of the vehicle and struck an embankment on the north side of Hamilton Boulevard.

Lt. B.K. Lovelace said yesterday that alcohol played a factor in the accident.
Following the accident, Martin was transported to Halifax Regional Hospital and was released on the date of his arrest.

He is being held in the Halifax Regional Jail on a $25,000 secured bond, according to police.

Hogan Sets Town Meeting On Budget
Delegate Will Meet With Community On Tuesday

In an effort to gauge public reaction to the budget impasse, Del. Clarke Hogan, R-Halifax, has scheduled the first of a series of town meetings for Tuesday, according to Legislative Aide Sheila Bradley.

Hogan will meet with community residents at 7 p.m. on March 30 at The Prizery.

The delegate said he looked forward to meeting with his constituents to get their opinions on the battle raging in Richmond.

"I think that considering the current circumstances, it's important to sit down with the people who elected me, away from all the hype on the subject, and discuss the real numbers and get their opinions on the issue of tax increases," he said. "I want to know where all these people are that the Senate says are for increased taxes."

Hogan said he feels confident that once his constituents see the data legislators are working with, they will understand why the House is adamantly against across-the-board tax increases.

"These meetings will give me the opportunity to talk about why the House is taking the position it's taking and why that position is appropriate," he said. "I think once the people get the chance to see the real numbers about where the state is (financially) and what's needed, there will be some clarity on the subject."

Despite public statements to the contrary, Hogan said the House Republicans were willing to negotiate a reasonable agreement on the budget.

"We've always said we're willing to work out a compromise between our position and what Gov. Warner has traveled the state saying we need," he said. "The problem has come up since the Senate has decided, without ever discussing it during the campaign or with anyone else, that they need another $2.5 billion to fund the state for the next two years.

"That wasn't the plan that was put out ahead of time," Hogan added. "That came during the middle of the session.

"It's obvious the governor isn't willing to stand up for what he's traveled the state saying we needed," he said. "Now that he thinks he can get another $1.5 billion or so, he's decided that's how much money we need.

"The people need a chance to discuss how they feel about this."

Yancey Forged Successful Career As Coach, Athlete
South Boston Native Buddy Yancey Will Be Inducted Into The Halifax Co.-South Boston Sports Hall Of Fame April 3

By JOE CHANDLER | G-V Staff Writer

South Boston native Buddy Yancey, a noted basketball player and coach, is one of three individuals that will be inducted into the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame next month.

Yancey, along with John Burton and Les Dillard, have been selected as this year's inductees into the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame.

The annual Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet will be held Saturday, April 3, at 6 p.m. at C.H. Friend Elementary School in South Boston.

Advance tickets are being sold for $20 each.

Tickets may be purchased at Waskey Cleaners, the office of Dr. James Priest, Gravitt & Gravitt PC, Electric Service Company, Halifax Pharmacy, Edmondson Cleaners and the Gazette Virginian.

Tickets may also be purchased by calling Addison Marable at 572-3031.
Only 250 tickets will be sold.

If any tickets are available after advance sales have been completed, they will be sold at the door for $25 each.

Longtime High Point (N.C.) University mens basketball coach and North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame member Jerry Steele will be the guest speaker for the event.

Yancey, a graduate of South Boston's C.H. Friend High School, is noted for being one of the winningest coaches in North Carolina's high school basketball coaching ranks.

His won-loss record for 12 years of coaching at basketball at three North Carolina high schools was 204-85, giving him a winning percentage of 70 percent.

In his first year coaching at Youngsville (N.C.) High School in 1956, Yancey was named conference Coach of the Year.

Yancey's team went 27-1 that season, it's only loss coming in the district championship finals against a team it had defeated twice during the season.
The South Boston native coached for five seasons at Youngsville High School and compiled a 90-35 slate or a 72 percent winning ratio.

In 1961, Yancey took his second high school coaching job, that one coming at Massey Hill High School in Fayetteville, N.C.

Massey Hill High School had just moved to the AAA level and had not had a championship basketball team in many years.

However, in his first year, Yancey directed the team to a district championship and the team went on to play in the state tournament.

In 1962, Yancey, desiring to move back closer to home, moved to Creedmoor, N.C. and became the head basketball coach at South Granville High School.
Yancey coached at South Granville High School for six years, running up a 100-42 mark as the basketball coach.

While at South Granville High School, Yancey began a football program, coached baseball and served as the school's athletic director.

During the time Yancey was at South Granville High School, he spent the summers at basketball camp as a counselor and coach for U.S. Naval Academy basketball coach, Ben Carnavale, one of the most respected basketball coaches of that era.

Not only is Yancey noted for his coaching expertise, he was a standout athlete in his own right.

Yancey lettered in football, basketball and baseball while at student at C.H. Friend High School.

He attended the University of Richmond in 1948, made the college basketball team as a freshman, played on the first team and was appointed by the coach as team captain for many of the games that season.

Yancey was awarded a freshman letter that year.

After battling pneumonia the first two weeks of his sophomore year at the University of Richmond Yancey did not return to school that year and got a job at Craddock-Terry Shoe Company.

That year, he and Addison Marable organized a team of players, most of which came from the Rectangle softball team, that played in a summer league competing against teams from Halifax County and surrounding counties.

Yancey played third base on the Rectangle team that won the city championship in 1950 and lost in the finals of the State Regional Championship Tournament in Martinsville.

In addition, Yancey and Marable had a basketball team, the South Boston Black Hawks, that played other area teams. Yancey was the team leader and Marable was the manager.

That team played a game against the Jim Thorpe All Star Indians, a noted national traveling team and lost by only a few points.

Yancey joined the Air Force in 1951 during the Korean Conflict and served with the 422nd Air Police Squadron in Nagoya, Japan.

He continued to play sports there as well. As captain and quarterback, he led his team to the 1953 base championship in two-hand touch football, throwing three touchdown passes to lead his team to a 22-7 win.

His team was undefeated that year and outscored its opponents 262-25.

Yancey also played basketball for his base team which competed against base teams in Japan.

He was a team leader and scored 320 points during the 1952 season as his team toured Japan and took on the best teams in the Far east Air Force Command. The team finished the season as the Southern District runner-up.

After his tour of duty in the military up in early 1954, Yancey landed a basketball scholarship at Catawba College in North Carolina.

Yancey lettered both years, playing forward and, occasionally, at guard for coach Earl Ruth's team.

In order to stay active in athletics in his later years, Yancey has played and coached the Irmo Chapin Masters, a Senior Olympics basketball team, since its inception in 1991.

Yancey's team has won the South Carolina Senior Games each year in its age group.

The team has represented South Carolina in the United States National Senior Olympics every two years since 1991.

Yancey's team (three-on-three) won a silver medal in the USNSO competition and he was recognized by the South Carolina state legislature in 1995 for his outstanding contributions to the Irmo Chapin Recreation Senior Basketball Team.

The South Boston native has also had a successful business career.
In 1968, he joined the Horace Mann Insurance Company, a company specializing in selling multi-line insurance to educators.

After two successful years as an agent in Raleigh, N.C., he was promoted to state manager in South Carolina where he led the agency to being one of the top agencies in the company.

Yancey was later promoted through regional ranks and, in 1978, was promoted to Zone Vice President of Sales in the Southeast and Southwest United States.

He directed the sales in the Southeast for 20 years before accepting the position of Vice President of Recruiting for the eastern United States, a position he held until he retired in 1998.

Yancey is an active member of his church, Riverland Hills Baptist Church, which he served as a deacon, department director, a teacher and class president.

In addition, Yancey is active in Gideons International, having served as treasurer, camp president, an area director and membership director. He is also often called upon to speak at Gideon camps in South Carolina.
Yancey and his wife Juanita have three children, Sharon, David and Laura, all graduates of the University of South Carolina. The couple also has five grandchildren.

The South Boston native credits the late Jimmy Shelton, the late Bill Bennett and Louis Seabolt as being among the chief mentors who helped him become a success in sports, business and life.

Obituaries

George Wiley Edmonds Sr.

George Wiley Edmonds Sr., 75, of 1240 Crawford Rd., Halifax, died March 21 at McGuire Veterans Hospital.

Mr. Edmonds was born in North Carolina on July 25, 1928, the son of the late Samuel J. and Linda Bell Hardy Edmonds. He was a member of Banister Hill Baptist Church and was a Army veterans. He was retired from the Mass Transit Authority.

His survivors include his wife: Bessie Mae Terry Edmonds; four daughters: Carolyn Randall and Stephanie Davis of Baltimore, Md., Shelia Austin of Florida and Diane Kinslow of New York; five sons: Ernest Womack, James Womack, George Edmonds Jr., Michael Edmonds and Bryan Edmonds of Baltimore; three sisters: Elizabeth Foster, Jesse Williams and Mary Fowlkes of Baltimore; 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held tomorrow, March 25, at 12 noon, at Banister Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. William Carr officiating. Burial will take place in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service and at other times at the home.

David Glines Mooney

David Glines “Red” Mooney, age 88, of South Boston, died March 20 at The Woodview.

Mr. Mooney was the son of the late Mathias and Emma Glines Mooney. He was a WW II Marine veteran and a retired machinist with Boie Cascade.
His survivors include two daughters: Linda “Peanut” Unroe of Vernon Hill and Betty Downs of Sumner, Maine; brother: Andrew Mooney of Maine; eight grandchildren: Hope Ann Katz, David Downs, Roger Downs II, Wendy Downs, Matthew Downs, David Girous II and Stormy Hobbs. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Brown Mooney, and a grandson, Brett Girouz.

A memorial service will be held at Powell Funeral Home Chapel today, March 24, at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Isaac Mooneyham officiating. Burial will be held at the Veteran’s Cemetery in Augusta, Maine.

Edna Thomas Smith

Edna Thomas Smith, 92, 4061 River Rd., South Boston, died March 22.
Mrs. Smith was born May 10, 1911 in Halifax County, the daughter of the late George Hutchin Thomas and Sophronia Elliott Thomas. She was married to the late Algie “Jack” Smith and was a member of Harmony United Methodist Church and the UMW.

Her survivors include three nephews: Glenn Walker of Alton, Berkeley Yancey of Halifax and Melvin Yancey of South Boston; three nieces: Virginia Harris of South Boston, Eunice Slayton of Vernon Hill and Faye Fuller of Roxboro, N.C.; and two sisters-in-law: Sue Thomas of South Boston and Ruth Smith of Alton.

A funeral service will be held tomorrow, March 25, at 2 p.m., at Harmony United Methodist Church. Burial will be held in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held tonight from 7:00-8:30 p.m. and at other times at the home.

The family requests those wishing to give memorial contributions to consider Harmony United Methodist Church, 79 Frank Fox Rd., Roxboro, N.C. 27573.

Christine Charlene Stephens

Christine Charlene Stephens, 34, of Greensboro, N.C., died March 20.
Miss Stephens was born in Halifax County on July 13, 1969, the daughter of Wallace Stephens and the late Christine Bumpass.

Her survivors include her father; daughter: Shakila Johnson of Greensboro, N.C.; son: Shakal Stephens of Greensboro; four sisters: Cherri Stephens of Greensboro, Shonda Snead of Halifax, Wanelle Middleton of San Antonio, Tex. and Deronia Stephens of South Boston; three brothers: Wallace Stephens Jr. of Baltimore, Md., Curtis Stephens of Newbern, N.C. and Kevin Stephens of Halifax; two brothers-in-law: Min. Ronnie Snead of Halifax and David Middleton of San Antonio; sister-in-law: Theresa Stephens; and a friend: Tracey Fitzgerald.

A funeral service will be held tomorrow, March 25 at 3 p.m. at the Crawford House in Halifax with Apostle Nathalie Chambliss officiating.
The family will friends at the home of Wallace Stephens, 1118 Bagwell Drive, Halifax.

Francis Drake Tisdale

Francis Drake Tisdale of Clarksville, 87, died March 12 at the Hundley Annex, South Hill.

Mr. Tisdale was married to the late Ruth Elam Tisdale and was a member of Twin River Masonic Lodge #338. He served during WW II in the U.S. Army Air Corp and was retired from Imperial Tobacco Co. He was a member of Clarksville Baptist church.

His survivors are a daughter: Martha Drake Gunther of Richmond; son: Joseph Thomas Tisdale of Pueblo, Colo.; grandchildren; and a friend: Nevelene Fendley.

A funeral service was held March 15 at Watkins Cooper Lyon Chapel in Clarksville with burial at Oakhurst Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Mecklenburg County Lifesaving & Rescue Squad, P.O. box 1535, Clarksville, VA 23927.