WHEREAS, Ellis Fincher Sr. was born in Cross Keys, South Carolina on June 1, 1927 and became a citizen of Tryon in 1966; and

WHEREAS, Ellis Fincher earned his pharmacy degree from the University of South Carolina in 1949 and owned and operated the Tryon Pharmacy from 1966 until 1991; and

WHEREAS, Ellis Fincher served as an elected commissioner of the Town of Tryon for 14 years from 1981 to 1995; and

WHEREAS, Ellis Fincher was appointed to serve as Mayor on the resignation of Bob Neely in 1995 and was thereafter elected and served as Mayor from 1995 to 1999; and

WHEREAS, under Mayor Fincher&squo;s leadership, the Town of Tryon was able to achieve a budget surplus for the 1998-1999 fiscal year through sound fiscal management and addressed efforts to resolve wastewater mercury violations and improve water quality for the citizens of Tryon; and

WHEREAS, Ellis Fincher also served the community as President of the Polk County Chamber of Commerce, Treasurer of the Tryon Lions Club, chairman of the Polk County Board of Social Services, Deacon Emeritus of the First Baptist Church of Tryon and member of the Tryon Alcoholic Beverage Control Board; and

WHEREAS, Ellis Fincher passed away at his home on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at the age of 81 and will be sorely missed by his neighbors, admirers and friends; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:

That, I, J. Alan Peoples, Mayor of the Town of Tryon, North Carolina, take great pride in proclaiming that the Town of Tryon honors Ellis Fincher, Sr., posthumously, for his many years of outstanding service to his fellow citizens of Tryon and Polk County.