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Wlaf1450TOP PHOTO: Tennessee County Commissioners Association Executive Director Charles Curtiss (far left) presented the Ralph Puckett Award to the family of former Commissioner Whit Goins for his extraordinary service to the citizens of Campbell County. (Left to right) Charles Curtiss, County Commissioners Rusty Orick, Dewayne Gibson, Zach Marlow, and Whit’s daughter Marquita Goins and wife Beatrice Goins.
By Charlotte Underwood
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – Recently deceased and former longtime Campbell County Commissioner Whit Goins was honored at the start of Tuesday’s County Commission meeting.
Goins, who had been a county commissioner for 44 years and served on the county school board for six years had an award presented to his family by the Tennessee County Commissioners Association Executive Director Charlie Curtiss.
According to Curtiss, there are 1,630 commissioners in the state and only three were chosen to receive the Ralph Puckett Award, which recognized Goins for his many years of extraordinary service.
“This is a significant award, but not as significant as his life and work were to this community; he made a difference,” Curtiss said.
Goins’ son, Tennessee Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins thanked Curtiss, the county mayor and the commissioners.
“Dad was all about serving people and helping people; especially children. He also had 60 years of serving Campbell County’s children through his work in the Shriners,” Mark Goins said.
State Rep. Dennis Powers attended the meeting and spoke briefly.
“Whit was a great Commissioner and a great individual who did so much for Campbell County,” Powers said.
Also approved was the memorializing of a section of Old Middlesboro Highway from “Glade Springs to Bethlehem” in honor of Goins.
According to County Mayor Jack Lynch, it memorializes the section of road that “Whit drove home on.”
Road Superintendent Ron Dilbeck will pay for the sign out of his budget.
Commissioner Zach Marlow made the motion to approve the dedication of old Middlesboro Highway from Glade Springs to Bethlehem, which was approved unanimously.
“Dad wouldn’t of known what to think of this,” Marquita Goins, Whit’s daughter, said.
Commissioners Zach Marlow and Dewayne Kitts spoke briefly, saying that Whit had been a “mentor and a friend.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 01/18/2023-6AM)
THAT IS SO WONDERFUL…WHIT WAS SUCH A FRIENDLY PERSON AND HIS DEDICATION TO HIS WORK IS GREAT TO BE RECOGNIZED….