Leadership Rutherford's Origins
The idea for Leadership Rutherford grew out of an experience with a leadership program in Ohio. While Leadership Rutherford President Jim Brown was working in Ohio, he participated in the start of a leadership training program called Project Leadership of Huron County.
When he arrived in Rutherford County in 1998, he saw that the county did not have a program. Already a member of the Forest City Lions Club, he approached the club in 1999, suggesting the club consider sponsoring such a project.
When the club agreed, Brown approached the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce to become a partner and co-sponsor. After he made a presentation to the board, and with the enthusiastic help of Chamber Executive Director Bill Hall, the chamber agreed.
With Hall's help, Brown recruited a board of directors for the project.
In attempting to raise funds for the project, Brown approached many county service clubs. At the time, Wayne Goode, former manager of the Belk store in Forest City, was president of the Forest City Kiwanis.
Goode, citing his club's dedication to children, said that if the project would accept students, the Kiwanis Club would contribute. The board agreed and the Forest City Kiwanis has paid for both a student from Chase High and East Rutherford High ever since. In the last two classes, students from Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy have participated and now the new REACH high school has one of its students in the current class.
The Rutherfordton Kiwanis Club was approached and agreed to support a student from R-S Central.
The first class met during the first eight months of 2000. There were 11 graduates. The next class began in August of 2000. The program now runs from each September through May.
Early board members included Rutherford Hospital President Bob Jones, who had participated in a similar program in Albany, Ga., and Dr. Chris Burley, a community activist, who took on the daunting task of building a program for Leadership Rutherford.
Lee Tomerlin of Mastercraft was an early board member as well as the late Bill Carson, who was then president of the local NAACP chapter. Others include Danielle Withrow, planner for the Town of Forest City, Chuck Summey, Forest City's town manager, Judy Toney, human resources director for the county and County Manager John Condrey.
County Commissioner Amanda King graduated from the program and served on the board.
The program has benefited from loyal supporters, including the Stonecutter Foundation, Mastercraft, Cone Mills, Rutherford Hospital, The Daily Courier, United Southern Industries, and Tanner Cos., LLC.