One of the things that make Cherokee County special is the blend of caring families who go back generations, combined with newcomers who want to make a difference in their adopted community. While some people were fortunate enough to be born here, the rest got here as fast as they could.
In the last two months, Cherokee County has lost two good men who exemplified that thought.
Ron Hill Sr. – who was born on Aug. 18, 1934, in Andrews and graduated from Murphy High School – left this world on Dec. 17. Over the years, we were fortunate to have many interactions with Hill, and every single one of them was a positive experience.
Hill’s obituary, published in the Dec. 20 edition of the Cherokee Scout, contains one of the most impressive resumes you’ll ever read. To start with, he loved his country enough to serve with the U.S. Army during the Korean and Vietnam wars, retired while working at the Pentagon and was later recalled during Operation Desert Storm, picking up more than 30 military decorations along the way.
Hill’s life of service brought him back home from 1974-81, when he was Cherokee County manager, acting health director, budget officer and emergency management director. While also earning grants to pay for multiple community centers, he was especially thrilled in 1976, when county commissioners approved his concept to establish the Cherokee County Museum in downtown Murphy. And in 1985, he became the first local native to be named executive director of John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown.
Perhaps most importantly, he and his wife, Shirley, set a great example for others to follow in their 68-year marriage. They were active in their church and community while raising a wonderful family. They, quite simply, don’t make many men like Hill anymore.
The Scout was also saddened to publish another obituary in the Dec. 20 edition, this one for Robert McNew. While he wasn’t as well known as Hill, arriving here in 2021 before departing several years ago, McNew also was good to Cherokee County.
He was an excellent lawyer, as the Scout found out firsthand when we hired him a decade ago. He volunteered with the Rotary Club of Murphy, where he had an incredible knack for winning the weekly 50-50 drawing, which he typically gave back to the club. And after the death of McNew’s father, he worked tirelessly for the Alzheimer’s Association.
McNew and his community-minded wife, Judy, were married for 59 years, enjoying life with their children and grandchildren. Their generous donation of property to sell is a big reason why HAVEN Children’s Advocacy Center was able to pay off the mortgage to its building in Peachtree and serve even more clients – a continual blessing for years to come.
Hill and McNew were different kinds of people, but they both left a positive mark on Cherokee County that won’t be forgotten soon. We’re thankful they poured themselves into the place we love to call home.
– Publisher David Brown