Ayers honored at Rotary; July 21 declared as Hack Ayers Day

TOP PHOTO:  Tom Shumate, a long time friend of the late Hack Ayers spoke at the South Campbell County Rotary Club luncheon on Tuesday, sharing memories of his friend.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – One of Campbell County’s most memorable citizens was honored by the South Campbell County Rotary Club yesterday.

Sterling Haskel “Hack” Ayers was honored at the Rotary Club luncheon on Tuesday at the First Baptist Church in LaFollette. Family and friends of Ayers’, along with other special guest speakers, were at the event to share memories and stories of the iconic auctioneer.

County Mayor E.L. Morton presented the Ayers family with a proclamation plaque declaring July 21, 2020 as “Hack Ayers Day.”

Clinton Rotary Club member and one of Ayers’ long-time friends, William “Bear” Stephenson (above), was the master of ceremonies for the event.  He said he felt honored to speak at the event and even more honored to “call Hack his friend.”  “Campbell County was very fortunate to have him; this town was very fortunate to have Hack in it.  He was a tremendous asset to Campbell County, to East Tennessee and to this state,” Stephenson said.

Another of Ayers’ long-time friends Bill Jenkins spoke as well, saying Ayers had made “many contributions” for his community.  “You are honoring one of the finest human beings that ever lived. If you had Hack as a friend, you didn’t have to worry about it; he was your friend from Sunday, through Saturday night, at all times,” Jenkins said. He spoke on Ayers’ work ethic that he had learned from his mother and kept all his life.

One of Ayers’ long-time friends Tom Shumate recalled special memories of serving on the Tennessee state legislature with Ayers. “He was like a brother to me,” Shumate said. Roger Ball said the day he met Ayers was one of the luckiest of his life, and that he had helped inspire his career.  “Knowing Hack Ayers and being in business with him on different ventures made me a better man,” Ball said.

Lonnie Hatmaker, LaFollette Mayor Mike Stanfield and many others shared memories of the local legend.  “This county is so fortunate to have had Hack; a lot of the growth of this county can be attributed to Hack Ayers,” Stephenson said.

“You need to keep this man in the memory of the people of Campbell County and around this state.  His way of life, his disposition, his personality, his ingenuity needs to be known by future generations,” Jenkins said.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 07/22/2020-6AM)