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Wlaf1450By Charlotte Underwood
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- County Commissioners, County Mayor Jack Lynch and State Representative Dennis Powers posthumously honored several icons from the county at Monday’s commission meeting. These included Veteran’s Service Officer Emeritus Bob Andreas, Campbell County Health Department employee Bertha Hatmaker and County Commissioner Sue Nance.
“Mom would be very honored by this today,” said county commissioner Erica Simpson.
“Bertha would have hated every minute of it,’ said Eddie Hatmaker with a smile.
State Representative Powers presented these proclamations to family members. He also presented the flag flown at the capital in honor of Andreas to Andreas’s stepson Chris Gregg.
“We owe the freedom to Bob and all the other veterans that have served in our county,” Powers said.
Andreus served as a veteran’s affairs officer from 1995 to 2005. During that time of serving, he reconstituted the Campbell County Honor Guard. He served over 20 years in the United States Army and honorably retired at the rank of First Seargent in the Military Police.
“He was always on the job, trying to help our veterans. Bob’s dedication to our country and to our veterans in Campbell County will continue through his memory and, in our hearts,” said County Mayor Jack Lynch.
“Bob was a hero to all the heroes here in Campbell County,” said former Veteran’s Affairs Director Kevin Walden.
“He helped me a lot to transition into that office,” Walden said, adding that Bob’s wife Linda had worked in that office, helping Bob for free and had done a lot for the veterans as well.
Dewayne Mailman Kitts said he would never forget the stories Bob had told him over the years and that “he had done a lot for his family, his dad and other veterans.”
“He really was a hero,” Kitts said.
Beverly Hall said that she had known Bob for several years and that he cared deeply for the veterans of the county.
“He was a dear friend and deserves this honor,” Hall said.
“Bob loved the veterans very much, he never turned one away, he probably helped someone or someone’s family in this room,” Gregg said, thanking the commission and others for honoring his stepfather. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-09/16/2025-6AM)