William Stamey

William Gregg (Bill) Stamey, Sr., of 21 Hampton Heights, Canton, died on August 7, 2009, after bravely and without complaint fighting an illness of twelve years. A native of Canton, he was a son of the late Charles Austin and Lillian Gregg Stamey. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by an infant sister Molly. He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife Bonnie Matthews Stamey and his son William Gregg Stamey, Jr. He is also survived by his brother Charles Howard Stamey of Asheville and his brother Bruce Austin Stamey and wife Ann of Atascadero, California. In addition, he is survived by a special aunt Mildred Bryan of Candler and a niece and several nephews. Stamey was a graduate of Canton High School where he participated in all sports and was All-State in both football and baseball. He was co-captain and running back of the winning team in the first state football championship won by a Western North Carolina team. He was chosen to play in the Shrine Bowl. As a young man, he also played softball and baseball for Champion YMCA. Stamey received a full football scholarship to Appalachian State University, from which he received his BS degree in social studies and physical education. He later did graduate work at the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Stamey served for six years as a teacher, coach, and assistant principal at Canton and Pisgah High Schools. He then began his long career as manager of the Town of Canton. According to the North Carolina League of Municipalities, Stamey is the longest serving town manager of one town in the state of North Carolina and perhaps in the nation, having served thirty-nine years. Stamey's accomplishments as Canton's manager are legion, and to many governmental colleagues he is considered legendary. During his tenure as manager, he secured more than $29 million in grants for town improvements. Less than two months after taking the manager position, Stamey worked to get passed a $500, 000 bond referendum approved by town voters for the construction of a new town hall. This building was renamed in his honor in 2003. During his tenure, Stamey guided the town through many challenges. He was the point person working with management at Canton's pulp paper mill on issues ranging from regulatory matters to the interwoven infrastructure services to the lawsuits filed by Tennessee landowners over water quality issues. He also worked with the county's economic development effort to build Beaverdam Industrial Park. Also under Stamey's tenure the town built a new town garage complex, renovated the recreation park and swimming pool, developed Mountain View Housing, established a senior citizens' center, developed Canton Housing Authority, renovated the Canton Armory, made major improvements in the water system, and created the Rough Creek Watershed as a Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy with permanent protection from development. One of the projects Stamey most enjoyed and was proudest of was the restoration of the Colonial Theatre, a true treasure for the town and area. Perhaps his most challenging time was when back-to-back floods struck Canton in 2004. Stamey, working behind the scenes, helped find funding and manpower to rebuild facilities. Stamey's leadership style was working behind the scenes to quietly get the job done. He never looked for headlines for himself. Locally, Stamey was a member of Canton First Baptist Church where he had worked with youth and been a member of the Cooper Sunday School Class. He was a former member of the Canton Lions Club, Pisgah High School Activities Committee, Haywood County Parole Committee, Haywood County Sanitation Committee, Haywood County Water Resources Task Force, Haywood Community College Foundation Board and General Fundraising Committee, YMCA Board of Directors, Haywood County FOP, Haywood Bicentennial Board of Directors, Haywood County Industrial Committee Board of Directors, Greater Haywood Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, WNC Regional Air Pollution Control Board of Directors, and Leadership Haywood County. He also served as executive director of Canton Housing Authority, Water Safety Chairman of International Red Cross, Secretary of Haywood Council of Government, Chairman of Haywood County Study Committee for Economic Development, YMCA Vice-president, United Way Chairman, and District Chairman of Daniel Boone Council Boy Scouts of America. Professionally, Stamey had served on the Budget and Finance Committee of the North Carolina City and County Management Association and as a member of the International City Managers' Association and the National League of Cities. He also was a two-term member of the North Carolina Local Government Commission. As a member of the North Carolina League of Municipalities, he had served on the Legislative Committee, the Special Committee for Cities and Counties Study, the Board of Directors, the Finance, Administration, and Intergovernmental Relations Policy Committee, the Ad Hoc Committee, and the Pooled Loan Advisory Committee. In addition, he had served on the Committee to Implement the NC CCMA Network on State and Local Relations, and the Transportation Efficiency Council. He was a member of the North Carolina Public Officers Finance Association. Stamey had been honored by receiving from Governor James B. Hunt, Jr., North Carolina's highest award for service to the state, inclusion in the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. He also received the Canton Kiwanis Club Man of the Year Award, the Canton Jaycees Distinguished Service Award, the Army and Air National Guard Meritorious Service Award, the North Carolina Probation Committee Award for Outstanding Service in the Field of Corrections, the Western North Carolina University Alexander Hamilton Award, and inclusion in the Outstanding Young Men of America. Stamey received the Tai Lee Award for Economic Development and was chosen by Canton Papertown as Man of the Year. He was selected as a member of the Pisgah High School Hall of Fame. Stamey loved the town of Canton and its citizens. He was always unselfish and tried to get people to work together to improve their lives. He always had the best interests of people at heart. He also loved his family and friends and helped untold people in many ways. He will be missed by many. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Wells Funeral Home in Canton. Services will be held at 11 A.M on Tuesday, August 11, 2009, at Canton First Baptist Church with Rev. James A. Meadows officiating. Burial will be at the Bon-A-Venture Cemetery, Old Clyde Road. Memorials may be made to the Elevator Fund of Canton First Baptist Church, 74 Academy Street, Canton, NC 28716.

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