One man’s good deeds earn recognition
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Anderson County Commissioner Shain Vowell hands Lonnie Dyson the plaque with the county’s resolution honoring Everett Byrge. - Ken Leinart
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Family and friends gather around Everett Byrge Saturday, May 21, after a resolution honoring him was presented. - Ken Leinart
Everett Byrge spent most of his life working in coal mines.
And while his accomplishments doing that are many, it is his work for the betterment of his community that the Anderson County Commission recognized with a resolution that was read and presented to him Saturday, May 21, at the Coal Creek Miners Museum homecoming.
Byrge, with a career in coal spanning four decades — 30 of which were with Consolidated Coal Company — has a long history of doing his job correctly and safely.
He rose to foreman at Powell Valley, and in West Virginia, was a member of the Mine Rescue Team, and holds an outstanding record for mine safety.
That, and his work in his community, are honored with the resolution.
“If something needed to be done in the community, Everett would call,” Anderson County Commissioner Shain Vowell of the 4th District said. “And he would call.”
“He’s done so much for his community, more than most people know about,” Commissioner Tim Isbel said.
Byrge has a tenacity, a loyalty — to the miners he worked with, to his community, and to his church.
He’s a 50-year member at Laurel Branch Baptist Church.
In an emotional ceremony on that sunny day, Byrge was honored.
Lonnie Dyson read the resolution — which was presented to Byrge and his family engraved on a plaque — and stopped several times to collective himself.
Byrge reflected on his life — he has an advanced stage of cancer — and said, “I’m ready. I don’t want to go, but if the Good Lord calls …”
And like so much of his life, Byrge will excel.