| Sources |
- [S80] Rawlings Funeral Home, (http://www.rawlingsfuneralhome.com/), 23 Jul 2003.
Eunice Inez Feezel Henry obituary
- [S47] Sevier County, Tennessee and its Heritage, Sevier County Heritage Book Committee, (1994, Don Mills, Inc.), 216.
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 5 Nov 2005.
Henry is new Assistant Sevier County Mayor
By: CRAIG MINTZ, Staff Writer November 05, 2005
SEVIERVILLE - Curtis Henry, a veteran with the Sevier County School System, was announced as the new Assistant Sevier County Mayor Thursday afternoon.
County Mayor Larry Waters, who hired Henry, said Henry's years of public service made him a good candidate for the job.
"I had some very good individuals apply for the job, however Curtis' experience and knowledge in dealing with the public was the determining factor," said Waters. "I know Curtis will be a tremendous asset to county government and look forward to him starting on December 1."
Waters said he had eight applicants and interviewed a couple of them before making his decision.
Henry is currently the Director of Pupil Personnel for Sevier County Schools and has served the school system for more than 30 years. He said he'll miss it, but he's excited about the job ahead.
"I've greatly enjoyed the last 30 years in the public school system, but I thought I'd like to do something else in public service."
Henry also currently serves as a Sevier County Regional Planning Commissioner.
Waters said Henry would continue that roll short term until a replacement can be found from his district. Henry lives in the Birds Crossing area of Sevier County and has two daughters, Abby and Hannah.
He replaces former Assistant Mayor Ken Maples who resigned this year to spend more time working at his personal and family businesses. Maples had held the position for almost a decade.
The position of Assistant County Mayor, originally called Assistant County Executive, was created in 1989. Besides Maples, current County Clerk Joe Keener and Matt Ballard, general manager of Sevier County Utility District, have held the position.
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 31 Jul 2007.
Second career becoming fulfilling challenge for assistant county mayor
By: DEREK HODGES, Staff Writer
July 31, 2007
SEVIERVILLE - Curtis Henry may well be one of the most powerful men in Sevier County, but he's not looking for anyone to take note of that.
"I guess I am a little bit shy," Henry says. "I don't know that the people I know well would call me quiet, but I think I am. I don't feel it's my job to be in the limelight. I feel it's my job to help the county mayor and the county commission. I feel mine is more a behind-the-scenes kind of job."
Henry's job makes him the second-highest ranking administrator in the county as the assistant county mayor. It's a job he took only after a full career in the Sevier County School System. He spent that time teaching English to seniors and middle school students; serving New Center, Caton's Chapel and Pittman Center schools as principal; and working as an administrator in the central office.
"I love teaching," Henry says. "I love being an educator and I'll always think of myself as a teacher. This is a pretty different job compared to that."
Quiet though he may be, Henry isn't a homebody. After he put in his time with the schools and was qualified for retirement, Henry started looking for something else to do.
"I heard there was a vacancy in the assistant county mayor's office and (County Mayor Larry Waters) talked to me about it," Henry says. "It sounded like an interesting job, so I decided to try it out. I'm glad I did."
Since that time about a year and a half ago, Henry has been working to create budgets, make agendas and basically doing whatever it takes to keep the county running.
"I do anything I can to try to help the office operate," Henry says. "There can be a lot of stress. You're dealing with a lot of different people. You have to keep an open mind. You also have to be really flexible because of the time demands. You can't schedule things sometimes because of the time demands with this job."
That can be difficult on Henry, who is raising two teenage daughters - Abby, 17, and Hannah, 15. Still, he says he finds plenty of time for his family.
"I spend a lot of time with activities with my daughters," he says. "They're both playing soccer, so we're busy running back and forth to practices and things like that right now."
So, what would make a man, who certainly has earned a little quiet, take on an office that adds so much stress to his life? Well, Henry says the job has its rewards.
"The best part of this job is when you feel like there's an issue that you've been able to get something accomplished on for the common good," he says.
And any plans to retire?
"No, not anytime soon," he says. "I don't want to go home. I still enjoy working."
* dhodges@themountainpress.com
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1952 - (72 years)
, d. 13 Jun 1984 (Age 70 years)