| Sources |
- [S112] Census, 1930.
Name Ross B Summitt
Event Type Census
Event Year 1930
Event Place District 1, Monroe, Tennessee, United States
Gender Male
Age 13
Marital Status Single
Race White
Race (Original) White
Relationship to Head of Household Son
Relationship to Head of Household (Original) Son
Birth Year (Estimated) 1917
Birthplace Tennessee
Father's Birthplace Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace Tennessee
HOUSEHOLD
ROLE
GENDER
AGE
BIRTHPLACE
Murry D Summitt Head M 41 Tennessee
Vina May Summitt Wife F 39 Tennessee
Ross B Summitt Son M 13 Tennessee
Flora M Summitt Daughter F 12 Tennessee
Helen L Summitt Daughter F 9 Tennessee
Robert M Summitt Son M 7 Tennessee
John L Summitt Son M 2 Tennessee
Callie D Summitt Mother F 83 Tennessee
- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 24 Oct 2015.
July 24, 1916 - October 24, 2015
Resided in Sevierville, TN
Ross Barnes Summitt, age 99 of Sevierville, died peacefully at home Saturday October 24, 2015. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Sevierville. Ross was born on July 24, 1916 and raised in Monroe County, Tennessee, the eldest of five children. His early years helping on the farm developed his life-long work ethic, self-discipline, and love of being outdoors. His stories of rising early to milk, hauling it and various family and locals to town, going to school, and then gathering everything and everyone up (you were left if tardy) to return home to milking, chores, and homework evidenced his early acceptance of responsibility. The difficult times of the Great Depression left their mark and ingrained his conservative values of thrift and of maintaining your land, equipment, and assets, especially those for present and future family. He continued to help farm, but after high school graduation he began working in community banking in Sweetwater until he volunteered for the US Navy in late October of 1941. Without returning home for four years, he served his country all over the world, ferrying planes as navigator and then hunting submarines in the PBY "flying boat" primarily in the North African theater. He worked his way up to the rank of Chief Petty Officer and was honorably discharged on October 19, 1945. After WWII he continued his education, graduating from business college while working in banking in Sweetwater, then Kingston and Cleveland before being hired at Sevier County Bank, July 1, 1949; the year became even more special when he married Mae Kimbrough on November 25, 1949 and brought her to Sevier County where they enjoyed a wonderful life together for 60 years.
His total banking career stretched nearly 80 years with over 60 with Sevier County Bank where he served as Cashier, EVP, President, Director and Chairman of the Board. Under his leadership SCB installed the first night-depository, drive-thru teller window, and the first fully networked and encrypted ATMs in Sevier County. He held various positions and received a number of awards from the Tennessee and Independent Bankers Associations. The stories of his vision and intelligence in lending are too numerous to tell but two examples are the total financing of three miles of sidewalks in Pigeon Forge in the 1970s and being the only local bank to participate in the large funding syndication of the 1982 World's Fair because he believed it would benefit Sevier County. He led the formation of Sevier County Bancshares, Inc (SVRH) in 1984 and presided over it for over 25 years. He was integral in the property acquisition, planning, design, construction and opening of the Sevier County Bank headquarters in May 2006, making sure "his" customers and employees were secure, well served and had plenty of free parking. The Summitt Board Room on the 4th Floor was named (without his knowledge) in his honor. He retired as President in 2009 and as a Director of Sevier County Bank and Bancshares in 2012; however, he always kept up with the Bank, banking and especially his long-time customers.
Banking was his occupation and farming his passion; he loved Tennessee Walking Horses and was owner and breeder for many years with a life-time achievement of seeing his TN Walker, Midnight Copy J, ridden by his daughter Mary, win an Amateur World Grand Championship and then circle Neyland Stadium for UT's Homecoming in 1981. He was very active in anything he did whether chairing the building committee for the new First United Methodist Church sanctuary, being treasurer for the Sevierville Lions Club & Smoky Bowl, charter member and treasurer of the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce, Charter shareholder of Sevier Farmers Cooperative, a long-time member of American Legion Post 104 or as trustee and treasurer of Shiloh Memorial Cemetery. Ross and Mae Summitt have surely left a significant legacy that shall endure.
He was preceded in death by his wife; Mae Kimbrough Summitt, parents; Vina Mae (Brakebill) and Murray Dyer Summitt, and sisters; Flora Mae Keene and Helen Galyon.
Survivors:
Sons and daughter-in-law: Joe Jim Summitt, R.B. Summitt II and wife Liz
Daughters: Mary Summitt, Jo Anne Williams and husband Jack
Grandchildren: Bond Jones II and wife Leah, Paul Summitt, Ross Tyler Summitt and wife AnDe, and Kelly Kimbrough Jones
Step-granddaughters: Shari, Nicole, and Amber Adams
Brothers: Robert M. Summitt, and John L. Summitt (Joan)
Special Cousin: Charlie Brakebill
Several nieces and nephews
The family wants to especially acknowledge the Home Instead caregivers who helped make his last days so peaceful.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests friends to consider a donation be made to Shiloh Memorial Cemetery, c/o Lanning Wynn, 113 Joy St., Sevierville, TN 37862 or First United Methodist Church of Sevierville, 214 Cedar St., Sevierville, TN 37862.
The family will receive friends from 4-6:30 PM Tuesday with funeral service to follow at 7 PM at First United Methodist Church in Sevierville with Rev. Bruce Galyon and Rev. Jeff Lambert officiating. Eulogy provided by Gary Wade. Family and friends will gather 10 AM Wednesday at Shiloh Cemetery for graveside service and interment with military honors provided by American Legion Post #104. Arrangements by Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville. Online condolences may be made at (www.atchleyfuneralhome.com)
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 26 Oct 2015.
Longtime Sevier County Bank leader Summitt dies
By JASON DAVIS
SEVIERVILLE — Longtime community business leader Ross Summitt died Saturday morning at his home in Sevierville.
Summitt, 99, was a World War II veteran and farmer, but was best known for his 60-plus years at Sevier County Bank, where he rose from a cashier to the bank's presidency and chairman of the board.
"It’s a huge loss for the community, but all we can do is celebrate a life well-lived," Gary Wade, a friend of Summitt's who will deliver the eulogy at his Tuesday evening funeral, said Monday. "You really can’t mention the name Sevier County Bank without thinking of Ross Summitt. His name has been synonymous with the bank since 1949."
Sevier County Historian Carroll McMahan put Summitt's unique story into context.
"For someone who moved into this community at the time he did — the late 1940s — to earn the acceptance of the people in the manner he did and make the impact he did is phenomenal," McMahan said. "Sevier Countians have not always been that accepting of outsiders so he really had to work to gain people's trust, and he sure made a name for himself in Sevier County."
"It’s a huge loss for the community, but all we can do is celebrate a life well-lived," Wade said. "God blessed him with a long life. He was clearly a man of our greatest generation, having served his country, served his church and been a responsible family man."
After graduating high school in rural Monroe County, Summitt began working in community banking in Sweetwater. His career was disrupted by World War II.
In late October 1941, Summitt volunteered for service with the U.S. Navy. He served all over the world, ferrying planes as a navigator and then hunting submarines in the Consolidated PBY Catalina "flying boat," primarily in the North African theater, family said.
By the time he was honorably discharged on Oct. 19, 1945, Summitt had worked his way up to the rank of chief petty officer.
Following service, he graduated from business college while relaunching his banking career.
That career would take him from Sweetwater to Kingston to Cleveland, before he was hired at Sevier County Bank on July 1, 1949.
Four months later, he married Mae Kimbrough. The couple spent the next 60 years making Sevier County their home. In that time they raised their children, Joe Jim Summitt, R.B. Summitt II, Mary Summitt and Jo Anne Williams, here. Those children would give them four grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.
Under his leadership, Sevier County Bank added numerous innovations, including the first night depository and drive-thru teller window, and the first fully networked and encrypted ATMs in Sevier County.
"It is with great sadness that we mourn the loss of a man who was so incredibly instrumental in the success of Sevier County Bank, as well as the lives of countless individuals, businesses and organizations in our community," said current Sevier County Bank President and CEO Matthew Converse. "There’s no way we could number those stories – generation after generation chose to bank at SCB because of him and his humble way of doing business."
Summitt also held numerous positions with the Tennessee and Independent Bankers Association, and was awarded for his work with the group.
Family shares the tales of his financing three miles of sidewalk in Pigeon Forge and making Sevier County Bank the only local bank to participate in the funding syndication of the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville, "because he believed it would benefit Sevier County."
Summitt led the formation of Sevier County Bancshares, Inc. in 1984 and presided over it for over 25 years, and was integral in the property acquisition, planning, design, construction and opening of the Sevier County Bank headquarters in May 2006.
He retired as president of the bank in 2009 and as a director of Sevier County Bank and Bancshares in 2012.
Several members of the Summitt family continue to serve at the bank in various capacities. Ross’s children Joe Jim Summitt and Jo Anne Williams, son-in-law Jack Williams, and grandson Bond Jones are currently employed at Sevier County Bank, while sons Joe Jim and R.B. also serve as members of the board of directors for both the bank and the holding company.
Away from work, Summitt enjoyed farming and owning and breeding Tennessee walking horses. His horse, Midnight Copy J, ridden by his daughter Mary, won an amateur World Grand Championship and circled Neyland Stadium for the university's homecoming in 1981.
Summitt was among the founding members of the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce, initially formed to help bring jobs and industry to Sevier County.
"He'd roll up his sleeves and get to work, but he wasn't one that expected a lot of praise for what he did, but he never wanted to be in the limelight," said McMahan, who works at the chamber today. That penchant for community service was evident in his involvement in other boards and community service organizations. He was treasurer for the Sevierville Lions Club and Smoky Bowl; a charter shareholder of Sevier Farmers Cooperative; and a long-time member of American Legion Post 104. He was also trustee and treasurer of Shiloh Memorial Cemetery.
Summitt was a member of Sevierville's First United Methodist Church, where he chaired the building committee for the new sanctuary.
The family will receive friends from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday with funeral service to follow at 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Sevierville, with Rev. Bruce Galyon and Rev. Jeff Lambert officiating. Wade will provide the eulogy.
Family and friends will gather at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Shiloh Cemetery for graveside service and interment with military honors provided by American Legion Post 104.
- [S147] Find a Grave, (Memorial: 154251738).
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