| Sources |
- [S60] Sevier County, Tennessee Births 1908-1912, 553.
Blalock, Charley 3 10 1911 M W Sevier Co. Blalock, J.R. Sevier Co. Blalock, Beady C. Sevier Co. Williams, Jettie 7 553
- [S4] Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee), 25 Aug 2009.
BLALOCK, CHARLES LEVADOR - age 98 of Sevierville, passed away Monday, August 24, 2009. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Lila Blanche Watson Blalock; sons Bryan Blalock and Jerry Blalock; parents Jim and Bedia Blalock; sisters Virgie Blalock and Iva Jenkins and husband Stanley; brothers Lillard Blalock and wife Ruby, Arthur Blalock and wife Ann, Westley Blalock, Clyde Blalock and wife Jane, Ralph Blalock, and Hugh Blalock; and granddaughter Tammy Blalock. Survivors: sons and daughters-in-law: Sidney and JoNelda Blalock, Jim and Kati Blalock; daughter-in-law: Jo Blalock; grandchildren: Dana Hughes and husband Matt, Doug Blalock and wife Lori, Kevin Blalock and wife Lori, Julie Hardin and husband Tony, Nikelle Burke and husband Bill, Terra Clabough and husband Mark, April Blalock, Kariss Waite and husband Scott; great-grandchildren: David Hughes, Charles, Lila, and Anna Kate Blalock, Karley and Karson Blalock, Bryson and Dylan Hardin, Rebecca, Rachel, and Will Burke, Brayden, Spencer, and Landon Clabough; step grandchildren: Shannon Hipsher and Katherine Menendez; step great-grandchild: Chucky McDaniel; sisters: Omalee Wilson and Pearl Watson; brothers: Bill Blalock and wife Anna, Ted Blalock and wife Maxine; sister in law: Ita Blalock; special nephews: Ray Beck and Mitchell Blalock; a host of nieces and nephews. Funeral service 2 PM Thursday at First Baptist Church, Sevierville with Dr. Randy Davis officiating. Mr. Blalock's body will lie-in-state from 12-2 PM at the church. Interment will follow the service in Middle Creek Cemetery. Friends may call at their convenience between 2-8 PM Wednesday at Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville. (www.atchleyfuneralhome.com)
- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 24 Aug 2009.
Charles Levador Blalock
March 10, 1911 - August 24, 2009
Resided In: Sevierville, Tennessee
Visitation: August 26, 2009
Service: August 27, 2009
Cemetery: Middle Creek Cemetery
Charles Levador Blalock, age 98 of Sevierville, passed away Monday, August 24, 2009. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Lila Blanche Watson Blalock; sons Bryan Blalock and Jerry Blalock; parents Jim and Bedia Blalock; sisters Virgie Blalock and Iva Jenkins and husband Stanley; brothers Lillard Blalock and wife Ruby, Arthur Blalock and wife Ann, Westley Blalock, Clyde Blalock and wife Jane, Ralph Blalock, and Hugh Blalock; and granddaughter Tammy Blalock.
Survivors:
Sons and Daughters-in-law: Sidney and JoNelda Blalock, Jim and Kati Blalock
Daughter-in-law: Jo Blalock
Grandchildren: Dana Hughes and husband Matt, Doug Blalock and wife Lori, Kevin Blalock and wife Lori, Julie Hardin and husband Tony, Nikelle Burke and husband Bill, Terra Clabough and husband Mark, April Blalock, Kariss Waite and husband Scott
Great-Grandchildren: David Hughes, Charles, Lila, and Anna Kate Blalock, Karley and Karson Blalock, Bryson and Dylan Hardin, Rebecca, Rachel, and Will Burke, Brayden, Spencer, and Landon Clabough
Step grandchildren: Shannon Hipsher and Katherine Menendez
Step Great-Grandchild: Chucky McDaniel
Sisters: Omalee Wilson and Pearl Watson
Brothers: Bill Blalock and wife Anna, Ted Blalock and wife Maxine
Sister in law: Ita Blalock
Special nephews: Ray Beck and Mitchell Blalock
A host of nieces and nephews
Funeral service 2 PM Thursday at First Baptist Church, Sevierville with Dr. Randy Davis officiating. Mr. Blalock’s body will lie-in-state from 12-2 PM at the church. Interment will follow the service in Middle Creek Cemetery. Friends may call at their convenience between 2-8 PM Wednesday at Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville. (www.atchleyfuneralhome.com)
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 25 Aug 2009.
Blalock family patriarch dies at 98
By JEFF FARRELL
jfarrell@themountainpress.com
Aug 25,2009
SEVIERVILLE ? The founder of some of Sevier County's oldest and most well-known businesses died Monday. Charles Blalock, founder of the Blalock businesses, was 98.
The contracting company he helped create paved many of the roads in Sevier County and throughout East Tennessee.
In 1935, he and his family started Blalock Lumber Company with a single, steam-powered portable saw mill. That business grew over the years to include the contracting company of Charles Blalock & Sons, as well as Blalock Equipment and Blalock Ready Mix/Lumber Company. In total, they employ about 500 people full-time and hundreds during the summer.
The contracting company has handled dozens of public works and private projects over the years. It completed the SmartFix project on Interstate 40 in Knoxville this year and is working on the widening of Highway 66.
"They've worked on a lot of projects ranging from small culvert and maintenance type projects and resurfacing, to heavy construction projects," said Paul Degges, chief engineer for the Tennessee Department of Transportation. "Certainly they have been an important construction company in Tennessee."
Family members said Blalock's biggest passions were his family and his business. His home sits on what is now the Parkway; he built the house in 1953 after building a ready-mix concrete plant there in 1950.
His passion for both didn't flag even in the final months of his life, as illustrated by a helicopter ride he took with one of his grandsons to see a project in Newport recently.
"He was probably in his pajamas, because he was pretty sick, but he was determined to go in that helicopter with his grandson," said Sid Blalock, one of his two surviving sons. Both Sid and Jim help manage the companies. They said their father wasn't directly involved in decision making in recent years, but remained interested in all their projects and often offered advice.
It was his vision, they said, that made the businesses so successful. He had a knack for seeing new ideas in business and getting in on them quickly.
Charles grew up as part of a big family in Boogertown Gap; he left school after the eighth grade to help support the family. Creating jobs was always important to him, said his grandson, Doug Blalock, who is also part of the business.
"He loved his employees like family," Doug said. "It was very important to him to provide jobs, not only to his family, but for other people."
He helped many local businesspeople get started, Sid added, but he didn't seek credit for it. "He never wanted accolades for that. He was very private."
Charles also was involved in fund raising activities for several organizations.
"You don't go to any charitable event that they're not represented," Sevierville Mayor Bryan Atchley said. "The (Sevierville) Community Center would not have been built without the Blalock family, or more currently the library and the hospital. ...
"They've made a good living but they've given back time and time again."
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Sevierville. Interment will follow the service in Middle Creek Cemetery.
Visitation will be between 2 and 8 p.m. Wednesday at Atchley Funeral Home in Sevierville.
jfarrell@themountainpress.com
Blalock family patriarch dies at 98
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 26 Aug 2009.
Editorial: Charles Blalock's vision and business acumen meant so much to Sevier County
He lived to be 98 and remained active almost to the very end. Charles Blalock leaves behind a legacy to be honored and admired. The company he helped to start has built or paved many of the roads throughout East Tennessee.
Blalock, who died Monday, is the patriarch of a family that has meant so much to Sevier County. Besides the fact he created hundreds of jobs for local residents, his business gained a reputation throughout the state for fairness, quality work and efficiency.
When you ride over the new stretch of Interstate 40 through downtown Knoxville, it's a Blalock job, all traced to the man who started it all in 1935. The lumber company he founded that year (in the middle of the Depression) led to businesses that specialized in contracting, ready mix concrete and equipment.
Charles Blalock started what became a true family operation. Most of the Blalocks down through the years have had a hand in running or working in the various enterprises that evolved from that original lumber company. When you have a family-run, locally owned operation, things get done and there is more of a sense of community and pride. Those are qualities Charles Blalock insisted on and which he made the hallmark of everything he touched.
Family meant everything to Mr. Blalock. One of the last things he did was take a helicopter ride with one of his grandsons to see a project in Newport. "He was probably in his pajamas, because he was pretty sick, but he was determined to go in that helicopter with his grandson," said Sid Blalock, one of his two surviving sons.
Sons Sid and Jim say their dad wasn't actively involved in the business in recent years, but remained keenly interested in what was going on. Nobody named Blalock ever forgot that it was Charles Blalock's vision that led to the massive operations under the family name today.
It didn't matter whether an employee shared his name or not; all were part of his family. All mattered. He knew that what the hourly worker did on the job was as important as what a family member did in the office. Everybody's input and job performance created the Blalock reputation.
We'll miss Mr. Blalock, but he won't be forgotten. His name will remain on signs, the sides of trucks and on contracts that lead to major construction and road projects throughout this part of Tennessee. He has quite a legacy, one richly deserved.
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 4 Nov 2010.
City honors recently deceased leaders with the John Sevier Award
Jim Blalock, son of John Sevier Award recipient Charles Blalock, Jim McGill of the Sevierville Chamber, and Terra Clabough, granddaughter of Charles Blalock, look at the tree and plaque honoring him. (Curt Habraken/The Mountain Press)
Dr. M. Fran Harmon talks about her father James V. “Jimmie” Turner during the John
By JEFF FARRELL
SEVIERVILLE —Sevierville residents came together Wednesday to honor some of the community leaders who died in the past year.
The John Sevier Award, established three years ago, honors residents who made major contributions to the city during their lives. This year’s winners were Charles Blalock, Mae Summitt, Jimmie Turner and Marian Oates. In their honor, the city and Sevierville Chamber of Commerce planted trees outside the Visitor Center on Winfield Dunn Parkway.
“Sevierville has been very blessed,” said Brenda McCroskey, executive director of the chamber. “This is just our small way of showing we know they were special.”
Mayor Bryan Atchley said if he could pin down one quality all four shared — beyond a love of their home — it was their energy. “They just never stopped,” he said.
Charles Blalock was founder of Blalock & Sons Construction and other businesses bearing the family name; he was one of the community’s leading businessmen for decades.
He started working after finishing the eighth grade, said his son, Jim, but he developed a vision for starting his own business.
As much of a personal success story as he had, his biggest influence might also be all the people he encouraged to pursue their own dreams of starting a business, Jim said.
“I was amazed how many people I didn’t know or didn’t’ know of came by (after his death) and said Charles Blalock helped them starting their own business,” he said.
Summitt was an educator and activist. As a member of the Manthano Club, a service organization for women, she gave of her time and helped encourage many other women who went on to serve the community.
She was married to Ross Summitt, who ran Sevier County Bank for many years starting in 1949. Their son, R.B. Summitt, now president of the bank, spoke about her Tuesday.
His parents “knew the potential of this area, and they picked it,” he said of their move to the area. His mother would think it especially fitting to see a tree planted in her memory, he said. “I know (she) would be honored.”
Turner was a long-time employee at Wade’s Department store and the Corner Store, where he helped generations of people find the right style and fit of clothing, his daughter, Mary Francis Harmon, said. “He never forgot their size, he never forgot what heir favorite color was or what style they wanted.”
But more than that, he was known for teaching Sunday school classes, both at First Baptist Church of Sevierville and on the International Sunday School Lesson on a weekly radio program. He also served on the Sevierville Water Board for many years.
Oates was also an activist in the community, helping spearhead the effort to build the Sevier County Senior Center, and gave her family’s 510-acre Bluff Mountain estate to the Foothills Land Conservancy.
She didn’t enjoy being in the lime light, but often found herself there because of her passion for the community, said her friend, Rose Ann Kile.
With her love of the land, she would have also appreciated knowing a tree had been planed in her honor, Kile said.
“There’s nothing that would please her more than that.”
jfarrell@themountainpress.com
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