'Honorable and astute service:' Outgoing Rogersville Mayor Jim Sells celebrated

ROGERSVILLE — The town of Rogersville showed up to Occasions on the Square Wednesday afternoon to bid Mayor Jim Sells a happy retirement. Sells has served as mayor of Rogersville for 48 years, and is the sixth longest sitting mayor in the United States, state Rep. Gary Hicks said during the celebration. "He's been a good mayor, we worked good together, I've been with him 15 years on the board," Alderman Eloise Edwards said. "It's a sad, but it's a happy time too." Both Hicks and state Sen. Bobby Harshbarger presented Sells with a proclamation from the State of Tennessee, with Hicks saying they were "honored" to do so. "It is fitting that we should specially recognize those citizens who have performed with uncommon devotion and enthusiasm throughout their years of public service," Hicks read. He went on to say Sells has served since 1977 as mayor, and started his "exemplary" public service as alderman in 1971. "Throughout his distinguished career Mayor Sells has demonstrated the utmost professionalism, ability and integrity winning the unbridled respect and admiration of his colleagues and community alike," Hicks said. Hicks and Harshbarger presented Sells with the proclamation for his "honorable and astute service to the people of Tennessee," to applause from those present. "I want to thank everybody for coming," Sells said. "I want to thank everybody, especially the town of Rogersville . . . I can't tell you how much this means to me." Edwards helped put on the event, and she said Sells' priorities while mayor were whatever was best for Rogersville. "He always had the town in his interest," Edwards said. ". . . As an alderman, I can say that we weighed all circumstances and we come up with what's best for the town." Although it can be a thankless job, Edwards said it is rewarding. The mayoral seat is a four year term, and since Sells continued to be reelected, he was able to complete many projects. "We wanted to just let him know how much we appreciate him," she said. Many people attended the event, including Hawkins County Mayor Mark DeWitte, Sheriff Ronnie Lawson and many other local politicians and first responders. Food was served and people could mingle, with many shaking Sells' hand and expressing their gratitude and well wishes.