Clyde Erwin
Clyde Atkinson Erwin was born in Georgia in 1896. In 1930, according to that year’s Federal Census, he lived on West 6th Street in Rutherfordton with his wife Evelyn, daughter Frances, and son Clyde A., Jr.
About 1921 he became the first superintendent of Cliffside School. Before the end of the decade he advanced to the position of superintendent of Rutherford County Schools. In 1935 became the Superintendent of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, a post he held for many years.
There are two schools in Asheville, NC, bearing his name: Clyde A. Erwin High School and Clyde A. Erwin Middle School.
He died in 1952 and is buried in Waco (Capernium) Cemetery in Cleveland County, NC. (Source W D Floyd website.)
Address by Clyde Erwin
From The Forest City Courier, June 29, 1922
Ladies and Gentlemen: We are met here tonight to pay our tribute to the memory of Raleigh Rutherford Haynes. It seems to me, as I have sat here, I could feel the spirit of his friendship still brooding over us, and I am sure that from his position in the golden circle of the infinite, as be looks down on us tonight, there must be in his heart a great peace as this magnificent gift, this memorial building has been made to his peopte in his honor. And I am sure that the name of Raleigh Rutherford Haynes has been carved in the hearts of his fellow men in the terms of the service he has rendered to them; and I feel that there is no greater way for a man to honor the name of his fellow men, than in terms of service. I am sure that as the days go by and Cliffside grows into a bigger and more enterprising town, that the name of Raleigh Rutherford Haynes will become very clear, and I am sure that as his ideals are carried out, his memory will become even dearer. It was not my privilege to know this great man and yet I wonder if I do not know him because I have seen his foot prints on the sands of time. I have seen his handiwork as it was wrought by him.
And, ladies and gentlemen, we have with us tonight as our principle speaker a.man who has also written his name in letters of gold in terms of service in the hearts of his people. All over Rutherford county, all over the State of North Carolina, he has served his people well, and the State of North Carolina has cause to be justly proud of the man who has been called forth by the common people of North Carolina to help make the political history of this great state, a man who has rendered service to his State on every occasion, and a man who has written his name already in the archives of history. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my privilege to introduce to you tonight a man for whom I believe the State of North Carolina holds even higher honors and which she shall gladly shower upon him some day in the future. It is my very great privilege and honor to introduce to you, Honorable Clyde R. Hoey.
Reprinted with permission from The Daily Courier. Copyright owned by The Daily Courier.
