T. B. Lovelace

Address by T. B. Lovelace

From The Forest City Courier, June 29, 1922

Ladies and Gentlemen: I am unable to make a talk that would be interesting to you. I see all the list before me what is to follow me and all have their notes and I have none. What I say is just as it comes to me.

“…if he saw a man was trying to help himself he would give him a chance..”

I knew Mr. Haynes most intimately. We were associated in business before his death for about twenty-five years and in a number of different enterprises and corporations; and he and I were associated personally together out of corporations and what I am going to say I hope will be beneficial to some of the people. As I said, I knew him most intimately. We were closely associated for so long that I found him a real gentleman, a real man, absolutely fair and honorable and found him willing to help those that would help themselves. If he did help a person who would not help themselves, he was done with that person, but if he saw a man was trying to help himself he would give him a chance.

I never knew him in my life—and I knew a great deal of his business—to press anybody if they did what they said they would do; and I never knew him to turn anybody down for help; and I think that he was one of the greatest builders I know, that he was one of the greatest builders in this country. He planned his work far ahead. He did not plan it a few minutes ahead or a day ahead but would plan for months ahead and years ahead and he made every effort to work out and accomplish his plans. I was to have five minutes but these other fellows took up my time and so I will have to be brief.

But I want to say further that Raleigh Haynes is dead and the mantle fell on Charles Haynes, a very responsible position and I think that he is doing himself honor and is due a great deal of credit for what he has done in the way of school building for the benefit of the people and this memorial building. I think the people should be very proud indeed and appreciate what he has done because the mantle has fallen on him and, I think he has done worthily, what he has done.