08 LC 34
1460
House
Resolution 1075
By:
Representative Bridges of the
10th
A
RESOLUTION
Celebrating
the life of Ottis L. Stonecypher, Sr., and dedicating a road in his memory; and
for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
Ottis L. Stonecypher, Sr., was born on February 8, 1930, at a private residence
in Habersham County; he was the second of four children in his family;
and
WHEREAS,
he was raised on a farm in the Clarkesville-Mount Airy area and attended the
Hills Switch School until he began his working life; and
WHEREAS,
he had been married to Treelis Ward Stonecypher for almost 30 years at the time
of his death and he had three children, five grandchildren, and two
great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS,
he was killed in an automobile accident on May 13, 2002, while returning from a
cattle sale; and
WHEREAS,
Stonecypher´s professional life was more than full, and he was known as
many things to many people; he was a businessman, a farmer, a mentor, an
advisor, a leader, a family man, and a friend; and
WHEREAS,
at one point, he owned seven different Tastee-Freeze franchises all over
Northeast Georgia; eventually he withdrew from the franchises and maintained two
restaurants on his own, named Stoney´s Family Restaurant, located in
Clarkesville and Cleveland, Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
Stoney was also an avid cattle farmer, averaging between 500 and 600 head of
cattle at any given time, and particularly enjoyed this aspect of his life,
joining several boards and committees related to farming; he was a board member
with North Georgia Cattlemen´s Association as well as the state-wide
Georgia Cattlemen´s Association, and he was on the Georgia Beef Board;
and
WHEREAS,
he won many awards during his life and after his death; the livestock pavilion
at the Habersham County Fairgrounds was renamed and dedicated to Ottis
Stonecypher, Sr., for his lifelong commitment to farming and raising cattle; the
Habersham County Farm Bureau building was renamed Ottis Stonecypher, Sr.
Building, and they awarded him the Outstanding Dedication and Leadership Award;
the Georgia Farm Bureau honored Stonecypher with the Lifelong Commitment Award;
he also received the Georgia and Habersham County Farm Bureau Community Leader
Award and the Upper Chattahoochee Farm Family of the Year Award;
and
WHEREAS,
he was always very community-minded, staying involved in most all aspects of the
betterment of Habersham County life; he was chairman of the board at Habersham
County Medical Center, president of Habersham County Farm Bureau, and sat on its
board; and he was also a board member of Georgia Farm Bureau and Community Bank
and Trust; and
WHEREAS,
Stonecypher was in the Charter Class of Leadership Habersham and was a member of
the Mountaineer Shrine Club and Yaarab Temple; he was involved in many aspects
of North Georgia community life and was well respected in all he did;
and
WHEREAS,
he was a Korean War Veteran and is buried in the VFW Cemetery in Demorest,
Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
everyone Stonecypher knew, and those who knew him, respected and admired him as
a determined, hard worker and a self-made man; a person would be hard-pressed to
find someone that did not like Stoney, as he would help anyone in any way he
could, throughout his life; his legacy is one of dedication and hard work,
compassion and generosity; he will be remembered as one of Northeast
Georgia´s finest citizens, and is greatly missed.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the members of
this body celebrate the example of a life well-lived demonstrated by Ottis L.
Stonecypher, Sr., and offer their sincerest condolences to his family and
friends upon his passing.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a portion of SR 197 from Mt. Airy to its intersection
with SR 17, in Habersham County, be dedicated as the Ottis L. Stonecypher, Sr.
Memorial Highway.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the family of
Ottis L. Stonecypher, Sr., and to the Department of Transportation.