Historic Tenure For Winnsboro Mayor
by
Maryann Miller
On May 5, 2001 Carolyn Jones was elected Mayor of Winnsboro, beating incumbent Dayne Redding by 26 votes. According to news reports at the time, Redding had created considerable dissension in city government and the community, so people were obviously ready for a fresh start. She continues to serve and just started her 10th year as Mayor, the longest tenure for a Winnsboro Mayor ever. The longest time in office prior to Ms. Jones was R. B. Howell who served from 1923 to 1931.
Carolyn first decided to run after several people asked her to consider the office. She thought about it and realized that there were some things that she wanted to see happen in the city. The main one being creating a unified community that would work together for the good of all. "I'm not sure they realized I would be such a 'hands on' mayor or they might not have asked," she joked.
Some of her greatest challenges have been not having enough money to do the really necessary things such as street repairs. "Then there's the job of trying to keep everyone happy," she said. "That is a challenge for any elected official."
Carolyn has accomplished a lot in her nine years in office and one that she is particularly proud of is her effort to save the city considerable money when a new waste water plant was needed. " I suggested to the City Administrator that the city needed to consult the original builders," she said. "Since the first plant had been built, new engineers had entered the scene and the council was ready to go with them and their recommendation of a new plant that would cost five million dollars. Consulting the original builders, the city retrofitted the waste water plant for three and one-half million.This suggestion saved the city one and half million dollars.
"At the time, the plant was built in the 70’s the builders had plans ready to expand when needed, but no one thought to find out this information until Ronny Knight and I did the research. Fortunately, the city had a City Administrator who was willing to work with me to find the best approach." 
L-R Jerry Hopper, Billie Ruth Sutherland, Bill Griffin, Mayor Carolyn Jones, Pat Patrick, Lori Whorff, as they conduct City Council business on May 11, when Carolyn officially started her 10th year as mayor.
Carolyn Ann Saunders was born in Henderson, Texas, and her family moved to Shreveport, LA when she was 6 months old, returning to Texas when she was four. The family lived on a farm between Winnsboro and Mt. Vernon and she rode her horse on the property that is now Purley Gates Retreat Center. "I spent my early childhood riding and learning how to work on a farm, Carolyn said. " My dad was a great teacher, and he thought I needed a lot of skills from farming to receiving a higher education."
Some of her special memories include traveling with her family in the summers. She said that was unusual for someone who lived in East Texas on a farm. "I still remember many of these trips especially the one in either 1939 or 1940 to the World's Fair in New York City," she said.. "And I remember the trip to the top of the Empire State Building. A friend of my parents made animals out of balloons, and we let them loose from the top of the building. At that time, the walkway around the top of the building was open with only the concrete wall around the outside."
Carolyn had her first airplane ride at the age of 4. "My aunt and uncle put me and my doll on a commercial flight from Kansas City, Missouri to Indianapolis, Indiana to meet my parents," she said. "I flew alone with the stewardess's watching over me. Then in the 40's I spent a lot of time flying with my parents who had their own plane."
When World War II started, Carolyn's father was designated as an airplane spotter, and he turned some of the spotting over to Carolyn because he was away from home a lot. "I was only nine, but I learned all the airplanes that were flying at that time so I could do the job," she said. "If we saw anything suspicious we had a number to call to report it."
All through her school years, including college, Carolyn took music lessons -- from piano to clarinet, saxophone, flute, and oboe. She said she even played the ukulele, at one time. "But I didn't like to practice," she said. "In fact, if I was offered a choice of practicing the piano or washing dishes, I always chose washing dishes."
Carolyn played in the Winnsboro High School Band and the SMU Mustang Band. Both in Winnsboro High and SMU she was honored to be a majorette.
After college, she returned to Winnsboro, supposedly, temporarily, and taught school for two years. "Circumstances changed and I’m still here today, after 57 years of a temporary situation."
On June 15, 1957, she married J.D. Jones in the beautiful, historic Methodist Church in Winnsboro. In 1959, they bought a house and acreage on the outskirts of Winnsboro, where they still live today. J.D. owned the Winnsboro Livestock Commission Company from 1947 to 1978. He and his partner, during this time, started bringing stocker cattle to this area from South Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Arkansas. They were the cattlemen who initiated the cattle industry in and around Winnsboro.
Carolyn resigned from the WISD in 1958 and had their only child in 1959, spending the next ten years as a homemaker. In 1968, she began working part time for Larry Landers, D.C. "Over the previous years, I had developed many health issues with one being horrendous headaches," she said.. "Before working for Dr. Landers, I received treatment from him and started getting well. If not for this type health care, I would not have been able to do most of the things I’ve done for the past 40 years. Properly applied Chiropractic care saved my life."
While working for Dr. Landers, Carolyn also volunteered with the Autumn Trails Association. She was a Board member and for a number of years was chairman of the pageant. "I was also the first Autumn Trails woman tractor driver in the 60’s, she said.
Her interest in city government started in 1995 when she began attending City Council meetings. In 1997, she began attending Chamber of Commerce meetings, and in 2000-2001 was a founding member of Trails Country Center of the Arts -- now the Winnsboro Center for the Arts. Before she resigned in 2002 due to mayoral duties, she typed the first By-Laws of this organization. In about 1997, she became a member of the Winnsboro Economic Development Corporation, and was also a member of the Planning and Zoning Board around this time. She was Secretary of the Winnsboro Humane Society and raised over $10,000. for a new shelter. She was voted Volunteer of the Year in 1999 and Woman of the Year in 2000.
Part of a beautification plan for Winnsboro that was developed in 1997 was a mandate that the mayor lead the program for celebrating Winnsboro’s Sesquicentennial. "In 2002 a committee was formed by me that I later named the 'Dream Team',” Carolyn said. "And itt was, indeed, a Dream Team. Members were Sue Hamm, Bob Hibbard, Carolyn Jones, Ronny Knight, Georgia Lange Denise Miranda. For the next two years every member worked diligently to honor Winnsboro during its 150th year. During the entire year of 2004 events happened relating to the Sesquicentennial, nicknamed the Sesqui. Each event was outstanding with cooperation and help from the entire community. It has been one of the highlights of being mayor.
"I felt, early on, that I wanted to be a mayor who knew her city," Carolyn continued, "And the only way I knew to do so was to become involved with everything I could be involved in. Therefore, I remained an Associate member of the Chamber of Commerce, continued being a member of the Winnsboro Economic Development Corporation Board (a requirement of the mayor), Vice-President of Enough is Enough Drug Task Force, President of the newly formed Winnsboro Community Foundation. I attend the Main Street Program Meetings, attended the Round Tables when they were in effect, ex-officio of the Airport Board and attend Planning and Zoning meetings. Now, am working with the Winnsboro Community Resource Center. I am also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary."
In reflecting on her years as mayor, Carolyn said there was not much that she would change if she had a chance, although she did say she wished she had defended herself when she was wrongly criticized. "It may have made no difference," she said. "But those interested would have known the other side of the story. The only way my side is known has been on a one on one basis."
The office will be up for reelection in May 2011, and Carolyn is considering running again. She said she sees a real need for continuity in leadership. "When there isn’t continuity things are constantly changing and nothing can be satisfactorily completed.. Plus, there are several projects I would like to see completed."
In the near future Carolyn would like to complete the history project which in turn should attract visitors who are interested in history and genealogy. In the long term, she would like to see Winnsboro as a wonderful, friendly little town that has maintained its small town atmosphere while offering its citizens the conveniences and opportunities of a larger city.. i.e. live music, unique stores, adequate housing. She would also like to see Winnsboro become a full-fledged destination city and continue to attract those who are eager to make Winnsboro a better place to live
Carolyn concluded by saying, "I am so proud to be a part of what has happened over the past 9 years. Winnsboro has the right combination of people to make it happen. The synergy has been perfect."
Some of those people who continue to serve Winnsboro well are (L-R) Laura Mauro, Ronny Knight, and Lori Whorff, and Carolyn was proud to administer the oath of office as they took seats on the current City Council.
WINNSBORO HISTORY
MAYORS OF WINNSBORO
2001 - Carolyn S. Jones
1997 – 2001 Dayne Redding
1991 – 1997 Jerry Hopper
1989 – 1991 Dan Hubbell
1987 – 1989 Ricky Swanner
1985 – 1987 Lee Ray
1983 – 1985 John Gary Cain
1982 – 1983 Fred Durham
1978 – 1982 Allen Cook – resigned 08/16/82
1977 - 1978 Jim Livingston
1976 – 1977 K. Mike Dossett
1975 – 1976 Marcus Taylor – resigned 09/7/76
1973 – 1975 Homer Smith
1968 – 1973 Frank White
1968 – 1968 John P. Campbell
1967 – 1968 A. D. Gearner, Sr. 0 resigned 02/68
1964 – 1967 Lee Ray
1962 – 1964 Elizabeth Suiter – died 10/14/64
1961 – 1962 E. L. Neyland – died 10/28/62
1955 – 1961 Arthur Nichols
1953 - 1955 E. L. Neyland
1949 – 1953 Malvin Cain
1945 – 1949 J. E. Old
1942 – 1945 Alf Morris
1941 - 1942 J.E. Old
1937 - 1941 R. H. McCrary
1931 - 1937 C. M. Cain
1923 - 1931 R. B. Howell
1919 - 1923 Gordon Alvis
1915 - 1919 O.Marvin Thomas
1914 - 1915 J. F. Hitt
1909 - 1914 W. D. Suiter
1906 - 1909 R.B. Howell