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Today’s newsletter is sponsored by the Scott County Chamber of Commerce. Since 1954, the Scott County Chamber of Commerce has advocated for a strong community by supporting stronger infrastructure and leadership.
Remembering Oneida Mayor Bob Carson
Since the earliest days of Oneida, the Carson family has been one of the town’s most prominent, first settling the Tunnel Hill area east of town, then spreading into the Ponderosa and Cherry Fork areas, and eventually beyond.
In the 1970s, one of the family, Robert “Bob” Carson, was elected mayor of Oneida, serving three terms (for a total of six years) and overseeing significant growth of the town.
This week’s “Echoes in Time” remembers the tenure of Bob Carson, the educator-turned-mayor of Oneida.
Born July 23, 1908, Robert Lee Carson was the son of James Monroe Carson (1872-1934) and Nancy Cecil (1874-1948).
Robert Carson was from the branch of Carsons that settled on Cherry Fork. The Cecil family was well-established there by the time his father and mother were married. Nancy was the daughter of William Riley Cecil (1828-1903) and Nancy West (1833-1900). Her brothers included John Wesley Cecil, Reason Burl Cecil and William Riley Cecil Jr., all of whom were killed in the Cecil-West-Smith feud of the 1880s, as well as Rev. George Washington Cecil, who would become one of the best-known ministers in Scott County’s history. James Monroe Carson was the son of Samuel Carson (1838-1925) and Emily Reed (1849-1917). Emily was descended from the Reed family at New River that dated back to Revolutionary War veteran John Reed — her great-grandfather. Samuel Carson was the son of John Linn Carson and Jane Triplett, the first generation of Carsons to settle in what would become Scott County.
Robert Carson graduated from Oneida High School and then attended Tennessee Polytechnic Institute in Cookeville, which we know today as Tennessee Tech University. There, he obtained his teaching license and returned to Scott County to enjoy a notable career as an educator — teaching for 43 years at Huntsville High School, Oneida High School, and various other schools, including schools at Low Gap, Sulfur Springs (near Helenwood) and Annadell.
Carson was civic-minded, and eventually entered the field of politics. He was elected to the Scott County Quarterly Court for two terms as a squire (which we know today as County Commissioner), and also served on the board of directors for the Scott County Hospital.
It was in 1973 that Carson made his first run for mayor of Oneida. He won that election, replacing William N. Proctor. He won the election on Nov. 7 by a count of 310 votes to 282 for Carson. (Robert Blevins received 69 votes.) Carson was re-elected in 1975 and 1977 without opposition.
Carson oversaw a period of notable growth as the mayor of Oneida. It was during his tenure as mayor that the current Oneida Municipal Services Building was constructed at the corner of Alberta Street and Municipal Drive on what we now know as the “Four Lane.” The new building housed the town’s administrative offices, police department and jail, fire department, city court, street department, and water department. Previously, city hall and the town’s jail were located on North Main Street, where the Scott County Senior Citizens Center is now located.
Carson’s tenure also saw Oneida City Park established. The park has grown to become recognized as one of the best small-town municipal parks in Tennessee. And it was during his time in office that construction began on the railroad overpass on Paint Rock Road, which allowed the highway to bypass the Tibbals wood flooring plant. Prior to the overpass, which was completed after Carson left office, traffic traveling to or from Paint Rock into the downtown area had to stop for passing trains, then travel through the heavily industrialized area where Tibbals was located.
Finally, Carson’s tenure saw Oneida expand west into the Coopertown area, with the annexation of the Green Hills and Skyline subdivisions.
Although not directly impacted by the mayor’s office, Carson was in office when the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area was established by Congress in 1974, and while it was being developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He said in 1978 that the town is “optimistic” aobut the BSF, adding that “we’ll be ready when the visitors come.”
The most colorful part of Carson’s tenure as mayor came in 1977, amid a feud with businessman George Taylor, who chaired the Oneida Planning Commission. By that time, Carson was in his 70s, and he was accused of punching the 41-year-old Taylor during an argument, resulting in a black eye. The incident made headlines in Knoxville, but Taylor opted not to press charges. “He has my sympathies because he has a tough job,” Taylor said, and added that the incident was “unfortunate.”
The two had been arguing over a proposed youth shelter, which had proven to be a controversial topic. Taylor was for the shelter, and the mayor (along with the city council) was opposed to it.
Carson was succeeded as mayor by Rodney West.
Carson married Alta Gibson (1913-1955), and they had two sons: Robert L. “Robby” Carson Jr., and Anthony “Tony” Carson.
Robby Carson, who later served as chief detective under his cousin, Scott County Sheriff Jim Carson, was Oneida’s municpal judge for a period of time after his father was the town’s mayor.
Bob Carson died in 2009, at age 100. He is buried at Cecil Cemetery in the Cherry Fork community.
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Our Newsletters:
• Monday morning: The Daybreaker (news & the week ahead)
• Tuesday: Echoes from the Past (stories of our history)
• Wednesday: Threads of Life (obituaries)
• Thursday evening: The Weekender (news & the weekend)
• Friday: Friday Features (beyond the news)
• Sunday: Varsity (a weekly sports recap)