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- Greenville News, The (SC)
March 11, 2003
J. Kenneth Cass,
Greenville
J. Kenneth Cass, 97, former resident of East Earle Street for many years, died Sunday, March 9, 2003, at Laurel Baye Health Care, Greenville.
Born in Elizabethton, Tenn., Sept. 20, 1905, he was a son of the lateCapt. Edmund Catlette and Lucy Powell Wilcox Cass. His wife, Othella Balentine Cass, died January 7, 2000.
Mr. Cass was owner of the Kenneth Cass Tire Co. from 1931 until 1974 and was also the former secretary of Balentine Packing Co. In 1965, hewas appointed special representative and later manager of the New South Life Insurance Co., Greenville office, until his retirement Sept. 1, 1982.
Mr. Cass served on the City Council for 28 years, 14 years as an alderman and 14 years as mayor. He was elected mayor in 1947 and served until his retirement in 1961. During World War II, he served as commander of auxiliary police of Greenville Civilian Defense. Also, he servedon the Phyllis Wheatley Board, was a charter member of the American Business Club, a member of the Greenville City Water Works Commission, president of the S.C. Municipal Association, and was one of the organizers of the Greenville United Fund.
Mr. Cass was a graduate of Greenville Senior High School and graduated from Furman University, class of 1930, with a B.S. degree. While atFurman, he was captain of the football team, president of the Block FClub and a member of SAE Social Fraternity. Recently, he was recognized as the oldest living Furman University football player. He has alsoserved Furman as president of the Furman University Hurricane Club for eight years and as a member of the Furman University Athletic Hall of Fame. In addition, he was one of the founders and member of the Board of Directors of the Greenville Touchdown Club and president of the Greater Greenville Baseball Club, Inc.
A member of Buncombe Street United Methodist Church, he was a former chairman of the Board of Stewards and a member of the John M. Holmes Bible Class.
Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Kenneth D. Herron of Greenville sons and daughters-in-law, James Kenneth Cass, Jr. and Fran of Chapin, and William Edmund Cass and Robert Balentine Cass, both of Atlanta, Ga. eight grandchildren, Melinda Ann Cass Brisendine of Las Vegas, Nev., James Kenneth Cass, III of Greenville, Brian O'Neil Cass and David Charlton Cass of Chapin, Susan Herron Bennett and husband, Don, David Cass Herron and wife, Dolly, Elizabeth Herron Dobsonand husband, Daniel, all of Greenville, Kenneth 'Chip' Herron, Jr. and wife, Dawn, of Orlando, Fla. and 11 great-grandchildren, Johnathon David Bennett, Stephen Christopher Bennett, Kenneth Fox Herron, HunterCass Herron, Chase Rocher Herron, Lillian Lynn Herron, John Forrest Riddle, Gracie Cass Herron, Ellen Kathleen Dobson, Ashley Caroline Dobson, and Dana Eileen Dobson.
Visitation will be prior to the service Wednesday from 10:30 11:45 a.m. in the parlor of Buncombe Street United Methodist Church. The funeral service, conducted by the Rev. Douglas A. Bowling and assisted by the Rev. William Claytor and the Rev. Robert Hall, will follow in the sanctuary at noon. Interment will be in Springwood Cemetery, Section R.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Buncombe Street United Methodist Church, 200 Buncombe St., Greenville, SC 29601, or to a charity of one's choice.
The family is at the home of the daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth D. Herron, 20 Arcadia Drive, Greenville. -- Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown.
Former Greenville mayor Cass dies
Greenville News, The (SC)
March 10, 2003 (Metro Section, Page 1B)
Author: Paul Alongi; StaffThe Greenville News= Final
Estimated printed pages: 1
By Paul Alongi
STAFF_WRITER
palongi@greenville.com
J. Kenneth Cass, who helped expand Greenville during his 14 years as mayor, died of natural causes Sunday, family members said. He was 97.
Cass was mayor from 1947 to 1961 and served several terms as city councilman. The Church Street bridge, which offers a panoramic view of downtown Greenville, is named for him.
Former mayor Cooper White, who served from 1969 to 1971, said Cass was instrumental in annexing West Greenville and the Augusta Road area.
He also fought to make Church Street into a main highway through the city, White said. Before that, traffic was routed down Main Street.
'The city benefited tremendously by his leadership,' White said.
Under Cass, the city ballooned from 41/2 square miles to 28 square miles, and its population jumped from 34,000 to 70,000.
Cass owned Kenneth Cass Tire Co. until he sold it in 1974, said his son-in-law Kenneth Herron.
Mayor Knox White said Cass helped usher in a sea change for Greenville after World War II. Newcomers and an array of businesses were starting to discover the city of textile mills, he said.
Cass attended Greenville High School, then went on to Furman University, graduating in 1930.
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1905 - 2003 (97 years)
Children