Editor’s note: The Tryon Daily Bulletin has collected biographies of all candidates running for seats on the Tryon Town Council. Over the next few weeks, the Bulletin will also run question and answers from area candidates.

 

Doug Arbogast

Doug Arbogast has been a resident of Tryon for about eight years.

He has sat on the Tryon Downtown Development Association (TDDA), Tryon Tourism Development Authority (TTDA) and Small Town Main Street (STMS) boards, as well as currently serving as a Tryon Town Council member.

He is currently employed by CooperRiis.

Bill Crowell

Bill Crowell moved to Polk County in the late 80s and from the very first days he has given his time and talent to various civic organizations, committees and boards.

He moved to this area from Waxhaw, NC, to work with textile manufacturer Tryon Processing, where he was involved with every aspect of the plant from general maintenance to product sales and development.

Crowell then worked in fork lift and heavy equipment sales before he discovered his love of creating with iron.

Here is a brief summary of the past 30 years:
Tryon business owner — Saluda Forge Custom Blacksmithing since 1995; chair of Tryon Travel & Tourism; Tryon Downtown Development Association Board; gives time and talent to grow successful events for Tryon’s economy by working on: Steering committee of Tryon Beer Fest, TDDA April Fools Fest and Tryon Second Saturday Galley Trots; sponsor and volunteer for Summer Tracks Music Series for 15 years; 20-plus years of service on Polk County Chamber of Commerce board of directors; created and chaired Shuckin ’n Shaggin 18 successful years and Lobster Fest for Pacolet Area Conservancy for three years.

Bill Ingham

I am a native of Greenville, S.C., the father of three daughters, grandfather of six and the owner of a dog and two cats.

My daughter Grace attended Saluda Elementary, Tryon Elementary and is now a seventh-grader at Campobello Grambling School and my grandson, Damon, is a junior at Polk County High School.

I had visited Tryon 20 years ago and was reminded of the small town in Connecticut where my father spent his childhood. I was instantly drawn to Tryon and in 1998, shortly after my two older daughters finished college, I closed my Columbia, S.C. plumbing business of 23 years and moved to Tryon to open the Coffeehouse on Trade St.

Since moving to Tryon, I have had the opportunity to work as an operator at the Tryon water treatment plant, gatekeeper at Pearson Falls, have served on the public works committee and as chairman of the ABC board. Currently, I still run the coffeehouse, am a real estate broker and dabble in plumbing.

I look forward to serving as a commissioner for the Town of Tryon and promise to offer accessible, common sense representation.
I respectfully ask for your vote on Nov. 5.

Happy McLeod

On Nov. 5, my name will appear on the ballot for Tryon Town Council.

As an unaffiliated candidate, I am running for one of two vacant seats as an “old timer” and as a “newcomer.”
After my parents died in the early 1980s, our home was sold. In the mid 2000s, I was lucky enough to come back home and buy a cottage in Gillette Woods.

The years in between were spent in the Low Country of South Carolina.

My education and work experience fully qualify me to serve you well on council. I completed my undergraduate work in sociology and graduate work with a master of public administration.

My first career began in education as a teacher, then in human services as an adult protective services worker and finally as an administrator developing community services for people with disabilities and special needs.

I bring to council expertise in budgeting and finance, grant writing, human resources, long and short-term planning, and meeting goals and objectives.
My second career was as a real estate broker licensed in North Carolina and South Carolina, the last three years of which I was part owner in a real estate company on N. Trade Street.

I am a mother and I retired in January 2013.

“I Am Running to Keep Tryon Happy” and I would appreciate your vote.

William “Billy” Moss

I’m William (Billy) Moss.

I was born in the old St. Luke’s hospital June 1960 to Leroy and Annie Moss. Raised in Lynn, I attended Tryon city school system.
I have lived in Tryon with wife, Lynda, for more than 18 years. I also have a daughter, Anita, and grandson, James.

I’m retired after 29 years of service for the Town of Tryon. I’m experienced in the street department and hold licenses in meter tech, water distribution, cross-connect back-flow, waste/water collection and grade 2 waste/water plant.

I attend Tryon Church of God, where I have been a member for 15 years and serve on the deacon board and finance committee. I also enjoy motorcycle riding with friends, the occasional round of golf, and reading westerns and science fiction.

If elected, I look forward to putting my experience back to work for the town.

Alan Peoples

My name is Alan Peoples. My wife Harriet and I have three sons and four grandchildren. I was an educator for 39 years and worked as a principal, a teacher, a coach and an athletic director.

I also served in the US Army and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. I am retired from teaching but still coach at Polk County High. I have a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, a Master’s degree from the University of South Carolina, and further postgraduate work from the University of South Carolina.

I serve on Tryon’s Town Hall Restoration Committee, Jules Larsen’s Cemetery Committee, and the Upstairs [artspace] Board. I am now on the organizational committee for a town museum and am very excited about this addition to Tryon’s attractions. I also have represented Tryon’s citizens as a Polk County Commissioner, serving two years as chairman and two years as vice chairman.

I was born on a farm in Franklin County N.C. My parents left the farm and went to work in the new local cotton mill. When I was in the seventh grade, my father got a job driving a truck for the State of N.C. delivering supplies to the county prison camps.

My first trip to Polk County and Tryon was on a supply run with my father. We spent the night in the guard shack at the local prison in Columbus.
Tryon is home to me now, heart and soul. I have worked hard to make a contribution here and I have been supremely honored to serve as your mayor. With the support of the council and town manager, we have focused on repairing our tarnished image and chaotic finances from twelve years ago.

I see a bright future ahead for our piece of heaven and I would love to continue to guide the way with conscientious fiscal policies, careful development and historic preservation.

Wim Woody

Wim Woody is a native of Tryon, born in the old St. Luke’s Hospital. He attended Tryon City Schools and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Following a career in book manufacturing sales management in the New York City area, he returned to Tryon approximately 25 years ago. For over 13 of those years he owned and operated the Foxtrot Inn Bed & Breakfast.

He is a licensed real estate broker and currently manages several rental properties in and around Tryon. He is the proud father of two grown children and grandfather of six.

Woody is currently completing his first term as commissioner of the Town of Tryon and looks forward to continuing to serve the citizens of his home town.

Jim Wright

Jim Wright was born in Memphis, Tenn. and raised in Morrilton, Ark.

He is married to Kathy and they have one adult son Danny who lives in New York.
Wright attended Arkansas public schools and studied business administration at the University of Arkansas. He received his graduate degree in industrial and labor relations from the University of Oregon.

Wright also served as a military police officer in the Arkansas National Guard. He served in both management and executive positions over the course of his 39-year career in forest products and the paper industry with Weyerhaeuser, Georgia-Pacific and Bowater. Wright retired in 2010 but has been a Tryon resident since 2004.

He has been a member of the Always Tryon leadership group, Tryon Parks Committee, Polk County guardian ad litem – court advocate for children, former president of Gillette Woods Homeowners Association, founding member of the Gillette Woods Irregulars – invasive plant removal, co-producer of Rolling Art, the 2012 Tryon Car and Motorcycle Show; driver for Blitzen Benz Racing; consumer liaison for BMW Motorcycle Owners of America.