His last meeting as an Effingham County commissioner behind him, Hubert “Bucky” Sapp was hailed as a man of integrity who didn’t mind digging in his heels when he thought he was right.
Commissioners past and present, family members and other friends gathered in the Effingham County administrative complex Tuesday evening to give Sapp a send off into retirement. Sapp’s 12 years on the board as 1st District commissioner will come to an end Jan. 1, though his last meeting was Dec. 9.
“Mr. Sapp is one of the two most hard-headed commissioners I have ever met,” said 5th District commissioner Verna Phillips, who succeeded Sapp as board chairman. “I ought to know, because I’m the other one. I think we have grown to respect each other over time. When he speaks, people listen, and he knows what he’s talking about.”
His son, Richie Sapp, said government took a while for his father, who was used to getting the tools and material he needed and fixing things right away, to grow accustomed to.
“That’s the hardest thing about government,” he said. “It just doesn’t happen today.”
His son also said Sapp showed his family and others the value of integrity.
“He made decisions he thought were the best for the county and his district, and he stood behind them,” Richie Sapp said. “We’re proud of him, and we’re proud of the way he conducted himself.”
Former commissioner Homer Lee Wallace added that Sapp did his homework before each meeting.
“If he thought he was right and you thought you were right, you had to prove to him you were right,” Wallace said.
Former commission chairman Gregg Howze said he never disagreed with Sapp much, “and when we did, it didn’t take him long to change my mind. I really admire him. He is a fine man.”
Former commissioner Jerry Smith added that while several others on the board had college degrees, “Mr. Sapp had more common sense than all of us put together,” he said.
“It was an honor and a privilege to serve with him and he is a man of integrity.”
Sapp’s seat will be taken by Bob Brantley, who ran unopposed.
