With 40 years of experience at the Union County Road Department, no one knew Union County’s 546 miles of roads better than Tommy Tanner, and the longtime road superintendent will be missed for both his dedication to the job and friendship to all who knew him.
Tanner passed away on Sept. 30 following a brief illness. He was 70 years old.
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Because Tanner left such big shoes to fill, the Commissioner’s Office and Road Department are taking their time sorting out a replacement for the vacant leadership position. In the meantime, the county has been looking for ways to recognize his contributions.
A couple of things are in the works, but already, the Road Department has dedicated its newest piece of equipment to Tanner’s memory: a 2026 Caterpillar 420 backhoe loader nicknamed “Tom Cat.”
It’s a fitting tribute, as Tanner wanted the backhoe for several years and helped plan for and purchase the equipment to better serve the needs of the county.
Unfortunately, the backhoe could not be delivered before Tanner’s death. However, the equipment made it in time to be featured in the Sorghum in the Mountains Parade on Saturday, Oct. 17, complete with a banner honoring Tanner’s legacy.
According to County Manager Tony Hughes, the backhoe purchase was a necessary addition to the fleet.
The Road Department has a New Holland backhoe that splits time between Suches and the rest of the county. That distance has required loading and transport via trailer to share between projects, creating work delays and added fuel costs.
Sharing becomes even trickier in winter because the New Holland is needed to load road salt in Suches for lack of a dedicated loader there. But both areas have what they need year-round now that the county has another backhoe, resulting in greater time and fuel efficiency.
And since it’s a rubber-tire, four-wheel drive vehicle, the backhoe will be safe enough and close enough to be driven directly to and between many project sites instead of requiring transport.
Culvert maintenance, ditching and shoulders will be Tom Cat’s primary functions, with the clamshell telescopic boom being particularly ideal for ditching and culverts; Sole Commissioner Harold Collins has committed to making progress on a lengthy culvert maintenance list.
There are more than 4,000 culverts in the county, with 900-plus needing significant repair to ensure roadside stormwater is kept in check. So, the new backhoe will have lots to do, to be aided by an expected lifetime of at least 20 years similar to other department equipment.
In consultation with Tanner, who believed the new equipment would greatly benefit the county, Collins and the Road Department bought the backhoe for $135,415 using proceeds from the voter-backed Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.
Road Supervisor Christian Edwards said SPLOST touches every aspect of the Road Department, purchasing nearly all materials, like asphalt, culverts and the 450 tons of road salt the county just acquired for winter, plus equipment like spreader trucks, mowers, dump trucks and more.
SPLOST not only provides needed equipment and materials to maintain county roads, but it also keeps Union out of debt by being available to fund costly but necessary projects that inevitably arise, like bridge replacements or recovery from natural disaster damage, Edwards said.
Commissioner Collins agreed, highlighting the overall importance of SPLOST to the Road Department regarding everything from emergency expenses to ongoing road maintenance and improvements.
“My main priority is getting our infrastructure up to date,” Collins said. “That’s the reason we need new equipment, something these guys can work with and be more efficient to get the job done faster, better, safer.”
Eventually, Collins hopes to deploy the backhoe with a full-time, three-man culvert crew to start making a dent in the long maintenance list. The crew will consist of existing employees but will take time to put into action, as the Road Department is still adjusting to the loss of its leader.
Tanner joined the Road Department in 1986 under former commissioner Glenn Gooch. He took over as superintendent after about 10 years, though he never stopped working right alongside his employees, even on stormy nights, gaining their trust, respect and friendship along the way.
Edwards worked with Tanner nearly every day and described him as a kind man who never had a cross word for anybody, noting also his sense of humor as well as his eagerness to learn from others, even after 40 years at the department.
Maintenance Shop Supervisor Charles “Snuffy” Wright said he was a generous boss, which made it easy to work for him, and he admired Tanner’s dedication to the job, saying the tireless superintendent never let the Road Department stray far from his thoughts, even at home.
County Manager Hughes commended Tanner for his strong leadership and commitment to public service, and Commissioner Collins said he was always willing to listen and get on the same page about any and all work at the Road Department.
Tanner’s funeral services were held on Oct. 4, with a eulogy by former commissioner Lamar Paris and the Road Department serving as pallbearers along with his grandsons.
Away from the Road Department, Tanner was a loving and caring husband, brother and grandfather who enjoyed deer hunting, watching NASCAR, and spending time with his family, according to his obituary.
