Cherokee County Interim Administrator Ben Clary said he will always be grateful to former county administrator Tom Lynn for hiring him.

Lynn, who was working as a truck driver, died unexpectedly this week of an apparent heart attack while in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Lynn served as Cherokee County administrator from 1997-'99.

"He hired me out at vehicle maintenance," Clary said. "I thought he was a fine person who was dedicated to his work. I thought a lot of him. He was good to me. I regret that this happened and I regret it for his family."

Cherokee County Council Chairman Hoke Parris said Lynn accomplished much during his brief stay, including finalizing a contract with a private waste company when the county closed its landfill.

"I thought a lot of Tom," Parris said. "I had no complaints with him. He did an outstanding thing when he got CCC (Carolina Container Corp.) to take our trash."