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Those early years taught Newman that success isn\u2019t measured solely by the work accomplished but by the people beside you while doing it \u2014 a philosophy that continues to guide him today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Newman said his foundation was built first in the home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, of course, my mom, dad, and grandparents,\u201d he said. \u201cI was raised in a good Christian home. My influences and the love that I received in our home were special.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Outside the home, educators helped shape his future. Newman credits his agriculture teacher and National FFA Organization advisor, Mr. Ralph Hastings, as a major influence. He also points to Dr. Cecil E. Byrd and Dr. Farris Beasley as mentors whose guidance left a lasting impression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those influences would eventually lead Newman to careers as a veterinarian, an educator at Motlow State Community College, a real estate broker, and a county commissioner before he sought the county\u2019s highest elected office. I think all of that helps prepare in the best way possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ironically, Newman says politics was never part of the original plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Former Lincoln County Mayor Jerry Mansfield encouraged him to take that first step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI helped him when he was running for county mayor,\u201d he said. \u201cJust his influence and seeing how he worked, and that he did such a good job. He was a major reason I ran for commissioner and then for county mayor. He was definitely an influence on my life, even though we\u2019re about the same age.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor the descendants of those who worked on farms and dairies that are still here, they\u2019re still giving an honest day\u2019s work for an honest day\u2019s pay, and I hope that doesn\u2019t change. We have some great families that have been here for centuries, but we also have a great community that continues to grow,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those same hardworking values prepared Newman for public office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Newman, however, the title of county mayor has never been about prestige.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd the most rewarding part of the job is really being able to help people,\u201d he stated. \u201cA lot of times, people will come to the office, and they just don\u2019t know where to turn, or they don\u2019t know where to get help. I\u2019m proud that our office can help them with most of what they need or at least point them in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He is quick to credit others for that success<\/p>\n\n\n\n Newman said his wife, Amy, of 26 years, is to be thanked for her support. He said she took care of things in their family when he had to be away. He added he could not have done it without her steadfast support. He is also thankful for his family, which includes his grandchildren, Isaac and Mary Grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He added that his staff is also to be credited for the success of the last 12 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe last 12 years have all been a team effort with Dora Barnes, Laura Monks, Meredith Kowalski, and Diane Buchanan,\u201d he said. \u201cWe run this office with just one full-time person \u2014 that\u2019s Dora. The other three that I mentioned were all part time at different times, helping in the office, but it\u2019s always been a team effort. Anything that has gotten done was because God blessed us, and we worked as a team through it.\u201d GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For Lincoln County Mayor Bill Newman, public service didn\u2019t begin with politics. It began on the family farm, in the barns filled with dairy cattle, and in the simple traditions that defined his childhood in rural Lincoln County. Long before he occupied an office in the Lincoln County Courthouse, Newman was learning lessons about hard […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":26757,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","content-type":"","footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[69,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26753","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fayetteville","category-feature"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/fayetteville\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/4-3-1024x683.jpg\")
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