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HISTORICAL LIST 
Town Council Members & Town Clerks


MAYORS

Mayors    Year  Mayors                                     Year   Mayors      Year
J. G. Hackett 1889 J. L. Webster 1899 H. A. Cranor 1941
Jessie T. Ferguson 1892 Frank B. Hendren 1899 W. E. Smithey 1946
J. G. Hackett 1893 Milton McNeil 1901 A. B. Somers 1953
J. M. Turner 1895 John W. White, M.D. 1903 C. G. Bumgarner 1953
C. F. Morrison 1895 R. M. Staley 1905 Fidell F. Frazier 1973
H. L. Green 1896 H. A. Cranor 1909 Pete M. Mann 1995
J. F. Somers 1897 Charles G. Gilreath 1921 Normal Call 1999
Milton McNeil 1897 H. A. Cranor 1925 Mike Inscore  2007
T. M. Crysel 1898 W. E. Harris 1931 Dale Isom 12/06/23
E. M. Welborn                        1899      J. F. Jordan                          1937                                                        

TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS

Town Council Members    Year     Town Council Members     Year     Town Council Members     Year   
D. E. Smoak 1889 B. J. Kennedy 1905 Arlon A. Triplett 1947
I. T. Prevette 1889 J. L. Webster 1905 Russell G. Pearson  1951
J. C. Hubbard 1889 A. L. Combs 1905 Robert R. Smoak 1953
T. S. Miller 1889 C. W. Carlton 1908 Charlie G. Bumgarner  1953
John R. Henderson 1890 N. B. Smithy 1908 William C. Gray 1953
Joseph Welborn 1890 Linville Bumgarner 1909 George Kennedy 1957
Elbert Wallace 1891 J. C. Hubbard 1909 James T. Kinlaw, O.D 1957
William McNeill 1891 W. W. Barber 1909 M. G. Edwards, D.V.M. 1959
R. M. Staley 1891 Joseph M. Privette 1912 Ray Stroud 1963
D. E. Smoak 1892 J. C. Hubbard 1912 Fidell F. Frazier 1963
J. F. Somers 1892 Nike B. Smithey 1912 Richard P. Absher 1965
R. A.Deal 1892 W. W. Barber 1913 Joe Barber 1967
W. W. Lenderman 1892 D. R. Edwards 1913 Joe H. Pearson 1971
J. R. Coffey 1893 J. T. Welborn 1913 Fred C. Henderson 1971
E. Wallace 1893 Charlie H. Cowles 1915 Glenn Johnson. 1973
Chrles H. Somers 1893 W. F. Miller 1915 Jim Jenkins 1973
J. M. Welborn 1893 Joseph M. Prevette 1915 John P. "Poddy" Horton 1973
S. J. Jennings 1893 Thomas M. Foster 1916 George P. "Red" Snyder 1974
E. M. Pardue 1894 R. B. Pharr 1916 Ray S. Triplette 1977
Joseph Lewis 1895 J. T. Prevette 1916 William S. Thomas 1977
Noah Parlier 1895 Carl A. Lowe 1917 John P. "Poddy" Horton 1981
Colubus Morrison 1895 A. C. Dennis 1921 Glenn Johnson 1981
Elisha Welborn 1895 Presley E. Brown 1921 George P. "Red" Snyder 1982
J. S. Cranor 1895 W. F. Miller 1923 Joe C. McMillian 1982
W. C. Winkler 1895 T. M. Foster 1923 Rebecca McMillian 1992
B. S. Call 1896 W. B. Somers 1925 Dennis R. Riddle 1993
R. M. Staley 1896 Norman O. Smoak 1925 Tommy Bumgarner 1995
J. M. Welborn 1896 J. R. Henderon 1925 James S. Hartley 1997
J. F. Somers 1896 William C. Pearson 1925 Mike Inscore 1997
W. A. Berry 1896 W. E. Harris 1929 Tommy Bumgarner 1999
David R. Edwards 1897 W. W. Barber 1929 Mike Inscore 1999
John W. White, M.D. 1897 Joe H. Pearson 1929 James S. Hartley 2001
Joseph T. Welborn 1897 B. J. Kennedy 1929 Tommy Bumgarner 2003
William W. Barker 1897 W. E. Smithey 1930 Mike Inscore 2003
E. Wallace 1898 C. E. Lenderman 1931 Gary Blevins 2003
Frank D. Hackett 1898 Claude Kennedy  1931 James S. Hartley 2005
W. C. Winkler 1898 O. F. Eller 1932 Everette "Skipper" Solomon 2006
J. M. Welborn 1898 H. A. Cranor 1932 Sam Stroud 2007
C. H. Cowles 1899 Joe Barber 1933 Jimmy C. Hayes 2007
E. Wallace 1899 Ralph Reins 1933 J. Gary Johnson 2009
J. M. Welborn 1899 L. B. Dula 1935 Nellie Archibald 2009
W. C. Winkler 1899 J. R. Henderon 1935 Jimmy C. Hayes 2011
J. H. Lewis 1899 C. A. Lowe 1935 Michael Testerman 2011
J. L. Webster 1899 C. T. Doughton 1935 Russell F. Ferree 2013
W. W. Vannoy 1899 W. E. Smithey 1935 Claude Andrew Soots 2013
C. H.Cowles 1899 W. A. Stroud 1935 Jimmy C. Hayes 2015
J. C. Hubbard 1900 W. A. Stroud 1937 J. Gary Johnson  2015
C. J. Cowles 1900 W. E. Smithey 1937 Nellie Archibald  2017
W.W. Vannoy 1900 James Lowe  1937 Russell F. Ferree 2017
J. L. Webster 1900 G. T. Mitchell, M.D. 1937 Claude Andrew Soots  2019 
Rufus A. Spainhour 1901 Sherman T. Colvard 1941 Jimmy C. Hayes 2019
Milton McNeill 1901 C. E. Lenderman 1941  Russell F. Ferree 2021
James M. Welborn 1901 Paul Osborne  1942  Nellie Archibald  2021
D. R. Edwards 1901 Russell Gray JR. 1945  Jimmy C. Hayes 2023
C. U. Davis 1903 Tom Story, JR. 1945  Claude Andrew Soots 2023 
W. W. Barber 1905 Johnson J. Sanders 1947    
C. W. Carlton 1905 Joe H. Pearson  1947    

 TOWN CLERKS



Town Clerks                        
Year      Town Clerks                      Year       Town Clerks                       Year     
Joseph T. Welborn 1889 C. U. Davis 1903 L. L. Lunn 1937
R. A. Deal 1889 R. A. Deal 1905 J. R. Henderson 1937
John B. Deal 1892 Buel S. Call 1909 J. F. Jordan 1941
W. C. Winkler 1893 Henry Reynolds 1915 J. R. Henderson 1947
Claude Y. Miller 1893 L. B. Dula 1919 J. C. Harwell 1955
Charlie H. Somers 1895 W. F. Miller 1922 Ima W. Holbrook 1956
Charles L. Shore 1898 L. B. Dula 1923 I. Dean Rhoades 1971
H. A. Cranor 1899 Linville Bumgarner 1929 Harold L. Rockett 1989
John L. Webster 1899 Oliver F. Blevins 1929 Josephine F. Cass 1992
C.L. Shore 1900 J. R. Hendren 1935 James K. Byrd 2010
Frank B. Hendren 1901 F. J. McDuffie 1936 Donna Rhodes 2024
   
    

   

home > town government > town council > meet your town council
  

MEET YOUR TOWN COUNCIL

 

Mayor Dale IsomMayor Dale L. Isom 

Dale was elected to his first four-year term as Mayor of the Town Council in November 2023 and was sworn in on December 4, 2023. He is a graduate of NC State University in Civil Engineering and was Partner of Isom Ham Design Group, PA, and a past President of Spectrum Hospitality Management, LLC. 

Contact Information: Wilkesboro Town Hall, 203 West Main Street, PO Box 1056, Wilkesboro, NC 28697  Tel: 336-838-3951 ext. 1060 Fax: 336-838-7616   email
 

 

  
 

Mayor Pro Tem Jimmy Hayes

Mayor Pro Tem Jimmy Hayes

Jimmy was re-elected to his fifth four-year term on the Town Council in November 2023. Jimmy is self-employed. Jimmy enjoys working on classic cars when he is not spending time with his wife Brenda, their 3 children and 7 grandchildren.

Contact Information: Wilkesboro Town Hall, 203 West Main Street, PO Box 1056, Wilkesboro, NC 28697  Tel: 336-838-3951  Fax: 336-838-7616    

 

     

Town Councilmember Andrew "Andy" SootsCouncilman Claude Andrew"Andy" Soots

Andy Soots was elected to his third four-year term in November 2023. He was first elected to the Wilkesboro Town Council in November 2013 to a four-year term. He is a retired Wilkesboro Fireman with 28 years of service and is self-employed. 

Contact Information: Wilkesboro Town Hall, 203 West Main Street, PO Box 1056, Wilkesboro, NC 28697  Tel: 336-984-7333 email   

 
 

  

Councilmember Russell FerreeTown Councilman Russell F. Ferree

Councilman Ferree was elected to his third four-year term on the Town Council in November 2021. He has retired from his real estate law practice in Historic downtown Wilkesboro. He is married to his wife Teri and they have a daughter and a son.

Contact Information: Office: 105 W. Main Street, Wilkesboro, NC 28697 Town Hall: 336-838-3951 email
 

   

 
Councilmember Nellie ArchibaldTown Councilwoman Nellie Archibald

Nellie Hubbard Archibald was elected to her third four-year term in November 2021. She was elected to the Wilkesboro town council in 2009 where she served as mayor pro tem but did not seek re-election.  

Archibald is a member of the First United Methodist Church of North Wilkesboro. She is on the Board of Directors of the NCLM, representing the 10th district, and on the Board of Directors of the Wilkes YMCA. She is married to Jim Archibald, and they have a daughter and a son. 

Contact Information: Wilkesboro Town Hall, 203 West Main Street, PO Box 1056, Wilkesboro, NC 28697  Tel: 336-838-3951 ext. 231  Fax: 336-838-7616 email 

 

Town Attorney John S. Willardson

Town Attorney John S. Willardson

John S. Willardson became the Town's Attorney in 2014 after the late William "Bill Gray." He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he completed a double major in Spanish and Political Science. Following undergraduate school, he served six years in the US Army Reserve.  Following law school at UNC-CH, he served as a research assistant to a judge at the North Carolina Court of Appeals in Raleigh before moving to Wilkes County. John is peer review rated "A-V" by Martindale Hubbell and has been repeatedly honored as one of North Carolina's Super Lawyers. John serves on many professional boards, including the NC State Bar Council, the Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism, the NC Bar Association's Dispute Resolution Council and Committee for the Independence of the Judiciary. John has served on many local organizations' boards, including the Wilkes Family YMCA, the North Wilkesboro Kiwanis Club, Wilkes ADAP, Hospice, the Wilkes Art Gallery, Wilkes Babe Ruth League baseball, and Wilkes Flying Club. In 2010, he was chosen by the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina to receive its highest honor -- the Red Triangle Award--for his many years of leadership and volunteer service to the Wilkes Family YMCA.  John and his wife, Ann, met while students at UNC, live in Wilkesboro, are members of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and they have one son. 

Contact Information: 206 East Main Street, Wilkesboro, NC 28697.  Tel: 336-838-5129   email  website 
     

Town Manager Kenneth Noland

Town Manager Ken Noland 

Ken has served as the Town Manager since 1999. Ken is a graduate of the Appalachian State University where he received a Bachelor of Science and continued his education, where he received his Master of Public Administration from the UNC-Chapel Hill. Ken serves at the appointment of the Town Council and acting as Administrative Head of the Town. Ken and Mary Jane have two daughters. 

Contact Information: Wilkesboro Town Hall, 203 West Main Street, PO Box 1056, Wilkesboro, NC 28697 Tel: 336-838-3951 ext. 1050   Fax: 336-838-7616  email     

  

  

Town Clerk Donna RhodesTOWN CLERK- Donna Rhodes

The principal responsibility of this position is to work with the town council and other town boards. The town clerk position includes meeting agendas, meeting minutes, calendar coordination, meeting furniture setup and breakdown, data entry, correspondence, resolutions, proclamations, mailings, assigned board tasks, filing, certificates of insurance, employee appreciation, and town gatherings, among other duties. Donna is married to Tommy Rhodes and they have 1 child.

Contact Information: Wilkesboro Town Hall, 203 West Main Street, PO Box 1056, Wilkesboro, NC 28697 Tel: 336-838-3951 ext. 1042   Fax: 336-838-7616  email     

  

   

 

 

   

home > town government > town council > code of ethics

 

TOWN COUNCIL CODE OF ETHICS   

Code of Ethics Policy

2025-Town-Council-with-floor-Town-Seal

 (Front L to R) Councilmember Russell F. Ferree, Mayor Dale Isom, Councilmember Nellie Archibald 
(Back L to R) Town Clerk Donna Rhodes, Town Attorney John S. Willardson, Town Manager Kenneth Noland, Mayor Pro Tem Jimmy Hayes, and Councilmember Andrew "Andy" Soots.

 

 

 

      

home > town government > town council > schedule of meetings

 

SCHEDULE OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS

 All meetings are scheduled the first Monday of each month
beginning at 5:30 PM at located in the Lobby Wilkesboro Town Hall.
Work Sessions are held at 4:00 PM same day.

 

January 6, 2025 

February 3, 2025

March 3, 2025

April 7, 2025

May 5, 2025

June 2, 2025

July 7, 2025

August 4, 2025

September 8, 2025 
(Date change due to September 1st, 2025 being an observed holiday)

October 6, 2025

November 3, 2025

December 1, 2025

January 5, 2026

   

   

home > town government > town council > responsibilities

  

TOWN COUNCIL RESPONSIBILITIES

Official Duties by Law  § 160A-146

The Mayor and the four Town Council Members of Wilkesboro identify community needs and commit Town resources to meet those needs within the limits of federal and state law.  Each member serves a term of 4 years, with elections taking place every two years to maintain continuity.

SPECIFIC DUTIES INCLUDE:

    • Adopt a balanced annual budget.

    • Set the annual tax rate.

    • Set all user fees annually, known as the Schedule of Fees.

    • Enact local ordinances for the welfare of the town.

    • Establish policies and programs for the effective delivery of town services.

    • Listen to the community issues.

    • Oversee long-range plans for the community in areas such as community development projects, land use, and town facilities.

    • Oversight of capital and grant funds and projects.

    • Make appointments to the town advisory boards and committees.

    • Perform numerous ceremonial duties such as the recognition of town employees, departments, board members, officials, ribbon cuttings, proclamations, etc.

    • Serve as liaisons to many organizations, including town government groups and organizations outside of town government.

    • Hire the town attorney, town administrator, and town clerk.

Beyond specific duties, the Mayor appoints particular areas of focus to each Council Member annually. These areas are generally tied to either departments or areas of focus. These appointments enable Council Members to develop a deeper knowledge base as issues arise.

The Town Council meetings are open to the public and are on the first Monday of each month unless it needs to be changed due to a holiday. A schedule of the meetings can be found by clicking here. All NC council meetings are governed by the Sunshine or Open Meeting Laws. These laws dictate the methods by which public meetings are conducted, and Article 33C, statutes NC § 143‑318.9-18 of the North Carolina Code define the law.

North Carolina mayors do not have the veto power over council actions. The mayor may or may not vote on matters before the council, again depending on the Town's charter. Our charter states the Wilkesboro Mayor can only vote to break a tie vote between the other four Town Council Members.