Bedford Gazette - February 23, 1955
Jere C. West Services Today; Civic Leader - Succumbs Monday After Long Career of Civic Service. Funeral services for Jere C. West, Past District Governor of Rotary and a faithful exponent of Rotary’s principle of “service above self” in his community of Bedford for more than 30 years will be held at the Barefoot Funeral Home, February 23. Death came quietly to one of Bedford’s outstanding civic figures at the Memorial hospital of Bedford county, at 7:15 o’clock Monday morning after an illness of many weeks. He was 72. Although he had been troubled by illness in varying degrees for more than a decade, he had maintained a sunny disposition and an eager outlook toward life, his community and his fellow men to the very end. The precept of selfless service carried him to new peaks of civic interest at a time when many individuals might have chosen to consider their community responsibilities ended. In countless ways across the span of 37 years, he had brought his great talent of organization to bear in shaping a better Bedford, during a long and honorable career which had its rough spots and disappointments. His zeal undiminished by temporary setbacks, he capped an already full life with his service to Rotary, particularly in the past decade. It was fitting, therefore - and it would have touched good Jere deeply - that his fellow Rotarians stood in silent prayer at their regular meeting Monday night, and after brief words of tribute to a loyal friend, went in a group to pay their respects. Jere Clapp West was a direct descendant of John West, the brother of Lord Delaware and first governor of the Virginia Colony. He was born at Holly Springs, Mississippi and spent his younger years in Memphis, Tenn. He had resided in Bedford since 1913 where he entered the hotel and restaurant field. He was an organizer of the Hotel Pennsylvania and served as its President and Managing Director for a number of years after it was first erected. Those were the years, not long after World War I, when the Lincoln Highway was in its heyday, and Bedford was re-emerging as a tourist town. At the heart of many plans to promote Bedford as a growing community was Jere West, working tirelessly on development projects. He was one of the prime movers behind the Bedford Chamber of Commerce and together with such stalwarts as the late J. Roy Cessna, and the late Paul Reed and many others organized and conducted its affairs through many fruitful years. He served as the first president of the Chamber of Commerce and was re-elected five times. Serving further as a director and ever-diligent booster, over two decades. Although the passage of time erases the record of Chamber of Commerce achievements from many minds today, it had an important role in laying the groundwork for the Bedford of the present and its achievements were many and important to the community. During these years, Mr. West served also as a Director of the Pennsylvania State Chamber of Commerce, as well as on the Greater Pennsylvania Council. He was an ardent worker for better highways, particularly a modernized Lincoln Highway, which then was the all-important artery of tourist travel. During Governor Gifford Pinchot’s term Jere was appointed to the Pennsylvania State Securities Commission. It was in large part due to the influence enjoyed at Harrisburg in those years that the old “bottleneck” bridge at the Narrows on Route 30 was replaced with the handsome concrete structure which now spans the Juniata in a sweeping curve at that point. The bridge was dedicated in 1936. For a number of years, Mr. West operated the Penn Tire Co., which began as a small company and expanded its operations to serve a number of counties. During a period of ill health he sold his interests from the company and retired. He is survived by his widow, the former Virginia Schevenell of Memphis, Tenn.; two daughters, Mrs. Reed B. Teitrick of Carlisle and Mrs. Ulysses Grant Warren of Moorestown, N. J.; and two granddaughters, Susan Teitrick and Virginia Lee Warren. Services conducted by Rev. Ira B. Reed of the Presbyterian church. Arrangements in charge of S. Alton Barefoot Funeral Home with interment in the Bedford cemetery.
There was also an extensive article on his life and achievements published the same day in the “Old Man on the Monument” section by the Rotary Club.
Jere C. West Services Today; Civic Leader - Succumbs Monday After Long Career of Civic Service. Funeral services for Jere C. West, Past District Governor of Rotary and a faithful exponent of Rotary’s principle of “service above self” in his community of Bedford for more than 30 years will be held at the Barefoot Funeral Home, February 23. Death came quietly to one of Bedford’s outstanding civic figures at the Memorial hospital of Bedford county, at 7:15 o’clock Monday morning after an illness of many weeks. He was 72. Although he had been troubled by illness in varying degrees for more than a decade, he had maintained a sunny disposition and an eager outlook toward life, his community and his fellow men to the very end. The precept of selfless service carried him to new peaks of civic interest at a time when many individuals might have chosen to consider their community responsibilities ended. In countless ways across the span of 37 years, he had brought his great talent of organization to bear in shaping a better Bedford, during a long and honorable career which had its rough spots and disappointments. His zeal undiminished by temporary setbacks, he capped an already full life with his service to Rotary, particularly in the past decade. It was fitting, therefore - and it would have touched good Jere deeply - that his fellow Rotarians stood in silent prayer at their regular meeting Monday night, and after brief words of tribute to a loyal friend, went in a group to pay their respects. Jere Clapp West was a direct descendant of John West, the brother of Lord Delaware and first governor of the Virginia Colony. He was born at Holly Springs, Mississippi and spent his younger years in Memphis, Tenn. He had resided in Bedford since 1913 where he entered the hotel and restaurant field. He was an organizer of the Hotel Pennsylvania and served as its President and Managing Director for a number of years after it was first erected. Those were the years, not long after World War I, when the Lincoln Highway was in its heyday, and Bedford was re-emerging as a tourist town. At the heart of many plans to promote Bedford as a growing community was Jere West, working tirelessly on development projects. He was one of the prime movers behind the Bedford Chamber of Commerce and together with such stalwarts as the late J. Roy Cessna, and the late Paul Reed and many others organized and conducted its affairs through many fruitful years. He served as the first president of the Chamber of Commerce and was re-elected five times. Serving further as a director and ever-diligent booster, over two decades. Although the passage of time erases the record of Chamber of Commerce achievements from many minds today, it had an important role in laying the groundwork for the Bedford of the present and its achievements were many and important to the community. During these years, Mr. West served also as a Director of the Pennsylvania State Chamber of Commerce, as well as on the Greater Pennsylvania Council. He was an ardent worker for better highways, particularly a modernized Lincoln Highway, which then was the all-important artery of tourist travel. During Governor Gifford Pinchot’s term Jere was appointed to the Pennsylvania State Securities Commission. It was in large part due to the influence enjoyed at Harrisburg in those years that the old “bottleneck” bridge at the Narrows on Route 30 was replaced with the handsome concrete structure which now spans the Juniata in a sweeping curve at that point. The bridge was dedicated in 1936. For a number of years, Mr. West operated the Penn Tire Co., which began as a small company and expanded its operations to serve a number of counties. During a period of ill health he sold his interests from the company and retired. He is survived by his widow, the former Virginia Schevenell of Memphis, Tenn.; two daughters, Mrs. Reed B. Teitrick of Carlisle and Mrs. Ulysses Grant Warren of Moorestown, N. J.; and two granddaughters, Susan Teitrick and Virginia Lee Warren. Services conducted by Rev. Ira B. Reed of the Presbyterian church. Arrangements in charge of S. Alton Barefoot Funeral Home with interment in the Bedford cemetery.
There was also an extensive article on his life and achievements published the same day in the “Old Man on the Monument” section by the Rotary Club.
Bedford Gazette - February 23, 1955
Jere C. West Services Today; Civic Leader - Succumbs Monday After Long Career of Civic Service. Funeral services for Jere C. West, Past District Governor of Rotary and a faithful exponent of Rotary’s principle of “service above self” in his community of Bedford for more than 30 years will be held at the Barefoot Funeral Home, February 23. Death came quietly to one of Bedford’s outstanding civic figures at the Memorial hospital of Bedford county, at 7:15 o’clock Monday morning after an illness of many weeks. He was 72. Although he had been troubled by illness in varying degrees for more than a decade, he had maintained a sunny disposition and an eager outlook toward life, his community and his fellow men to the very end. The precept of selfless service carried him to new peaks of civic interest at a time when many individuals might have chosen to consider their community responsibilities ended. In countless ways across the span of 37 years, he had brought his great talent of organization to bear in shaping a better Bedford, during a long and honorable career which had its rough spots and disappointments. His zeal undiminished by temporary setbacks, he capped an already full life with his service to Rotary, particularly in the past decade. It was fitting, therefore - and it would have touched good Jere deeply - that his fellow Rotarians stood in silent prayer at their regular meeting Monday night, and after brief words of tribute to a loyal friend, went in a group to pay their respects. Jere Clapp West was a direct descendant of John West, the brother of Lord Delaware and first governor of the Virginia Colony. He was born at Holly Springs, Mississippi and spent his younger years in Memphis, Tenn. He had resided in Bedford since 1913 where he entered the hotel and restaurant field. He was an organizer of the Hotel Pennsylvania and served as its President and Managing Director for a number of years after it was first erected. Those were the years, not long after World War I, when the Lincoln Highway was in its heyday, and Bedford was re-emerging as a tourist town. At the heart of many plans to promote Bedford as a growing community was Jere West, working tirelessly on development projects. He was one of the prime movers behind the Bedford Chamber of Commerce and together with such stalwarts as the late J. Roy Cessna, and the late Paul Reed and many others organized and conducted its affairs through many fruitful years. He served as the first president of the Chamber of Commerce and was re-elected five times. Serving further as a director and ever-diligent booster, over two decades. Although the passage of time erases the record of Chamber of Commerce achievements from many minds today, it had an important role in laying the groundwork for the Bedford of the present and its achievements were many and important to the community. During these years, Mr. West served also as a Director of the Pennsylvania State Chamber of Commerce, as well as on the Greater Pennsylvania Council. He was an ardent worker for better highways, particularly a modernized Lincoln Highway, which then was the all-important artery of tourist travel. During Governor Gifford Pinchot’s term Jere was appointed to the Pennsylvania State Securities Commission. It was in large part due to the influence enjoyed at Harrisburg in those years that the old “bottleneck” bridge at the Narrows on Route 30 was replaced with the handsome concrete structure which now spans the Juniata in a sweeping curve at that point. The bridge was dedicated in 1936. For a number of years, Mr. West operated the Penn Tire Co., which began as a small company and expanded its operations to serve a number of counties. During a period of ill health he sold his interests from the company and retired. He is survived by his widow, the former Virginia Schevenell of Memphis, Tenn.; two daughters, Mrs. Reed B. Teitrick of Carlisle and Mrs. Ulysses Grant Warren of Moorestown, N. J.; and two granddaughters, Susan Teitrick and Virginia Lee Warren. Services conducted by Rev. Ira B. Reed of the Presbyterian church. Arrangements in charge of S. Alton Barefoot Funeral Home with interment in the Bedford cemetery.
There was also an extensive article on his life and achievements published the same day in the “Old Man on the Monument” section by the Rotary Club.
Jere C. West Services Today; Civic Leader - Succumbs Monday After Long Career of Civic Service. Funeral services for Jere C. West, Past District Governor of Rotary and a faithful exponent of Rotary’s principle of “service above self” in his community of Bedford for more than 30 years will be held at the Barefoot Funeral Home, February 23. Death came quietly to one of Bedford’s outstanding civic figures at the Memorial hospital of Bedford county, at 7:15 o’clock Monday morning after an illness of many weeks. He was 72. Although he had been troubled by illness in varying degrees for more than a decade, he had maintained a sunny disposition and an eager outlook toward life, his community and his fellow men to the very end. The precept of selfless service carried him to new peaks of civic interest at a time when many individuals might have chosen to consider their community responsibilities ended. In countless ways across the span of 37 years, he had brought his great talent of organization to bear in shaping a better Bedford, during a long and honorable career which had its rough spots and disappointments. His zeal undiminished by temporary setbacks, he capped an already full life with his service to Rotary, particularly in the past decade. It was fitting, therefore - and it would have touched good Jere deeply - that his fellow Rotarians stood in silent prayer at their regular meeting Monday night, and after brief words of tribute to a loyal friend, went in a group to pay their respects. Jere Clapp West was a direct descendant of John West, the brother of Lord Delaware and first governor of the Virginia Colony. He was born at Holly Springs, Mississippi and spent his younger years in Memphis, Tenn. He had resided in Bedford since 1913 where he entered the hotel and restaurant field. He was an organizer of the Hotel Pennsylvania and served as its President and Managing Director for a number of years after it was first erected. Those were the years, not long after World War I, when the Lincoln Highway was in its heyday, and Bedford was re-emerging as a tourist town. At the heart of many plans to promote Bedford as a growing community was Jere West, working tirelessly on development projects. He was one of the prime movers behind the Bedford Chamber of Commerce and together with such stalwarts as the late J. Roy Cessna, and the late Paul Reed and many others organized and conducted its affairs through many fruitful years. He served as the first president of the Chamber of Commerce and was re-elected five times. Serving further as a director and ever-diligent booster, over two decades. Although the passage of time erases the record of Chamber of Commerce achievements from many minds today, it had an important role in laying the groundwork for the Bedford of the present and its achievements were many and important to the community. During these years, Mr. West served also as a Director of the Pennsylvania State Chamber of Commerce, as well as on the Greater Pennsylvania Council. He was an ardent worker for better highways, particularly a modernized Lincoln Highway, which then was the all-important artery of tourist travel. During Governor Gifford Pinchot’s term Jere was appointed to the Pennsylvania State Securities Commission. It was in large part due to the influence enjoyed at Harrisburg in those years that the old “bottleneck” bridge at the Narrows on Route 30 was replaced with the handsome concrete structure which now spans the Juniata in a sweeping curve at that point. The bridge was dedicated in 1936. For a number of years, Mr. West operated the Penn Tire Co., which began as a small company and expanded its operations to serve a number of counties. During a period of ill health he sold his interests from the company and retired. He is survived by his widow, the former Virginia Schevenell of Memphis, Tenn.; two daughters, Mrs. Reed B. Teitrick of Carlisle and Mrs. Ulysses Grant Warren of Moorestown, N. J.; and two granddaughters, Susan Teitrick and Virginia Lee Warren. Services conducted by Rev. Ira B. Reed of the Presbyterian church. Arrangements in charge of S. Alton Barefoot Funeral Home with interment in the Bedford cemetery.
There was also an extensive article on his life and achievements published the same day in the “Old Man on the Monument” section by the Rotary Club.
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