Bridge named in honor of late Mayor C.C. Hensley

Local officials and family members of C.C. Hensley gathered last Wednesday at Berea Fire Station 1, dedicating Phase II of the Berea Bypass to the late mayor, who passed away suddenly in December 1980.

Serving as the second mayor of Berea from 1958 until his death, Cyrus Clinton Hensley moved to Berea at a young age and was a member of the first graduating class of Berea High School in 1930.

By an act of the Kentucky legislature, a section of the Berea Bypass from U.S. 25 to Big Hill Road/Highway 21 has been officially named in Hensley’s honor.

Berea Mayor Bruce Fraley noted Hensley took a leading role in seeking funding for the Berea Bypass. Shortly after his death, the Berea City Council adopted a resolution in January of 1981 to rename the bypass, which was then still in the planning stages.

“This was over 40 years in the making. And what is really gratifying to me is to see something that could have been lost to time, but now the right thing has happened,” Fraley said.

Fraley credited former and current public officials for bringing the project to fruition.  

“I credit [State Representative] Josh Bray and [State Senator] Jared Carpenter for moving the ball forward, but also [former Berea City Councilman] John Payne, and the fourth mayor of Berea, Steve Connelly, for making sure we were aware of this so we could take action and get things done,” Fraley said.

Fraley noted the effort to rename the bypass began in 2022, culminating in legislation spearheaded by Bray.

Fraley praised Hensley’s love and dedication for Berea, an example and tradition of public service that was carried on by Hensley’s successors.

“A lot of people say of Mayor [Clifford] Kerby that he could have been a rich doctor, but he chose to be mayor. Mayor Connelly could have been a rich attorney, but he chose to be mayor,” Fraley said. “Mayor Hensley could have been rich in whatever he wanted to do, but he chose to be mayor to make this community great for his generation and for future generations.”

In paying tribute to Hensley, Fraley noted his many contributions to the development of Berea, including the establishment of the Berea Industrial Development Authority, the construction of Berea City Hall in 1968, the improvement of city infrastructure, including streets and sewers, as well as lobbying for funding for the Berea Bypass.  

“I think it’s safe to say that Mayor Hensley had a lasting and positive impact on our city,” Fraley said. “Our city would not be what it is today without his work on behalf of those of his generation, and the generations that would come after him, including ours. Simply put, we owe Mayor Hensley a debt of gratitude.”

Guests at Wednesday’s sign unveiling included friends, as well as members of the Hensley family; both nephew Benny Roon and great-nephew Kent Hensley addressed the audience.

Kent Hensley said though he never met his great uncle, he knows C.C. Hensley was a man who valued educational opportunities for his community, the arts, selfless public service, and that he epitomized the community spirit of Berea that remains today.

“Our family hopes that you will remember Uncle Clint as someone who loved Berea so much that he served until his dying day in December of 1980,” Hensley said. “On behalf of my entire family, we thank you again for the great honor and dedication. Let it be the city’s pledge to continue the work he began and to uphold the values he cherished for generations to come.”

Known by many as the Man with the Red Tie, Berea Mayor C.C. Hensley was a tireless leader who worked for the betterment of Berea. His successor, Mayor/Dr. Clifford Kerby, established the Red Tie Award in Hensley’s memory, honoring those whose community service positively impacts Berea.