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Jimmy "Pap" Galloway was a father figure to many in Spring City. It was symbolic, then, on the first Father's Day since his death that the community gathered to honor the late businessman.

A group of Galloway's friends and family were on hand Sunday as a bridge on U.S. Highway 27 was named in his honor. The bridge over Piney River sits just a few feet from the downtown Ace Hardware store where Galloway spent the twilight of his life greeting Spring City residents.

Community donations paid for the two signs marking the bridge.

"No Tennessean is more deserving of this honor than the late Jimmy 'Pap' Galloway, one of Spring City's and Rhea County's finest citizens," said State Rep. Jim Cobb, reading from a state bill that bestows the honor on Galloway.

Galloway died Nov. 14 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 80 years old.

Galloway was raised in the Spring City business community, with his grandparents owning a local boarding house and his parents owning a local hotel that operated from the 1920s to the 1970s.

Work ethic was instilled in Galloway early in life.

As a boy, Galloway worked at the hotel and on the family's Grandview Mountain farm, as well as ran a newspaper route of more than 500 customers.

In addition to his work, Galloway was known as a top athlete for his accomplishments in football, basketball, track and boxing. He was an Eagle Scout and was proud of the Boy Scouts' work to round-up materials for soldiers during World War II.

"He truly was an All-American boy who loved his country and showed his patriotism by the way he lived," reads the state bill honoring Galloway.

Galloway remained active in the Spring City business community into adulthood, working on several ventures with his wife, Patricia Massey, whom he married in 1948.

The couple delivered freight for Southern Railways, ran a carwash and car servicing business and owned two service stations. All the while, Galloway also worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority for 33 years.

Spring City Mayor Mary Sue Garrison said the Galloways were role models to her because of their constant work in the community.

"The thing that always impressed me growing up was his work ethic," Garrison said. "He was always working."

Galloway's final job was at the Ace Hardware store that his son, Jim, opened in 1979 after returning to Spring City following his service in the Army. Galloway's other son, Tim, also served in the military.

Galloway spent the past 29 years becoming a fixture at the Ace store, where an employee dubbed him "Pap."

Rep. Cobb was among the Spring City residents who often stopped by the hardware store to visit Pap.

One day, Galloway told the local lawmaker of his concerns about potential drainage problems with the bridge being built over Piney River.

Cobb said he drove Galloway to the bridge, examined the problems and then sought out an explanation from state transportation officials. Cobb received a letter that explained the state's intentions of fixing the issues and showed it to Galloway.

"Pap looked at the letter and said, 'That will do,'" Cobb recalled Sunday as he helped dedicate the bridge in Galloway's honor.

Cobb said Galloway's concern over the bridge partly inspired him to seek out the bill to name it for him.

"He was always concerned about this community," Cobb said. "He was certainly a fine man."

Galloway's widow, Pat, said the honor to her late husband was "super." His son, Jim, also said it was an honor to recognize his dad on Father's Day.

"I know he would be proud," Jim Galloway said.