This week’s Loretto Legacy Monday honors a man whose impact on Loretto can still be seen more than three decades after his passing — Tommy L. Augustin.

Augustin served as Mayor of Loretto from 1986 until his death in 1991, completing five years in office. He was serving his second term when he passed away suddenly on July 11, 1991. He was just 52 years old.

Those who knew Tommy remember a man who genuinely loved Loretto — not simply as the community he represented, but as the place he called home. His years as mayor came during an important period of growth for the city, and several projects he helped move forward continue to benefit Loretto today.

Among the most significant was the development of Loretto’s sewer system. At the time, septic problems were an obstacle facing the community, and Tommy understood that a modern sewer system would be necessary if Loretto hoped to attract new businesses and continue growing. Those who worked alongside him remembered the countless hours he devoted to the project, even when the changes were difficult or unpopular.

He also played an important role in extending city water service into the Busby Road and Fisher Hollow areas, ultimately helping bring dependable water service to families who had struggled with dry wells and, in some cases, had been forced to haul water or use laundromats because reliable water was unavailable at home.

Tommy was also instrumental in the development of Loretto’s industrial park, helping lay the groundwork for future business and employment opportunities. He also took great pride in helping bring a public library to Loretto. Together, the sewer system, expanded water service, industrial development, and library reflected the kind of community Tommy wanted Loretto to become — one that was prepared to grow while continuing to serve the people who already called it home.

But Tommy Augustin’s legacy cannot be measured only in public projects.

For many people, their memories of him begin at North End Market, the business he owned in Loretto. It was more than a place to buy groceries or grab something to eat. It became a gathering place where regular customers stopped for coffee and biscuits, workers passed through on their way to work, and friends lingered for conversation.

People still remember his bologna and ham-and-cheese sandwiches, Friday fish plates, and the smell of food cooking as the store filled with customers in the mornings. Children could expect a sucker when they came through the door, and teenagers sometimes stopped by simply because they enjoyed Tommy’s attitude and the way he treated them.

He is remembered as friendly, funny, and almost always smiling, but perhaps the description repeated most often is simply that Tommy was a good man. Behind the scenes, he helped families who were struggling, often without seeking recognition for what he had done. One family member recalled that there were many people he helped whose stories were never widely known.

His service extended beyond City Hall and North End Market.

Tommy was a member of the Loretto Lions Club and the South Lawrence Progressive Development Club, served as a member and director of Restview Cemetery, and was a member of Faith Baptist Church, where he served as a trustee. Years earlier, he was also remembered for helping lead young people at the church, taking part in camping trips, boating, canoeing, Bible studies, youth rallies, and church camps. Those memories describe him as kind, generous, gentle, easygoing, and always willing to help.

He was also talented with his hands. Friends remembered his ability to build beautiful homes, repair almost anything, and tackle whatever job needed to be done. Yet even with those talents, his greatest gift may have been the way he treated people.

One memory describes Tommy’s approach when he first ran for mayor. Going door to door asking for votes, he did not make elaborate promises. He simply promised that he would work for the people of Loretto.

And according to those who watched him serve, that is exactly what he did.

At the time of his death, Tommy was still looking ahead. He had begun considering expanding North End Market into more of a restaurant, where he could serve one of his specialties — catfish. His life and service were cut short while there was still so much he hoped to do.

When funeral services were held on July 13, 1991, Loretto city officials and Lawrence County officials served as honorary pallbearers — a fitting tribute to a man who had devoted so much of himself to his community.

Four decades after he first became mayor, the evidence of Tommy L. Augustin’s service remains throughout Loretto. It can be found in infrastructure that helped the city grow, in community institutions he helped strengthen, and in the memories of people who still recall a smiling man behind the counter at North End Market.

Perhaps his legacy is summed up best by something remembered by those closest to him: Tommy loved being mayor because he had a servant’s heart.

For his service, his kindness, and his lasting contribution to the community he loved, Tommy L. Augustin is this week’s Loretto Legacy Monday honoree.

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