The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-17

The apprec iation and amity with
which Col. Thomas Lewis is held by his
neighbors and business associates cul.
minated yesterday when the sixtieth
anniversary of his birth was celebrated
at the Fidelity Loan and Trust Com.
pany's offices. Promptly at twelve
O'Clock his old time friends met and
surprised Colonel Lewis with gold
watch and beautiful set OF gold studs,
and the following resolut ion was in.
dorsed and speeches made:
Whereas 1t has come to the knowledge
Of the board of directors of tho Fidelity
Loan and Trust Company that their
vice president and associate in the board
OF directors has this 10th day OF March,
1893, reached his Goth year, and
Whereas 1t is the desire of his asso-
ciates to show some appreciation Of his
worth as an officer of the bank and to
testify their unanim GUS regard for him
as friend; therefore, be it
Resolved by the said board OF direc.
tors, That in Col. Thomas Lewis, their
vice president, they recognize an honest,
upright and, at the same time, keen,
vices to the bank have been marked
with those qualities of blended liberal
ity and conservatism which are SO
necessary to retain the banks standing
among It's patrons and the public gem
orally, and one whose known geniality
and kindness OF heart has made him the
friend of all who know him.
Alter reading the resolution offered
by Mr.. Ramsey, James s. Simmons
said:
Gentlemen: We have come together
to day to do honor to one of our mem
bers whose walk in life has been such
as to inspire our most enthusiastic
praise, and whose association among us
has been such as to endear him to tho
hearts of us all. 1 am, therefore. re-
quested, on behalf of the Fidelity Loan
and Trust Company, on this, the occasion
OF the birthday of our highly esteemed
vice president, to present him with this
watch, not on account of OF it's intrinsic
worth. but as slight evidence of the
high esteem and regard in which he is
hold by mis- associates. 1t is not all of
life to live. is trite saying, and over
and above all Is the inherent desire to
so live that when We are called to an
other world that those who come after
will say that the world has been profitted
by his living. 1 am sure that not only
express the sentiment OF those here to-
day, but his friends and all those who
are associated with him, that such
memory will be his, and the most earn
est desire OF ours is that during the re-
naming years Of his life on earth it's
richest blessings may fall upon him,
and that he may be spared many years
to witness the happy return of this oc-
casion."
Jos. T. Engleby, in presenting set OF
gold studs, said:
ut gives me pleasure to present you
with this little memento from the presi.
dent and employees Of the bank, and
hope you will receive it as slight token
of their esteem and regard"
Colonel Lewis in responding said:
"Mr. President and gentlemen: ]
assure you this is surprise to me. An
hour ago when / was summoned to this
meeting-an important meeting OF tho
board of directors-I thought it was
something of Importance to the board,
but l see it is all important t. mo.
cannot express my appreciation, my
gratitude for this token and the CON
sheraton and appreciation by my asso-
ciates here in this bank. / must on fess
TO you, gentlemen, that I cannot give
utterance to my feelings on this OCCASION
and in Offering my thanks l can only cay
that as director, and more recently
vice-president Of the Fidelity Losn and
Trust Company, it shall ever be my aim
to forward it's interests. thank you,
gentlemen, heartily and sincerely"
j. Allen Watts, being called upon,
said: II was notified to come to a meet
ing OF the directors of this institution
to day, but hardly understood why as
have not the good fortune to be either
stakeholder or director OF the bank,
neither did | think that | would be ex
pected to make speech at such time,
not being notified of that. l suppose
that 1 was invited here simply on &C.
count OF tho warm friendship that is
known to exist between Colonel Lewis
and myself. TO use the phraseology OF
tho bank, can indorse heartily all that
has been told here in regard to Colonel
Lewis. Our friendship has extended
over many years, a friendship that was
Inherited, and during that time | can
say with truth and with feeling, that
there is no man that has been dearer
friend TO his friends, no man that has
been moro sincere. more trustw orthy,
moro faithful, moro devoted to tho in.
terests OF those who are dependent on
him than Colonel Lewis.
"For the many years that have
known him in the relation of friend, as
public officer, as officer Of banks.
as officer of institutions. and his
private walk in life, / have vet
to hear OF the first man that ever i'm.
peached his character or said one
word against his standing in tho
community. / can ssy, and say
truly, that this remark applies to
very few people of my acquaintance.
No one has over charged him with be-
ing unfaithful to friend, and as | said
before ! most heartily and gladly in.
dorse all that has been said hero in