Former MHS principal killed
Dr. William Sugg dies after tragic Andrews traffic accident
Dwight Otwell Editor

SUGG

Dr. William Sugg, 60, former principal of Murphy High School, died Friday after his car was struck and turned over in Andrews.

Dr. Sugg was ejected from the vehicle, said Cherokee County Sheriff Keith Lovin, who responded to the accident. His car was hit in by a 16-year-old girl on Hwy 19/74 and Main Street in Andrews near Kentucky Fried Chicken. Sugg's wife, Judy Self Sugg, was a passenger in the car. She was pinned in the car, with her hand between the roof of the car and the pavement. She was flown to Mission Memorial Hospital in Asheville.

According to North Carolina State Trooper J.K. Ledford, Dr. Sugg and his wife were traveling south on U.S. Hwy 19. Marisa Cottrell, 16, of Andrews, entered U.S. 19 attempting to go straight across the highway to Airport Road. Her car struck Dr. Sugg's car in the passenger side, causing the 2003 Kia to overturn several times and throwing Dr. Sugg from the vehicle. Dr. Sugg was not wearing a seatbelt, Ledford said. Mrs. Sugg was wearing a seatbelt.

Ledford said charges are pending after he consults the District Attorney's office.Dr. Sugg died in the helicopter as he was being flown to Mission Memorial Hospital in Asheville, Ledford said. Cottrell was treated and released for a hand injury.

Dr. Sugg was named as principal of Murphy High School in July 1998, after Bob Hendrix retired as principal. Dr. Sugg was principal for fiveyears.

He suffered a heart attack and moved to the Cherokee County School System Central Officeas Career and Technical Education (CTE) director. After two years, he was named assistant superintendent of McDowell County Schools. He was serving in his second year in that position when he was killed.

"We are devastated," said Cherokee County Superintendent Dr. Jeanette Hedrick. "Dr. Sugg was an outstanding educator and had a very professional demeanor. He was responsible for starting the CTE Advisory Group."

Dr. Hedrick said that Dr. Sugg did a lot to contribute toward Murphy High School becoming an academic powerhouse. Dr. Sugg was principal when the governor of North Carolina visited Murphy High School.

"He will be missed,," Dr. Hedrick said. "Although he was not in our school system any longer, we interfaced with him. It is a great loss."

Dr. Sugg was reportedly visiting Cherokee County for the weekend. He was president-elect of the Kiwanis Club in Marion, NC. He had been active at Murphy First Baptist Church, where he was a Sunday School teacher.

Dr. Sugg was a native of Greene County and was born in 1947 to the late William Samuel Sugg and Ethleen Grady Sugg. Dr. Sugg leaves behind his wife; a daughter, Heather Ann Sugg, of Dawsonville, GA; a son, William Jason Sugg, of Myrtle Beach, SC; and a beloved granddaughter, Micha Sugg.

Funeral services were held yesterday (Tuesday, December 18) in the Chapel of Westmoreland Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held today (Wednesday, December 19) at Snow Hill Cemetery in Snow Hill, NC.

In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to Kiwanis Scholarship fund, c/o Jim Crawley, PO Box 495, Marion NC 28752.