Rutledge Mayor Brenda Rogers can remember seeing former Mayor Joe Dexter Flynn load up his grandkids on a 4-wheeler and drive them to the local store for an orange Crush soda.

“He was teaching them to shop locally and building a sense of pride in their town,” she said.

The town of Rutledge was as proud of Flynn as he was of it. Officials said as much Sunday as Rogers joined councilmen in presenting a resolution and plaque to Flynn’s widow, Charlotte, during a ceremony and community supper at the Rutledge Community Center. Flynn died last May.

“He would have said it wasn’t necessary, but he would’ve been flattered,” Charlotte said after the ceremony. “He loved this town.”

During his 17-year tenure as mayor, Flynn was credited with building the local fire station, installing a water tower, starting a cardboard recycling program and forming a trash collection for residents.

“His contributions were endless,” Rogers said. “ He was a visionary. He would constantly identify a problem and seek a solution.”