Located in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina, Rutherford County is rich in history, resources, and people. Legendary Locals of Rutherford County attempts to capture this region’s history and wealth through introducing some of its people and their lives. These locals begin with explorers like Hernando De Soto; early settlers unafraid of frontier living; early governors like Griffith Rutherford, who left his name in the region; and everyday people who made a difference. Textile magnate Raleigh Rutherford Haynes, South Mountain physician Benjamin Washburn, entertainer Dewitt Snuffy Jenkins, Sheriff Damon Huskey, radio announcers Jerrell Bedford and Jim Bishop, preacher Harold Brown, writer Tony Earley, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, funeral director T.R. Padgett, muralist Clive Haynes, novelist Kay Hooper, and museum founder-curator Mike Rhyne represent just a sampling of the more recent residents who have shaped the county, the state, and the nation.