By JOAN McCOY
Leader staff writer
Dewey Faught is perhaps best known in the Cabot area as the man who started the chamber of commerce and for spearheading the drive to build a monument honoring the veterans who lived in the area.
He was known as a man who saw a need and insisted that it be filled even if that meant he had to do much of the work himself. As director of the chamber for more than 22 years, he did it all: director, secretary and treasurer.
Faught died Aug. 10, about 10 years after the monument he wanted was built beside the community center, the Veterans Memorial Park Com-munity Center. He was 78.
Faught was proud to be a veteran of Korea, Vietnam and the Cold War. He believed the service of all veterans should be acknowledged, a fact that was made clear when he stood before the Cabot City Council more than once and said it was a shame that a community with so many veterans had no monument to honor them.
“I remember Dewey as someone who intently supported Cabot and was interested in it growing,” Cabot Mayor Bill Cypert said. “He was a very honorable man who wanted to help the city as well as those in need.”
Anyone who knew Faught understood that he was not to be taken lightly, Cypert said. He appreciated that part of Faught’s personality. The mayor noted that he was straightforward and you always knew where you stood with him.
“I liked the guy,” Cypert said.
Faught was born on Feb. 6, 1935 in Jonesboro to Mack Dewey and Thelma Faught.
His first career was in the military. He retired from the Air Force in 1974 as a senior master sergeant. As a career military man, Faught was a sustaining member of VFW Post 4584, a lifetime member of Disabled American Veterans, a member of the American Legion as well as a lifetime member of the Cabot Chamber of Commerce.
He was awarded a plaque naming him Cabot Citizen of the Year in 2001 and 2002 by the Michael W. Ray VFW Post 4548 Ladies Auxiliary.
He was secretary and treasurer of the Cabot Lions Club for more than 19 years and was president from 1999-2000.
Faught holds many honors and certificates and was listed in the September 2000 International Lions Magazine Higher Key as well as a participating member of AARP.
Faught was active in his church and many other organizations. He was Cabot’s citizen of the year in 1983 and received the Community Leader Award in 1999. In 2002, he was named honoree of the fifth Roast and Toast by the Cabot Scholarship Foundation for his work in the community.
In March 2000, Rep. Marion Berry paid a tribute to him in Congress, saying: “Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man who is a dear friend of mine, Dewey Faught. Dewey Faught is a great American and a great Arkansan. He is the kind of citizen that made this nation the great place it is today. He has made Cabot a great place to work, live and raise a family. I am proud to call him my friend. Dewey has been married for 54 years to Jane Powell, formerly of Gillett, Arkansas, and they have five sons, 17 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.”
In 2000, the state legislature awarded Faught the State of Arkansas Citation, which recognized his principles of strong character, good citizenship and commitment to God and country.
A memorial service will be held at Victory Baptist Church today at 10 a.m. with interment at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Cabot.
The family suggests donations be made to Victory Baptist Church, where Faught was a member.
