Mr. William Penn Selman, Jr.

One of Chattooga County’s best has passed away.  WILLIAM PENN SELMAN, JR., farmer, real estate leader, civic champion, beloved husband, father, friend, and a leader in everything he undertook, died March 30, 2016, due to complications resulting from an extended illness.  A Chattoogan all his life, born on September 19,1928, he attended Summerville Elementary School, McCallie High School in Chattanooga, TN., and the University of Georgia.  Upon graduation he married Patricia McManus of Athens, GA., whom he met while at University of Georgia.  He immediately returned to Summerville to join his grandfather Dr. O.A. Selman and uncle Tom Hill Selman in the family business, W.P. & T.H. Selman Co.  His business career also included management of Selman Hardware, started in 1948.  In 1965 He, his mother, Mary T. Selman, and Stanley Selman formed a partnership known as S & S Cattle Co., raising and selling registered Black Angus Cattle.  He was very active in the Black Angus Association.  S & S’s grand champion bull, S & S Ankonian Ambassador, was featured with a cover photo and story in the Atlanta Journal’s Sunday Parade magazine.  Noted writer, Floyd Jillson, came to Summerville for the interview with Mr. Selman and photos.  Buyers from a dozen states came to Summerville for Ankonian Ambassador’s production sales.  These sales were attended by officials of the Black Angus Association.  W.P. (Bill) Selman served his county in many ways during the 1960s.  He served on the Chattooga Board of Education as chairman for 8 years.  During this tenure, the first modern High School was built and the county schools were integrated and consolidated without incident.  He was elected Ward I City Councilman from 1960-1968.  He and 4 other men ran for office as a “citizen’s” ticket for mayor and council.  They were elected and served the county in this capacity for $1.00 per year salary.  They qualified on Oct. 28, 1959.  Bill was President of the Jaycee’s, the Lions Club, a member of Masons and Shriners, served in the Summerville Cemetery Corporation; he was a hard worker, honest, and ethical and with his partner perfected a successful way of AI, using S & S Ankonian Ambassador as sire for registered Black Angus producers in the southwest U.S.A.  In the late 1980’s he managed his father-in-law’s veneer business, Bennettsville Veneer Co., in Bennettsville, S.C. due to a heart attack suffered by Mr. McManus, Pat’s father.  He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Patricia M. Selman; 4 sons, William Penn Selman, III & wife Anna of Rock Springs, WY, Tom Hill Selman, II & wife Juanita of Midland, TX, Charles M. Selman & wife Maggie of Marietta, GA, and John Penn Selman & wife Debronya of Cumming, GA;  also are 5 grandchildren, William Penn (Will) Selman, IV of Atlanta, GA, Tom (Tommy) Hill Selman, III of Midland, TX, Charles M. Selman, Jr. of Marietta, GA, Brittany Selman of Cumming, GA, and Alisa A. Erkes of Smyrna, GA;  3 great grandchildren, Ellie Selman, Midland, TX, William Penn Selman, V, and Payton Selman, Atlanta; sisters, Mary Ellen Selman Cook  & husband Marcus of Atlanta and Susan Penn Selman Whipple of St. Simons.  A memorial celebration of his life, conducted by Rev. Lee Humphreys, was held at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, April 2, 2016 in the St. Barnabas Episcopal Church.  Pallbearers Tom (Tommy) Hill Selman, III, William Penn (Will) Selman, IV, Charles Selman, Jr., Stuart Erkes, Leonard Barrett, David Romine; Honorary Pallbearers are the Communicants of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Linda & David Chandler, Gina & Clinton Agnew, Reba & David Welch, Ann & Kirk Kruegar, Bobby Lee Cook & Family, & the Austin Family.

                  Earle Rainwater Funeral Home of Summerville in charge of arrangements.