SANFORD - Central Carolina Community College's Board of Trustees bid farewell to trustee Chet Mann at its July 23 meeting in the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center.

"I learned to rely on him for good advice during his term on the board," said CCCC President Bud Marchant. "I realized he was a man of great vision."

Mann was appointed to the board of trustees by the Lee County Board of Education in 2010. He was elected mayor of the City of Sanford in late 2013.

"Tonight is bitter-sweet," Mann told the gathering of trustees, friends and family. "I loved serving the college, but I want to spend more time serving as mayor."

In gratitude for his service to and support of the college, President Bud Marchant and board of trustees Chair Julian Philpott presented Mann with a pen-and-ink drawing of college buildings by artist Jerry Miller.

In his farewell remarks, Mann mentioned his grandfather, Tommy Mann Sr., who was hired in 1968 as the first student recruitment director for CCCC's forerunner, Central Carolina Technical Institute.

"He saw the need to shift from an agricultural to an industrial base," Mann said. "We grew as the college grew. I'm proud of that. It's time to build again. We've had a good run as one of the best community colleges in the state. We need to continue that."

Mann has been an active community volunteer, serving on advisory boards for the college, YMCA of Lee County, Job Ready Partnership, Lee County Arts & Community Center, Lee PTO Thrift Store, and other organizations. He was the 2007 YMCA Volunteer of the Year.

Mann is the sales manager/mortgage loan originator for OVM Financial Inc., and the sales manager for First Choice Loan Services.

Retiring trustee Bill Wilson Jr., who served 20 years on the board, and Sanford businessman Tony Lett, who served 16 years, were also honored.