Mayor John Byrne remembers a Fuquay-Varina that most people have never seen. He can recall a time when Fuquay-Varina was a tobacco town, a rural community where instead of a traffic jam hindering your drive home, it was a herd of cows crossing the road from one field to another. Byrne moved to Fuquay-Varina fresh out of college after accepting a job with Fidelity Bank. His first day on the job was March 12, 1973.

“It was a great bank then, and it’s a great bank now - one of the best in North Carolina,” said Byrne. “They’re the reason I came, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.”

Where he is today is steeped in Fuquay-Varina history. Byrne has been witness to the changes and growth that have overtaken the town over the past three decades.

“It’s certainly changed a lot since March 12, 1973,” he said. “Fuquay was a very large tobacco town. It was almost like the state fair had come to town when the tobacco market was here - it was a very big celebration. And now, we’ve transitioned from selling tobacco to selling houses.”

Byrne estimates there were around 3,500 residents living here when he and his wife Patty moved to town. Today, he said, it’s approaching 20,000.

“Fuquay was more of a rural community then. Now, it’s a community kind of in transition,” he said. “We’re trying hard to maintain our solid core values and allow our community to be all it can be as we grow and as new things come in.”

But even as businesses, restaurants and residents crop up around the community, Byrne believes the town he’s called home for nearly 40 years still remains a “small town” at its core for one main reason. “It’s the people. Fuquay is full of very solid people with good values who believe in hard work and a day’s pay,” he said. “My goal is to always keep that small town feel, where people can feel good about shopping locally, and where they can enjoy being contributors to the community.”

That small town feel is evidenced in nothing other than Byrne’s tenure as mayor. Now in his fourth term, Byrne says he has personally known 14 of the town’s mayors - that’s just over half.

“Not many other mayors can say that,” he said. “And I think probably everyone around here has my cell phone number. I think if you as a mayor are involved, then people appreciate that involvement and want to become involved themselves.”

Byrne has certainly taken that community involvement to heart, and not just from a political standpoint. After working for Fidelity Bank for 25 years, he now serves on the Board of Directors. He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce, been involved with the Lions Club since the ‘70s, is a member of St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church and is the owner of a local bed and breakfast with a rich history of its own. His wife Patty taught school here for 35 years. And if people request it, Byrne will oblige them with a walking tour of the town’s historic district.

Since he’s been in office, Byrne’s biggest tasks have been working on downtown revitilization and completing roads around town - in particular, Judd Parkway. In the future, he hopes to see a cultural resource center in Fuquay. According to Byrne, it’s this kind of work that will keep Fuquay thriving for the next 100 years.

“You lay the groundwork every day for the future, from infrastructure, to water and sewer, to roads,” he said. “Partnering with other government agencies, as well as town staff and the Board of Commissioners, is also a big part of moving forward into the future.”

After reminiscing about the past, Byrne is excitedly looking toward that future - in particular, finishing off the rest of the Centennial year in a celebratory manner.

“I’m proud of our Centennial commission and what a job they’ve done,” he said. “This is a very special year for our town, and I would just encourage everyone to come out and be a part of our activities, especially the gala on October 10. After all, something like this won’t happen for another 100 years.”