Funeral arrangements are pending for Dr. Hugh L. "Doc" Lamb, the first McMinn County Executive and a former veterinarian, who died early this morning at Athens Regional Medical Center. He was 84.

Lamb was elected as county executive in 1982 after McMinn switched from the previous county council-county manager system of government to the county commission-county executive format.

He served four years in that office but didn’t seek another term, choosing to run for a County Commission seat instead. He was elected to a four-year term as commissioner from the 5th District in the 1986 August election and didn’t run for re-election in 1990.

Besides his public service, Lamb was well-known as a veterinarian throughout the area. "He was real supportive of the youth in the county with the livestock, particularly 4-H," said retired McMinn County Agricultural Extension Agent Marvin Lowry.

Lowry said Lamb and his wife, Dixie, volunteered their time to travel with the 4-H students and their show animals to competitions both inside and outside Tennessee. Lowry said he’s often seen Lamb stay up all night to tend to sick animals.

"The kids just looked up to him," Lowry said. "They expected him to be part of the team, and he was. We had a lot of fun over the years working with the animals for the kids."

Lowry said Lamb was a "pioneer" in the county in the youth livestock program and had been a longtime member of the McMinn County Junior Dairy Advisory Committee.

Lowry added that Lamb’s help was instrumental in his years in Extension work.

"When I first came to the county as 4-H agent in 1951, I learned the cattle business in the county by working with him," Lowry said. "I was new to the county and he gave me a lot of guidance."

Lamb was a member of Keith Memorial United Methodist Church and a 54-year member of the Rotary Club of Athens.

A native of Fairfield County, Ohio, and a resident of McMinn County since 1945, he was a son of the late Asher and Irma Bell Lamb.

A member of Keith Memorial United Methodist Church, he served on the administrative board for many years. He was a well-known veterinarian throughout McMinn and Meigs Counties and surrounding areas. He had served as past president of the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association and was a 54-year member of the Athens Rotary Club, was a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow Award and had served in various offices.

He and his wife, Dixie, were very supportive of the 4-H programs of McMinn County, volunteering time to travel with 4-H students to various competitions. He was a pioneer in the McMinn County livestock program and a longtime member of the McMinn County Junior Dairy Advisory Committee. He was instrumental in the building of McMinn County Show Barn and the development of the Dairy Show facilities at the Athens Regional Park.

He served as McMinn County Executive from 1982 to 1986, commissioner of the Fifth District of McMinn County from 1986 to 1990 and was past president of the Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Athens City School Board for 18 years and was instrumental in the building of the McMinn County Senior Citizens Center.

He was a 50-year member of the Meridian Sun Lodge No. 50 F & AM as well as a member of Athens Area York Rite Bodies, Chilhowee Shrine Club, Alhambra Shrine Temple in Chattanooga and Athenian Chapter No. 159 O.E.S.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Dixie Gant Lamb of Riceville; three sons and daughters-in-law, Bob and Georgia Lamb of Ten Mile, Jim and Bettye Lamb of Bartlett, and Bill and Kathy Lamb of Rogersville, Ala.; one sister, Helen Ruth McCray of Asheville, Ohio; five grandchildren, Lynde Lamb Mickey, Ehrick A. Lamb, Kathryn D. Lamb, Jordan A. Lamb and J. Patrick Lamb; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 7:30 p.m. Friday at Keith Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Michael R. Hubble officiating. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at McMinn Memory Gardens.

Pallbearers will be members of the Athens Rotary Club and honorary pallbearers will be members of the Chilhowee Shrine Club.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, c/o Alhambra Shrine Temple, 1000 Alhambra Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37421; McMinn Area Cancer Relief Fund, Attn: Lisa Stewart, president, P.O. Box 352, Athens, TN 37371-0352; or to the McMinn Regional Humane Society, P.O. Box 7, Athens, TN 37371-0007.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the church.

Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home of Athens is in charge of arrangements