Local News

Former Cary Mayor Dies at 68

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CARY — Fred G. Bond, one of Cary's most popular electedofficials, died Sunday afternoon. Bond, 68, had been dealing with arecurrence of cancer. He had served 18 years on the Cary Town Council, 12of those as mayor.

Bond led Cary in its evolution from being a bedroom-community of nearbyRaleigh to being one of the state's dynamic small cities. When he joinedthe council in 1965, the town's population was 7,000; when he stepped downas mayor in 1983, it was almost 26,000. Today, Cary has 70,000 residents.

Bond was particularly interested in wanting Cary to grow but tomaintain its small-town image as well. He liked to refer to it as the"village atmosphere."

Present Mayor Koka Booth was quoted inThe News & Observeras saying, "Whatever Cary was and whatever Cary will be was because ofFred Bond's leadership."

During his tenure, Cary changed its election process to a popularlyelected (rather than appointed) mayor and to district and at-largecandidates; built a new town hall; built a new library; created anappearance commission and a downtown improvement program; and organizedvarious programs into town government departments.

Bond was also the retired general manager and secretary-treasurer ofthe Flue-Cured Tobacco Stabilization Corp. That body administers thefederal price support program by buying tobacco with borrowed federalfunds, storing it until it can be sold during a more favorable market andthen the loans are repaid.

Bond's standing with that organization was such that when a nationalsteering committee of people prominent in tobacco and agriculture set agoal of $500,000 for a scholarship program in his name, it actually raised$600,000.

In 1981, the city's park on High House Road was named in his honor.

Survivors include his wife, two daughters and two sons, and fourgrandchildren.

Funeral services are pending at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home inCary.

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