Longtime Mayor Dick Sears, led Holly Springs’ growth over two decades, dies at 83

Richard G. “Dick” Sears, who helped to transform the town of Holly Springs over two decades as mayor, has died from cancer. He was 83 years old.

Sears was elected mayor in 2001, crediting his then 3-year-old granddaughter as his campaign manager.

He ran unopposed for re-election in 2005 and was re-elected three more times until his retirement in 2021. He announced his illness in April of that year.

As mayor, Sears worked to grow the western Wake County community into a desirable town where residents could “live, work, and play without needing to go out of town for most services,” according to a news release.

Sears’ motto throughout all his campaigns was: “If it’s good for the kids, it’s good for Holly Springs,” the release stated.

The town grew to a population of more than 46,000 residents over Sears’ 20 years in office.

He was involved in various community endeavors including chartering the town’s Kiwanis, Civitan, Lions and Rotary clubs. He also served on the board of the Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce.

‘He was a giant’

A native of Muncie, Indiana, Sears moved to Holly Springs in 1995 after working for 35 years with the retailer Sears in New York, Pennsylvania and Chicago. While there, he became the store’s national group marketing manager. He is a descendant of Richard Warren Sears, the founder of the department store chain.

“You couldn’t go to a Subway sandwich shop opening without Dick Sears cutting the ribbon,” Wake County Commissioner Sig Hutchinson said Friday. “He was at everything, and he was such an advocate for the town.”

Sears graduated from Perdue University in 1961.

Hutchinson said Sears was the reason Holly Springs became a “mecca” for life science and technology companies.

“(Sears) was such a positive force who understood how to grow communities in a sustainable way,” Hutchinson told The News & Observer. “He needs to be remembered for that legacy that he created. Holly Springs is what it is today in the quality of life, the government infrastructure, the business center, particularly in life science, because of Dick Sears.”

Biotech companies like Amgen and Fujifilm came to Holly Springs in recent years after years-long strategies led by Sears and other town leaders, Hutchinson said. Both plants intend to employ more than 1,000 people in the area.

“What he saw was the importance of creating site-ready locations. What he did was he created a site ready location so when Amgen came in to look for a place to put their life science manufacturing, they had Holly Springs,” Hutchinson said. “Businesses obviously want an available and talented workforce but that also want a functioning government.”

Hutchinson said Sears made sure companies had permits and that inspections were completed so they could immediately begin operating in the area.

The town also established more parks and greenways under Sears’ leadership, Hutchinson said. He was also instrumental in getting the Ting Stadium, where collegiate summer baseball team the Salamanders play, built.

The stadium was renamed for Sears after his retirement last year.

“Not only is he a legacy for Holly Springs, but we have 12 mayors in Wake County and he was a legacy for the other mayors,” Hutshinson said. “He was a giant, and a dear friend.”

Long-term differences

Just five miles from Holly Springs was another Wake County town whose mayor aimed to transform the area into an attractive place to live and work.

John Byrne, the former mayor of Fuquay-Varina, was elected the same year as Sears. The two joined forces to make the best decisions for growth and development for their respective town’s residents.

“We were able to do more because we did it together,” Byrne told The N&O. “It was almost like we were joined at the hip. I’ll miss him dearly.”

One of the projects they jointly pursued was getting the Triangle Expressway, N.C. 540, to run through Holly Springs, Bryne said.

“(Sears) could really see the long-term value in transportation,” Byrne said. “He was a good listener to people. He was willing to devote a lot of his time and energy for the betterment of not only Holly Springs but southern Wake County.”

Another project was the completion of the 50-bed UNC Rex Holly Springs Hospital. It was one of Sears’ biggest accomplishments as mayor.

“That was not a project that was easy,” Byrne said. “It was being willing to be turned down and get back up again and continue to move the ball forward. He was one of those people that really had a good feel for his community. ...We became partners in this project. It will be a long-term benefit for our region for years and years to come.”

Roy Tempke, the chief operating officer of the hospital, said in a statement to The N&O that Sears was an “unwavering advocate for Holly Springs and the health of its residents.”

“Mayor Sears was one of a kind,” Tempke said. “He will greatly be missed, but his legacy will live on.”

Leaders, friends honor Sears

In a statement, current Holly Springs Mayor Sean Mayefskie said Sears had a “tremendous influence” on the community.

“Not only did he shape Holly Springs when it came to big issues, including transportation, health care, and economic development. His deep and genuine care for Holly Springs will be felt for years to come,” he said.

Congresswoman Deborah Ross, who serves the state’s second district tweeted that Sears played “an integral role in Holly Springs.”

“We’ll always remember his extraordinary life and legacy,” Ross said.

Randy Harrington, the town manager for Holly Springs said Sears “was one of our town’s greatest champions.”

“He advocated fiercely for kids, strong healthcare options, public safety, parks and greenways, new infrastructure, and economic development that created new jobs and grew the town’s tax base,” he said.

Sears leaves behind his wife, Mollie, of 60 years; three children, Rick, Mark and Kristen; 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

A ceremony will be held in Sears’ honor in October at the Church of Christ in Holly Springs.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Sears’ cherished anti-bullying campaign or any charity that benefits children to honor his lifelong dedication to their welfare, according to his obituary.