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legacy

families

GenerAtions choose to stAy in
shelbyville
H story by sAdie fowler

The Matusek family. In the front row is William. Standing behind William is
Ean. In the back row are Chris, Drew, Katie, Karisa, Mike, Carolyn and Tony.

anders, kincaid, feldhaus, matusek, howard, bobo, howard admits it hasn’t always been an easy decision.
townes … “can I think about that one?” laughed chamber “there have been many times, including recently, that we
l ceo Allen pitner as he pondered how many families with have thought about the positives to living in a more metro area,”
multiple generations living in shelbyville exist today. “there are he said.
so many it’s hard to choose.” As an active person who has business in shelbyville and
pitner is correct in his assessment — there are many. many beyond, he wondered if a larger city with more options would
working-age parents who grew up as children of local business provide more opportunity — yet staying local always prevails.
leaders remain in the area today, deliberately choosing the “other (metro) areas may provide you more options
tightknit community over larger, neighboring cities. educationally, more extracurricular activities for kids and more
“cynthia and I lived in murfreesboro for several years prior to entertainment options,” he said. “from a business standpoint,
moving to shelbyville,” said todd bobo, and attorney alongside those areas would provide a more diverse workforce than is
his father, john t. bobo and brother Andy bobo at bobo hunt currently available in shelbyville.”
white & nance on the shelbyville square. (his sister resides here he speaks candidly about the tough decision to choose
as well, serving as a local teacher at thomas magnet.) between city life and life in bedford county.
“we moved back when our oldest son started school here “It is something we have had to weigh and what we choose to
and moved back because of the people in the community and do is live here and take advantage of the many benefits of living
because we feel it’s a very safe place to raise a family.” here,” howard said. “If we have to sacrifice a little time and drive
with three boys to raise — william, stephen and brooks — our kids to those things that may only be available in larger cities
bobo felt it wise to be in the community he knew and loved, near that’s what we do.”
family and friends. And there are many. the shelbyville community has always been important to the
jeffrey howard and mike matusek grew up with bobo and matusek family as well. with businesses that have been located
remain very close friends today. they, too, have fond childhood here since the 1930s, staying here to raise his family was an easy
memories of playing sports, and having fun in their small choice for mike matusek.
hometown. they, too, grew up sons of local businessmen. they, “I am a third generation owner-operator,” said mike matusek
too, went off to school but returned to further plant their family of the shelbyville lumber company. “we love the small-town,
roots in bedford county and raise families of their own here. tight-knit community and want to support our community in its
“the driving factors for mindee and I choosing to raise our growth. I am an alum of bedford county school system and this
kids in this community were family and the sense of community,” is the place my wife (karisa) and I have chosen to raise our son.”
howard said. “my desire to work for our family business does matusek says shelbyville has much to offer and yet promise
not require me to be in shelbyville, but the ability to be close for future retail, commercial, and industrial growth.
to family, raise my children in a community of their friends and “shelbyville offers a great living alternative to more urban
experience many of the things shelbyville provided mindee and I areas,” he said. “At shelbyville lumber, we pride ourselves in
were the most important factors in choosing to live here.” providing quality customer service on a first-name basis and
howard, son of mary and the late David howard, runs Dabora, tailoring our products for our customer base. our community is
Inc., a local company that produces multiple publications with also very supportive of new offerings.”
regional reach, has two sisters, christy (womack) and jennifer the matuseks have experienced this first-hand as they have
(connelly). while jennifer lives in neighboring rutherford expanded to include slc firearms in their lineup.
county, christy also choose to raise her now-grown sons, holt “we are a fast-growing, diverse community and I am proud to
and David parsons here. call shelbyville home,” he said. H

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