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Former Roanoke Rapids City Councilman Ernest C. Bobbitt was honored with two resolutions Tuesday — one from the council and one from the North Carolina League of Municipalities.

A former city police chief, Bobbitt announced his resignation from council last month after serving five consecutive terms.

Mayor Emery Doughtie presented copies of the two resolutions to Bobbitt, who stood with his family by his side during the reading of the documents.

“ … The Roanoke Rapids City Council and the citizens of Roanoke Rapids … recognize the accomplishments of Ernest C. Bobbitt and express deep gratitude for his dedicated service of over 50 years to the community and wish him and his family much happiness,” the city’s resolution said.

The resolution from the league said, “ … The work of Ernest C. Bobbitt benefitted the citizens of the city of Roanoke Rapids and upheld the standards of excellence in municipal governance.”

The document also acknowledged that Bobbitt served the city faithfully during his 50 years of service.

Bobbitt was born in 1947 in Littleton and graduated from Littleton High School in 1966. From there he attended Wilson Technical Institute before serving in the United States Marine Corps.

He began with the Roanoke Rapids Police Department in 1971 as an officer and in 1977 was promoted to sergeant. In 1980 he became a lieutenant and then a captain in 1984. He served as interim police chief in January of 1998 and served as chief from May of 1998 until his retirement in September of 2002.

In 2003 he was elected to city council and served the voters of District 1.

He served as council liaison to the city’s beautification committee, the Halifax Horizons board and the Peanut Belt Rural Planning Organization. 

He was also involved in the Kiwanis Club, AMVETS, Sons of the American Revolution and the Roanoke Valley Veterans Museum.

Bobbitt and his wife Dorothy have two children — Ashley and William — and four grandchildren — Caitlin, Emerson, Colby, and Brooklyn.

Rex Stainback, a colleague of Bobbitt on the police force, was appointed to take Bobbitt’s seat.