Alley Naming Honors Sparta-Local Aaron Shafer

The Sparta Board of Aldermen and Mayor approved naming an alleyway near Rhea Street after Aaron Shafer Thursday.

Mayor Jeff Young said the late Shafer brought a bright light into the town.

The late Aaron Shafer organized White County’s first bike race. (Photo: Shafer Memorial Website)

“Aaron Shafer was a good man, thought a lot about our community. Young guy, but wise above his years,” Young said. “He cared about his community and did everything he could to promote and advertise for us. He just wanted to make his community and everyone he was around better.”

Shafer served on the White County Chamber Board of Directors where he organized the first bike race in the county. Two months before the first race in 2010, Aaron died in an automobile accident.

Young said Shafer’s work turned into an annual road race.

“[He] spent a lot of time just working on anything that would help our community. The bike race, he was really trying to get that together right before his death,” Young said. “Just did anything he could to let people know about Sparta and what we had to offer and tell people how great of a community we have. And he just loved Sparta and the people in it.”

Young said Aaron Shafer Circle will allow the city to honor Shafer every day.

“Even though it’s just an alley,” Young said. “It is surrounded by people who cared about him and his community.”

The 10th Annual Aaron Shafer Memorial Tennessee State Championship will take place on July 27.