Library space dedicated in honor of Webster Lytle

The City of Hickory invites the public to attend the naming dedication of the main room at the newly renovated Ridgeview Branch Library in honor of former Hickory City Councilman Webster Lytle. The ceremony will take place at the library on Saturday, July 16, at 1 p.m.

The program will include comments from Hickory Mayor Hank Guess, Ward 4 Hickory City Councilman David Williams, Hickory Public Library Director Sarah Greene, and several family members and friends of Lytle.

In memory of Webster Lytle and in recognition of his many contributions to the Ridgeview community and the City of Hickory, the new main room at the renovated Ridgeview Branch Library is being named the Rev. Dr. Webster E. Lytle, Sr. Learning Commons in his honor. This space offers popular reading materials for adults and teens, seating areas for reading and studying, public computer workstations, and other technology equipment.

A native of Buncombe County, Lytle had a servant’s heart and was called to the ministry at an early age. He served as the pastor at Mills Chapel Baptist Church in Black Mountain from 1966 to 1973 before moving to Hickory to take over as pastor of Morning Star First Baptist Church in the Ridgeview community. 

Rev. Lytle led the congregation at Morning Star from 1973 to 2005. During that time, he was an active community leader both within and beyond the church. He worked to expand the church and increase its local and national outreach efforts. He also served on the Hickory Housing Authority Board, helped found the Interfaith Housing Development Corporation of Hickory, acted as Moderator of the Mountain & Catawba Missionary Baptist Association, and was a Lifetime member of the N.A.A.C.P. and a Mason.

In 1981, Lytle made history as the first African American elected to the Hickory City Council. He was first elected in November 1981 and was elected two more times to represent Hickory’s Ward 4, which encompasses the Ridgeview community. He served on Hickory City Council for nearly 10 years before resigning in July 1991. 

Ridgeview Branch Library is located at 706 First Street SW in Hickory and can be reached directly at 828-345-6037. For more information about Hickory Public Library, please call 828-304-0500 or visit www.hickorync.gov/library.