CityView Magazine

CityViewNC.com | 53 The man who was Cliff Newman BY MIRIAM LANDRU I'll See You at Cliff's Bar "He was a good man." That's the resounding truth coming from everyone who ever came in contact with the late Cliff Newman, a beloved bartender of Highland Country Club. But he was more than that. He wasn't just a bartender. He was a leader amongst the staff, well respected by all members and the epitome of a hard working family man who loved his wife and children. His career at Highland spanned over 40 years. "I know before he left this world, he was very proud of me. I know he used to tell people at the Club, my son is a chef… he can cook." – Reggie Newman H e saw members come and go. He witnessed history evolve from the 1950s to the 2000s. But most im- portantly, he le an imprint on the Club that will forever be known thanks to that large wood paneled room featuring that beautiful, stately and ornate bar… Cliff 's Bar. "Even before we had this bar in his name, when folks would go to the club we would say, 'Oh, we will meet at Cliff 's bar," said Dolph Berry, member and former Club board president. Berry also had a hand in designing the bar with the help of Irma Smith from Homemakers. When it was built in the mid-1980s, it had no name. e christening of Cliff 's Bar was not until 2007. Let's Talk About Cliff "I want to talk about Cliff… the man. He was a good man in every sense of the word," said Berry. Cliff was a de- voted husband, father and community member. He instilled in his children the same work ethic and skillset he honed in his many years as an indispensable employee. Cliff essentially grew up at Highland Country Club, having been hired at the ripe age of 21-years-old aer being poached from the Elk Club downtown by the late William deRosset Holt. "My father met him there. He wanted him for the Club, so he was handed a great offer," explained Henry Holt. He added, "Cliff was a quality individual, one of the nicest you could imagine." Having been hired at philosopher Timothy Hume's "age of maturity," you could say that the Club partially raised him, or at least assisted in his work eth- ic. "e Club was founded by the lead- ing businessmen in the area not even a decade prior to when he was hired. You might say they trained Cliff," said Berry. Photos by Amanda Amador Anita Atkinson & Reggie Newman

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