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Kelvin Harris uses a trowel machine to smooth out the concrete where the Vidalia Technology Center is being built. The center will be named after former Vidalia City Attorney Jack McLemore Jr. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

Kelvin Harris uses a trowel machine to smooth out the concrete where the Vidalia Technology Center is being built. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

Sidney Smith smooth’s out the concrete for the new Jack McLemore tech center. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

Sidney Smith throws water on fresh concrete Friday. (Nicole Hester / the Natchez Democrat)

Tyrone White throws water on the concrete before smoothing out the material at the site where the Vidalia Technology Center is being built. It will be named after Jack McLemore Jr. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

VIDALIA — The City of Vidalia will name its $1.2 million technology center after longtime city attorney Jack H. McLemore Jr., who died in April.

Mayor Hyram Copeland had tears in his eyes as he unveiled the rendering with the new name at the alderman meeting Tuesday night.

“I’ve had the pleasure of serving along with one individual who dedicated his life to this community,” Copeland said. “I miss him. We miss him very much already.”

McLemore’s son, Scott McLemore, who is now serving as the city’s attorney, said on Friday this was a big honor to he and his family.

“You never expect for anybody to do something like that for you,” he said. “We are thrilled they decided to do that. I think it is a great way to remember him.

“It was just an unbelievable honor for us to be able to accept that for him.”

McLemore said while his father may have not been the official city attorney in 1978, he began providing services for the administration then as part of his law practice, Calhoun, Murray and McLemore. Sidney A. Murray Jr. was mayor at the time.

“I know he really enjoyed his time working with the city, not only under this administration for so long, but under the past administrations as well,” he said. “He loved this city, and I know he would appreciate this.”

Alderwoman Mo Saunders, who also had tears in her eyes, said to McLemore Tuesday that his father was a good man.

“We appreciate your dad,” she said.

Former alderman and incoming City Manager Bill Murray said Jack McLemore was part of the pursuit of the hydroelectric plant named after his father and former mayor, Sidney Murray.

“Jack did a great job for the city — there is no doubt about it,” he said. “That is a wonderful tribute the city has done in his honor.”

McLemore became the sole city attorney in 1992 and served in that role until he retired in April 2015, Murray said.

Vidalia city officials hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the technology center on May 24. Construction on the 6,386-square-foot-structure began on the North Spruce Street project in April. Wilmar Construction is completing the work.

The purpose of the building is to house key infrastructure in the Vidalia broadband initiative and serve as a business incubator for the tech-based businesses.

Business incubator clients will be able to rent office space and have access to business equipment, but will also be partnered with a local business mentor to help them guide the process of their business development.

A grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration funded the building along with a 35-percent match from the city.

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