Over his more than 30-year career, Cheek was part of a rotating cast of local leaders weaning the local economy off textiles by recruiting companies in other industries and making room for them. He also managed Mebane while it nearly doubled in population and was part of another trend in governance focusing on quality of life issues, which turns out to be especially appealing to people not tied to a workplace. “I think the most important quality he brought was his vision,” said Mebane City Council Member Patty Phillips. “The quality of life is probably the most important aspect of local government these days because people can live anywhere they want.”