Congratulations to W. Louis Bissette, Jr. for the receipt of the 2013 Downtown Heroes Award presented by the Asheville Downtown Association (ADA). This award was presented during the annual ADA luncheon held on January 16, 2014. Downtown Heroes are individuals or organizations that have made a significant impact on downtown Asheville, were vital to its revitalization and showed dedication to downtown’s unique history and vibrant growth.
Mr. Bissette has been a leading partner with the law firm of McGuire, Wood & Bissette, PA since 1978. In addition to being an active attorney, former City of Asheville Mayor, Lou Bissette, has long been an advocate for the revalidation of downtown Asheville. Bissette was a founding member of the Board of Trustees of the Grove Arcade Public Market Foundation, serving as chair and a member of the executive committee for twenty years. Bissette was instrumental in the renovation of the Grove Arcade. He worked tirelessly as a community preservationist to save many buildings in the central business district. Bissette has served on numerous boards including the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Asheville Merchants Corporation and the Buncombe County Economic Development Commission.