By Zach Hester, Reporter

RAINSVILLE, Ala. — As the world reels from a weeklong mourning of Hollywood icon Burt Reynolds, a local business is holding tight onto a small piece of history that they shared with the ‘Gunsmoke’ and ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ star.

In the 1980s, Reynolds reached the pinnacle of his success in acting, in addition to becoming a producer and director.

Rainsville Church Pew was contracted in 1985 to seat Reynolds’ private chapel on his 160-acre BR horse ranch in Jupiter, Fla. The chapel was specifically built for Reynolds’ marriage ceremony to actress Loni Anderson. In fact, the chapel was built three years before Reynolds even proposed to Anderson, proof of plenty of patience and foresight.

The Academy-Award nominated actor contacted the oldest industry in Rainsville after narrowing his search for the best church pews in the South.

The Rainsville Church Pew, which is celebrating its 60th birthday this year, has still hung onto a copy of the check adorned with Reynolds’ signature.