ETSU Today - Spring 2017

SPRING 2017

A.J. Merriweather

TAKES

T H G I L F

IN

T H I S

I S S U E

New Day in Higher • A Education Governance erving the Underserved • S • N ew Hope for COPD Patients • “ Mr. Marion” Honored Nationally

SPRING 2017

Cheetahs and

ETSU President Brian Noland

Cobras Take Flight on Campus

Executive Editor Fred Sauceman

Jennifer Hill Mitchell Miegel Brian Noland Cyndi Ramsey Fred Sauceman Joe Smith Kristen Swing Michael White

Managing Editor Joe Smith

Graphic Designer Andy Barnes

Advancement/Alumni Editors Pamela Ritter Bob Plummer

Photographic Services Ron Campbell Dakota Hamilton Larry Smith Charlie Warden

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S 3 4 6 8 10 12

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President’s

Perspective Taking the Baton

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“Mr. Marion”

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The Alumni House:

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From Sidelined to

Love Paris in the Spring

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2017 Football

Who’s Going to

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Class Notes and

“First, Best, and

Most” A Record of Service

for Those Who Need it Most Breathing (not so)

Easy?

ETSU’s Physical

Therapy Program Marks Major Milestones ETSU Students

ETSU?

Treasures DATELINE: ETSU Alumni

Membership Program Something Old Becomes New and Blue Side-Armed Schedule Obituaries

Who’s Teaching at

ETSU?

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E A S T TEN N ESSEE STAT E U NI V E RS I T Y

Contributing Writers Roy Andrade Karen Crigger Lee Ann Davis Carol Fox

Printed by Kingery Printing Company Franklin, Tennessee

ON THE COVER: Twenty five years ago, ETSU’s Calvin Talford captivated the country with his leaping ability and won the 1992 national dunk competition.

This year, Buccaneer senior guard A.J. Merriweather brought national attention to ETSU on ESPN in the 2017 Denny’s Slam Dunk competition at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. The 1,000-point scorer helped lead the Bucs to their 10th trip to the NCAA Tournament with a win in the Southern Conference Tournament finals in early March.

Earning perfect scores on his first three dunks of the night and leading the competition heading into the final round, Merriweather came up just short as Georgetown’s Rodney Pryor took home the title. Merriweather became the fourth ETSU player all-time to compete in the national dunk competition, joining former Bucs Talford, 2010 competitor Justin Tubbs, and 2016 contestant Deuce Bello.

Merriweather opened the competition by honoring Talford, wearing a shirt with the former Buc’s number 24 and name on the back. His reverse dunk brought the crowd to its feet and fellow student-athletes in the competition rushed the court. The 6-foot-2 Merriweather then followed that dunk with two more powerful slams that also earned perfect scores in the semifinals.

In the final round, Pryor completed an impressive between-the-legs dunk off a bounce, setting the stage for Merriweather’s final attempt. Merriweather tried to complete a dunk he had connected on during the NCAA Tournament practice session two weeks earlier, a dunk which had gone viral on social media. However, he missed on both attempts and was unable to complete the dunk, which opened the door for Pryor to take the title.

Cover photo by Dakota Hamilton

East Tennessee State University does not discriminate against students, employees, or applicants for admission or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other legally protected class with respect to all employment, programs and activities sponsored by ETSU. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Special Assistant to the President for Equity and Diversity/Affirmative Action Director, 206 Dossett Hall, 439-4211. ETSU’s policy on non-discrimination can be found at: www.etsu. edu/equity/adherence.php. ETSU-045-16 93M

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East Tennessee State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist, and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, telephone 404-679-4500, or http://www. sacscoc.org, for questions about the accreditation of East Tennessee State University.

E T S U

PhotobybyRon LarryCampbell.

Smith.

Photo

T O D A Y

The President’s

Perspective Through the passage of time over the past 105 years on our campus, much change has occurred. We opened as East Tennessee State Normal School in 1911 to prepare teachers. As the institution underwent a series of name changes – East Tennessee State Teachers College, State Teachers College, East Tennessee State College, and finally East Tennessee State University – our campus transformed as well. New academic departments were added, buildings were constructed, athletic teams were formed, and our student population grew.

In July 1972, ETSU was placed under the governance of the Board of Regents. Just two years later, the Tennessee General Assembly authorized the creation of the Quillen College of Medicine. While under TBR, ETSU continued to witness unprecedented growth as new records in extramural support were set, our footprint in the region expanded, and our portfolio of academic programs continued to grow, particularly with the creation of the Gatton College of Pharmacy, other new doctoral programs, and, most recently, our engineering program.

In 2016, a landmark event occurred in Tennessee higher education with the passage of the FOCUS Act, which called for the creation of institutional governing boards for the six TBR universities. In this issue of ETSU Today, you will meet the individuals whom Governor Haslam has appointed to our governing board as well as the faculty and student representatives named to the board.

Though today we appear very different from the Normal School that opened in 1911 with 29 students, we have remained true to our mission – a mission to improve the lives and serve the people of this region. Whether it is through preparing teachers to lead in classrooms, educating health care professionals to serve in rural communities, mentoring fine and performing artists, training young scientists, offering master’s and doctoral degree programs to advance professional quality, or creating courses to align with workforce needs, ETSU has stood as a partner not only to our students but to the region as a whole.

Thank you for helping us achieve that mission.

Brian Noland President

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Taking the

Baton

Board of Trustees Appointed to Govern ETSU Within their own respective fields, they have risen to prominence. The group is a roll-call listing of esteemed leaders in the region and beyond, including CEOs, health care executives, philanthropists, business owners, an attorney, and a former lieutenant governor.

And they share a belief in the power of higher education as well as a deep passion for and commitment to East Tennessee State University.

This spring, the group of eight men and women, joined by a faculty member and a student, assumed the fiduciary responsibilities for the institution as members of the new Board of Trustees.

It was an historic event, President Brian Noland describes, as the institution transitioned to having its own governing board after being under the auspices of the Tennessee Board of Regents since July 1972.

Already lauded for his pioneering efforts to advance higher education in Tennessee, Governor Bill Haslam announced the FOCUS Act in late 2015. The proposal called for the creation of institutional governing boards for each of the six universities under the Board of Regents: Austin Peay State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University, Tennessee Tech University, the University of Memphis, and ETSU. The act was passed by the General Assembly during the 2016 legislative session.

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“These individuals hold a strong affinity for ETSU and as trustees they will be able to provide more focused support for the institution and the needs of this region,” Noland said.“Their efforts will allow us to continue our mission of improving the quality of life for the people of this region, a mission that has been a part of this university since its founding in 1911.”

Haslam visited the ETSU campus the following June where he was joined by elected officials from across the region for the official signing of the FOCUS Act. And, last fall, he announced the names of the eight appointees to the ETSU governing board. They are: • J anet Ayers, President of the Ayers Foundation; • S teven DeCarlo, CEO of AmWINS Group;

E T S U T O D A Y

• David Golden, Senior Vice President, Chief Legal and Sustainability Officer, and Corporate Secretary for Eastman Chemical Company; • D orothy Grisham, Owner/Operator of an Allstate Insurance Agency; • D r. Linda Latimer, board-certified Anatomic and Clinical Pathologist; • S cott Niswonger, Chairman and Founder of the Niswonger Educational Foundation and Executive Chairman of Landair Transport, Inc.; • Jim Powell, Founder of Powell Companies; and • R on Ramsey, owner of Ron Ramsey and Associates and former Tennessee Lieutenant Governor.

Fred Alsop

Janet Ayers

Steve DeCarlo

Nathan Farnor

David Golden

Dorothy Grisham

Linda Latimer

Scott Niswonger

Jim Powell

Ron Ramsey

In addition to the eight appointees, the FOCUS Act also called for the board to include a faculty representative and a student representative. Dr. Fred Alsop, a longtime Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and current Director of the George L. Carter Railroad Museum, was elected by the ETSU faculty to be the faculty representative.

The health and welfare of this “ region, I think, depend more on ETSU than anything else. ” GOVERNOR B ILL HAS LAM

Dr. David Linville, Associate Vice President for Health Affairs, was named Secretary to the Board of Trustees.

Following the confirmation process by the House and Senate, the Board of Trustees held its first meeting on March 24, a day Noland described as “a monumental paradigm shift in higher education across the state” and “one of the most significant moments in the history of East Tennessee State University.”

During the inaugural meeting, the board elected Niswonger as Chairman and Golden as Vice Chairman. In addition, Nathan Farnor, a junior Roan Scholar who is studying political science and communication studies, was selected as the student representative. Farnor is also Vice President of the Student Government Association.

Governor Haslam attended that first meeting and commended the Board of Trustees members for being willing to serve both the university and the region.

“ETSU being a great university is not just important for the university and the students and the faculty. It’s important for this whole region in a way that few other institutions are,” he said.“When you look at this part of the state, ETSU is the dominant institution. I’m not talking about just education. The health and welfare of this region, I think, depend more on ETSU than anything else. You’re more than just serving the school; you are serving the entire part of the state.”

The Board of Trustees will hold its next meeting on June 9. The event will be livestreamed at: www.etsu.edu/trustees. n ~ Joe Smith is Executive Assistant to the President for University Relations and Chief Communications Officer at ETSU.

Photos by Charlie Warden

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“First, Best, and

Most�

A Stellar Season Remembered

In all, the Bucs have now won 51 games overall and 28 games in league play over the last two seasons, the most by any program in the SoCon.

Photos Dakota Eby AS T T ENHamilton N ES S EE S TATE UNIVE RS IT Y 6

T O D A Y

During this past 2016-17 season, the Bucs returned to the top of the Southern Conference by finishing as both the league’s regular season and tournament champions, and earned the program’s 10th trip all-time to the NCAA Tournament. Winning 27 games – the second most in school history – Forbes and his team gave ETSU fans plenty to be excited about, which led to three sold out crowds at Freedom Hall throughout the year, while the Bucs’ average home attendance stood atop the conference at 4,054 fans per game.

Those who came along for the ride were treated to an exhilarating run, one that included the exceptional individual performances of players such as seniors T.J. Cromer, A.J. Merriweather, Hanner Mosquera-Perea, and Tevin Glass, along with juniors like Desonta Bradford, Devontavius Payne, Jermaine Long, and David Burrell.

Along the way, the team enjoyed several signature wins, including a victory over Southeastern Conference member Mississippi State, three victories to win the Sanford Pentagon Showcase Tournament in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a season sweep of SoCon arch rival Chattanooga, and a conference championship victory over UNC Greensboro to capture the SoCon title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

In all, the Bucs have now won 51 games overall and 28 games in league play over the last two seasons, the most by any program in the SoCon. In addition, ETSU finished the year with a national RPI rank of 55th in the country, the highest such finish for the Bucs in 26 years.

Individually, Cromer was selected as All-SoCon first team and was named the SoCon Tournament Most Valuable Player after posting performances such as a 41-point effort in a semifinal win over Samford. In fact, Cromer’s amazing output in that game made him the first ETSU player to ever eclipse 40 points in a league tournament contest, and he became the first SoCon player to reach that mark since Davidson and current NBA star Stephen Curry did so in 2009. Meanwhile,

Bradford joined Cromer on the All-SoCon teams for both the regular season and tournament. In addition, both Cromer and Forbes earned honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches, with Cromer taking first-team honors and Forbes being named Coach of the Year for District 22.

Cromer finished the year with 670 points, which ranks third on the all-time single-season list, and had 106 made 3-pointers, which ranks second on the Bucs’ career list. He ended his career with 1,206 points to finish 21st on the program’s all-time scoring list, and he became just the third junior college transfer in school history to eclipse 1,000 points in just two seasons.

Joining Cromer in the 1,000-point club was Merriweather, who finished his career with 1,084 points to rank 30th all-time. He also capped the season by earning a spot in the national slam dunk competition, which was televised on ESPN. Merriweather became a crowd favorite in that event, connecting on three perfect-score dunks and trending nationally on social media during the competition.

E T S U

When Steve Forbes was hired as the Men’s Basketball Coach at ETSU on March 31, 2015, he promised that the Buccaneers would have a program of “first, best, and most.” Less than two years later, Forbes has made good on that guarantee.

SoCon Tournament MVP T.J. Cromer and the Bucs took on Florida in the NCAA Tournament.

The Bucs will now enter the offseason focused on reloading talent through the recruiting process. Despite the loss of six seniors – including players like Cromer, Merriweather, Mosquera-Perea, and Glass – Forbes and his staff have proven in two seasons at ETSU that they can find the players needed to win championships in the SoCon – and the momentum of “first, best, and most” can continue.

For more on ETSU men’s basketball and all other Buccaneer athletics teams, visit ETSUBucs.com. n ~ Michael White is Associate Athletic Director for Communications.

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A Record of Service for Those Who Need it Most ETSU NURSE-MANAGED CLINICS BLANKET THE AREA What began some 27 years ago in the basement of a local organization has evolved into two multimillion-dollar health care sites that, through East Tennessee State University’s College of Nursing, provide care for some of the region’s most underserved populations.

The Johnson City Downtown Clinic was established in March 1990 through a community grassroots collaborative in an effort to provide health care to the homeless. Growing out of a homeless advocacy committee formed by the City of Johnson City in 1987, the free clinic managed by the ETSU College of Nursing was strictly grant funded and operated out of one-half of the basement of the Salvation Army in downtown Johnson City.

“It was just me for a while, and a secretary, in that basement. We were in one room,” recalls Jean Hemphill, the first full-time advanced practice nurse to work at the clinic.“The most frustrating thing initially was that I did not realize the extent of the problem in terms of gaps of care, particularly for vulnerable populations. The need was tremendous, and it still is tremendous.”

Hemphill said she was able to establish informal links and partnerships as she attempted to give individuals the access to the level of care she’d expect for anyone else to receive. Gradually, the clinic expanded, first to take up the entire basement of the Salvation Army, which provided enough space for two clinic rooms, including one with a bathtub, and a storage room.

Photo by Larry Smith

Photo by Ron Campbell

The Johnson City Community Health Center

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In 1994, the College of Nursing received grant funding from state and federal sources that allowed for the hiring of a nurse and two nurse practitioners, one of whom would regularly go out to the homeless camps to do blood pressure checks, immunizations, and other activities in hopes of bringing those individuals in to the clinic for additional care.

It was in 1995 when services were expanded to cover medically indigent and TennCare patients. Two years later, with growing space needs, the clinic moved to West Fairview Avenue when what is now Mountain States Health Alliance approached the College of Nursing about a clinical site the company had acquired.

“They leased the building to us for $1 per year,” Hemphill says.“They continued to do that for years.”

need was tremendous, and “Theit still is tremendous. ” J E AN H E M P H I LL

Recognizing a vast difference in the health care needs of the homeless compared to the needs of the working poor, the Downtown Clinic split to form two health care facilities in 2005 – the Johnson City Day Center, which remained focused on the needs of the homeless, and the Downtown Clinic, which set up shop on Myrtle Avenue to tend to the needs of the underinsured, TennCare enrollees, a growing Hispanic population, and medically indigent individuals.

“Only 15 percent of the homeless population is what they call ‘chronically homeless,’” Hemphill noted.“It was advantageous to split that population.”

In 2012, the clinic on Myrtle Avenue outgrew its space and moved to its current location on Century Lane in Johnson City to better serve patient needs. Now referred to as the Johnson City Community Health Center, the state-of-the-art clinic space, constructed through a $7-million grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, marked a new chapter for the Downtown Clinic. It became one of only a few nurse-managed community health centers in the nation to be designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center, meaning it is a community-based organization that provides comprehensive primary care and preventive care, including health, oral, and mental health/substance abuse services to individuals of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay or health insurance status.

At 23,000 square feet, the JCCHC doubled the space available to see patients.

Today, it serves nearly 6,000 patients, with roughly 25,000 visits to the clinic each year.

In 2016, the College of Nursing broke ground on the construction of a new Day Center on the same Fairview Avenue location where it has operated for the past 20 years. Through a $1 million federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration, the ongoing construction of the new building will nearly double the Day Center’s space to work with the homeless population.

Mountain City Extended Hours Health Center, established in 1990 Mountain City Extended Hours Health Center, which opened in September 1990, is a federally certified Rural Health Clinic serving the residents of Johnson County, Tennessee, and neighboring counties. Offering primary care, prenatal care, and behavioral health services in a primary care setting, the clinic has been in three locations. Since 1998, it has been located in space inside the Johnson County Community Hospital. On evenings and weekends, it is the only primary care option in this rural community.

T O D A Y

~ Kristen Swing is Director of Communications at ETSU.

E T S U

At the clinic, people living in homelessness are able to have not only their health care needs met, but also have access to a shower, a laundry room, and other amenities that are not typically available to them during the daytime hours.

“On a typical day, the current Day Center serves upward of 60 clients, with resources that are adequate to serve Photo by Larry Smith about half that,” says Dr. Wendy Nehring, Dean of the ETSU College of Nursing.

“The building is too small, which forces us to have to limit our offerings each day.

The building is also Former U.S. Senator Bill Frist, a physician, donned his white coat and saw patients during a 1997 visit to the plagued with structural Johnson City Downtown Clinic. issues. Our shower and two washing machines share a single, outdated water line, meaning we can’t allow simultaneous use of these services.”

The new 4,365-square-foot facility will feature updated resources and medical equipment, allowing for the expansion of medical, behavioral, and social health services for the homeless.

“We are aiming to take a holistic approach to improving the lives of the homeless population of our region,” says Dr. Wilsie Bishop, Vice President for Health Affairs at ETSU.“We will increase our level of services by providing health care and social services five days a week, which will allow for onsite medical testing and improving the basic needs of these individuals – everything from laundry and shower facilities to recovery programs and life skills training.”

Mountain States Health Alliance donated the land to the university to allow the construction of the new facility. It is through that partnership, and the one with the City of Johnson City all those years ago, that such projects are successful, according to ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland.

“None of this would be possible if not for the partnerships that have sustained this initiative for the past quarter-century,” he notes.“It is through partnerships like these that we are able to provide these essential services – everything from medical care to a hot shower – to one of the most underserved populations in the area.”

According to Jennifer Whitehead, Director of the Day Center, the facility records more than 11,000 visits annually, including 300-plus primary care appointments and nearly as many mental health appointments.Through the construction of the new facility, she expects to see a 150 percent increase in the number of individuals who are served by the Day Center, with availability of individual patient resources increasing by more than 400 percent.

“The new building will allow us to provide mental health, medical, and social services to a larger portion of the homeless community in a more efficient and timely manner,” Whitehead says.“We hope that will go a long way to help break the cycle of homelessness.” n

The ETSU College of Nursing operates a total of 12 nursemanaged clinics. In addition to the Johnson City Community Health Center and the Downtown Day Center, they include:

ETSU Student Health Services, nurse-managed since 1997 Medical care is provided to ETSU students by nurse practitioners and BSN registered nurses who provide professional health care for a healthy experience at ETSU. ETSU University Health Services, established in 2008 The mission of University Health Services is to provide acute and episodic care to university employees. University Health is a nurse-managed clinic and the health care providers are Board Certified Nurse Practitioners.

J CCHC/Johnson City Housing Authority Partners for Health Clinic, established in 2011 The JCCHC/Johnson City Housing Authority Partners for Health Clinic, located in the Keystone development, is a satellite location of the Johnson City Community Health Center and serves as a community healthcare resource which provides primary care, women’s health exams, home visits, well child checks, immunizations, physicals, minor first aid, and health education. This facility can also treat acute and chronic conditions.

Hancock County Middle/High School, established in 1995, and Hancock County Elementary School, established in 1998 Located in the Hancock County Middle/High School and Elementary School, these clinics provide convenient, accessible, and developmentally appropriate care on school grounds. The school-based health centers provide primary care, mental health services, and classroom risk reduction programs as well as various health promotion activities in a rural county with one of the highest poverty rates in Tennessee.

Washington County Schools: Daniel Boone High School, established in 1995, Washington County Schools: David Crockett High School, established in 1995, Washington County Schools: Lamar Elementary School, established in 1995 The ETSU College of Nursing School-Based Clinics at David Crockett, Daniel Boone, and Jonesborough Elementary schools are supported by Washington County Schools and ETSU. Like a traditional doctor’s office, the school-based clinics offer primary care services by licensed nurse practitioners and these services are billed to an individual’s insurance. If a child does not have insurance, there is a sliding scale based on income.

University School, established in 2014 The ETSU College of Nursing clinic at University School provides primary care services to the schoolchildren and teachers at the school, which is located on the ETSU campus.

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Breathing (not so)

Easy?

Researchers to study, compare indoor air quality in rural, urban settings

The fact that the study will identify and compare common pollutants in the rural settings surrounding Johnson City with those common to the urban region of Baltimore, Maryland, where Johns Hopkins University is located, is also a big draw.

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Dr. Claudia Kozinetz. Photo by Larry Smith.

T O D A Y

environmental audits, while epidemiology students from Maisonet’s research team will gain experience in data design, collection, and analysis.

This study, which builds on a previous research project at ETSU that found elevated levels of indoor air pollutants in a sample of regional homes, will look at indoor pollutants generated by a number of obvious and not-soobvious culprits.“Sources of indoor air pollution can include alternative fuel sources, carpet, building materials, plants, secondary tobacco smoke,” Scheuerman says.“Pretty much anything indoors can produce something that somebody might have an issue with.”

The fact that the study will identify and compare common pollutants in the rural settings surrounding Johnson City with those common to the urban region of Baltimore, Maryland, where Johns Hopkins University is located, is also a big draw.

“To me, that’s the main thing I got excited about when we first started working on this,” said Maier, Chair of the Department of Environmental Health.“I’ve always wanted to look at rural versus urban comparisons, and this provided us an opportunity to do something along those lines.”

One other element of the study that researchers appreciate involves community outreach.“Each of the Centers of Excellence must reach out into the different communities to discuss these projects, to learn if these projects are relevant to the community, to get input from the community,” said Kozinetz, Chair of Biostatistics and Epidemiology.

Maisonet said that ETSU’s community advisory board members’ knowledge and experience span diverse fields including respiratory health care, public health services, and housing.“We will seek their input in regard to both the study and to activities that they would like to see happen in the community with regard to education, and to household air pollution and its impact on health,” she said.

“The idea,” she continued,“is that this project should inform us as to what the exposures are in our area and what the sources are, as well as ways we can continue working toward a clean household environment, especially for those who have respiratory diseases and perhaps are susceptible or at risk.”

E T S U

Black clouds of diesel smoke billowing from the tailpipe of a truck. Industrial fumes. Burning garbage. Most folks are aware of how those and other pollutants affect the quality of the air they breathe outdoors. But do they ever think about the quality of the air they breathe indoors? A team of researchers at East Tennessee State University is gearing up for a collaborative study on indoor air quality and its effects on individuals with respiratory illnesses. This study, led by Johns Hopkins University in partnership with ETSU’s College of Public Health, is funded as one of five national Centers of Excellence on Environmental Health Disparities Research. This Centers of Excellence program is a partnership between the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency designed to improve health in communities overburdened by pollution and other environmental factors that contribute to health disparities.

The $1.5 million Johns Hopkins and ETSU study will examine and compare indoor air quality and its effects in both urban and rural settings. It will also look at the impact of improved dietary intake on preventing or exacerbating air pollution-related respiratory illnesses, including COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

Dr. Mildred Maisonet, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, is the principal investigator leading ETSU’s team of environmental specialists and epidemiologists in the rural component of the study. This team includes Dr. Claudia Kozinetz and Lee Cutshaw of the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, along with Dr. Kurt Maier, Dr. Phillip Scheuerman, Dr. Ying Li, and Brian Evanshen of the Department of Environmental Health.

“We’re going to be recruiting 100 participants,” Maisonet said.“We’re working with a local pulmonologist who is interested in this project and the possibility of his patients getting information about the air quality of their households. This is a really important part of being able to move this project forward.”

ETSU faculty and student researchers will visit the homes of participants to monitor air quality and administer questionnaires on respiratory health and COPD signs and symptoms noted during the monitoring periods. Three home visits will take place, the first of which will be to establish baseline readings at each participant’s home. Further readings will be taken at three and six months, followed by a phone call at nine months.

Team members agree this project will provide excellent learning opportunities for ETSU undergraduate and graduate students. Environmental health students from Scheuerman’s lab will participate in air sampling and

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~ Jennifer Hill is Assistant Director of Communications at ETSU.

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Photo by Ron Campbell

ETSU’s Physical Therapy Program MARKS MAJOR MILESTONES

Dr. Courtney Hall uses a vestibular machine for balance therapy. Photo by Ron Campbell.

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by Larry E AS T T EN N ES SSmith EE S TATE UNIVE RS IT Y

From bachelor’s to master’s to doctorate—created, approved, and accredited in only 10 years. That’s the impressive pathway of physical therapy education at East Tennessee State University.

It all began in 1989 with letters of support, including one dated February 23 of that year from Duane Williams, then Director of Physical Therapy at the old North Side Hospital in Johnson City. Just five years later, Williams would become the founding Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at ETSU. A scholarship is offered in his name.

The program is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the graduation of the first class of physical therapists this year.

A master’s-level program was originally approved by ETSU in 1990, but it was not supported at the state level. Three years later, a bachelor’s-level program and the accompanying department received approval by the Tennessee Board of Regents, as outlined in a letter from then Acting TBR Chancellor Dr. Richard Rhoda to ETSU President Dr. Roy S. Nicks. Nicks had worked closely with Dr. Paul E. Stanton, Jr., then ETSU’s Vice President for Health Affairs, in making sure the proposal garnered proper attention in Nashville.

A Physical Therapy Advisory Board, consisting of nine faculty and staff members from ETSU and seven local physical therapy clinicians, carefully planned the curriculum. One of those board members was Dr. Don Samples, who now serves as Dean of the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences, the academic home to the Department of Physical Therapy.

Dr. Sue Barr, then Associate Dean of the College of Public and Allied Health, helped with accreditation and faculty recruitment. For her efforts, she became the first recipient of the Physical Therapy Extra Mile Award.

Dr. Wilsie Bishop, current ETSU Vice President for Health Affairs, was a champion of the program from the beginning, when she was serving as Dean of the College of Public and Allied Health. And the first licensed physical therapist in the state of Tennessee, William “Mac” Hensley, got behind the effort, too. An alumnus of Western Carolina University and Duke University, Hensley practiced physical therapy for 62 years.

As ETSU’s program was getting off the ground, national standards for physical therapists were rapidly changing. The American Physical Therapy Association had mandated that all programs be doctoral-level ones by the year 2020. That’s the reason for the progression of degree programs offered at ETSU, which met the national standards with many years to spare.

ETSU’s timing was perfect. In 1994, there were 131 physical therapy programs in the country, with 21 in the developing stages. By 2016, that number had increased to 230, with 28 developing.

E T S U

Photo by Jim Sledge

T O D A Y Despite the growing number of programs nationwide, the number of consultant. Dr. Michael Bourassa specializes in headaches and TMJ. Dr. Beatrice applicants for the doctoral program at ETSU far exceeds the number of Owens is a certified hand specialist. And Dr. Kara Boynewicz, a board-certified acceptances. In a typical year, about 300 students apply. Forty are accepted. pediatric clinical specialist, conducts clinical practice at Johnson City’s Niswonger From the beginning, the program has exceeded standards and expectations.

Children’s Hospital, with special attention to treating addicted infants.

Among those who earned bachelor’s degrees at ETSU, the average total score on “There is a shortage of physical therapy faculty in the country right now,” King the national physical therapist licensure examination was higher than state and said.“We’ve been very lucky in hiring good new people.”

In her career as both a practitioner and educator, King has seen the profession national averages. The 1998 class recorded a 100 percent pass rate on the exam. evolve.“Physical therapists are now trained to provide care as primary care or direct Those results aren’t surprising, considering the demanding nature of the access providers,” she said.

ETSU program. It covers nine “Before, everything was from semesters—three years full-time. Current Department ETSU’s timing was perfect. In 1994, there doctors’ orders.”

King and her colleagues are Chair Dr. Patricia King, a native working to expand the skill sets of Bristol, Tennessee, says the were 131 physical therapy programs in of physical therapists through students are “in academic the country, with 21 in the developing residencies and fellowships. overload most of the time.”

The department’s first clinical Of the 127 credit hours stages. By 2016, that number had residency, in orthopedic required, about a third are spent physical therapy at the VA, will in clinical training, and students increased to 230, with 28 developing. begin this fall. are placed in clinics by their Meanwhile, the department’s second semester, a feature that quarters in Building 2, Charles E. distinguishes the ETSU program Allen Hall, on the VA campus, are being renovated, and faculty will be temporarily compared to many counterparts across the country. housed on ETSU’s Valleybrook campus.

“We are supported by the major health care systems and medical practices in Those early letters of support were indeed prophetic. King says in the past, it was the region—Mountain States Health Alliance, Wellmont, Holston Medical Group, very challenging to find physical therapists in rural areas. Now, close to 70 percent of and State of Franklin Healthcare Associates—as well as several national and ETSU’s physical therapy graduates are practicing in Tennessee. And another milestone regional physical therapy companies such as Results Physiotherapy, Benchmark, approaches. Soon, ETSU will award its 500th degree in physical therapy. n and Champion, and by national rehabilitation companies including Health South, NHC, and Signature,” King said.“We also get tremendous support from ~ Fred Sauceman is Executive Editor of ETSU Today. locally-owned physical therapy practices such as PT Services of Johnson City and Elizabethton and Achieve Physical Therapy of Gray and Kingsport.”

Another hallmark of the program is the fact that faculty are required not only to teach but also to practice in the field. For example, Dr. Craig Wassinger is a pain 13

Photo by Larry Smith

ETSU Students Love Paris in the Spring and Tokyo in the Fall And pretty much everywhere in the world

Terra Schmenger

Students at East Tennessee State University are learning that the world is their classroom.

For a year, a semester, or several weeks during the summer, more students are heading abroad to study. Between 2014 and 2016, there was a 35 percent increase in those who packed their bags and headed to other nations.

The earliest opportunities for international travel came in the 1970s. According to Dr. Maria Costa, Director of International Programs and Services,“Dr. Eduardo Zayas-Bazán, a native of Cuba, wanted Spanish majors to experience the language, so he would drive them to Mexico. Later, he and his wife accompanied students to Spain.

Christa Hungate, Dr. Karen Harrington, and Dr. Ardis Nelson followed, taking language majors to Germany, France, and Spain.”

Costa adds,“The Office of International Programs and Services was created in the 1980s, and study abroad advisement and coordination became a part of its responsibilities in the 1990s.”

The establishment of the ETSU Honors College and the move of International Programs and Services under its umbrella translated into a boost to study abroad, including the creation of a dedicated position to study abroad advisement.

Honors College Dean Dr. Judith Slagle notes,“Faculty interest soared about 10 years ago, and faculty members began organizing summer courses related to major and minor areas of study.

“Employers want to hire personnel with an understanding of the global community.

Having experience in other countries makes a candidate stand out,” she says.

Slagle would like to see ETSU attain the goal of having 10 to 20 percent of all students avail themselves of travel opportunities. Scholarships are available to help with expenses.

The International Student Exchange Program allows students to pay their usual ETSU tuition, fees, room, and board and then study in another country while international students do the same at their home institutions and come to ETSU. The Tennessee Consortium for International Studies, or TnCIS, offers summer courses in 17 countries, and ETSU faculty members offer an average of 12-14 courses abroad every summer.

Slagle says ETSU faculty members may design their own classes.“They spread the word and fill the class,” she says. That’s something Slagle has done when she takes groups to London to study theatre.“There are a number of advantages to having a faculty member guide and trouble-shoot for a class,” she says.

Terra Schmenger had barely heard of Croatia before she left to study at the Dubrovnik International University in the spring of 2016. What she found amazed her.

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To learn more about international programs at ETSU, visit http://www.etsu. edu/honors/international/

Who Studies Abroad?

Terra Schmenger had barely heard of Croatia before she left to study at the Dubrovnik International University in the spring of 2016. What she found amazed her.“I lived overlooking the beach on the Adriatic Sea,” she says.

“Everyone walks everywhere, and I got a workout going up and down the 300 stairs on the hillside leading down from my door.” Travel was easy to accomplish, thanks to the way classes were scheduled with no two weeks in a row having the same classes. She visited 10 countries, among them Italy, Spain, France, Monaco, the United Kingdom, and Norway.“Travel was really inexpensive,” she notes,“and the cheapest was a $15 airline ticket.”

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Here are a few of the summer 2017 faculty-led courses: • A n anthropology class led by Jay Franklin to study Paleolithic archaeology in the caves of France • A stay in an Italian castello to learn about and fire pottery in an Etruscan kiln with Catherine Murray and Lindsay Rogers • Visiting Poland and the Czech Republic with Michele Crumley as political science students learn more about the politics, history, and culture of Central and Eastern Europe • J ane MacMorran and Ron Roach will guide students to Scotland and Northern Ireland to study the culture, music, and history of those countries • B iology students may go with Tim McDowell to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands to see the biodiversity and evolution found there

Arshene Baigvand chose to go to Thailand.“I saw Anthony Bourdain showing the virtues of Thai food in his television program ‘Parts Unknown,’ and I decided to try that for myself,” he says. He studied finance in English and learned some basic Thai at Thammasat University.“The language is tricky,” he explains.“There are five tones to use and each tone changes the word completely. For instance, the word ‘beautiful’ said in a slightly lower tone means ‘unfortunate’ instead.”

The King died while Baigvand was in Bangkok last fall and everyone wore black out of respect.“Government workers wear black for a whole year afterward,” he says.The food was delicious and spicy in Thailand, Baigvand notes. He says, “Care and pride go into it, whether the food is sold in a stall on the street or in a five-star restaurant, but my stomach was upset for the entire first month. I miss it now and add some fire to my food now that I am home.”

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Costa says Western European countries are the most popular with ETSU students, along with Japan and South Korea.“There are new experiences in store for our students,” she says.“Many have never ridden on an airplane or been that far away from home before. Students enrolling in overseas institutions have to adapt to a new set of academic norms, such as having their semester grades determined only by a final exam. And, there are cultural differences, such as finding out that, in Scandinavian hot springs, no swimsuits or other clothing can be worn.”

Slagle points out that the summer faculty-led classes often inspire students to seek a semester or more abroad.“They are bitten by the travel bug!” she notes.

ETSU at Rome, one of ETSU’s premier study abroad programs, is now in its ninth year. The initiative is made possible through the support of donors whose gifts mitigate or eliminate the financial obligations students must meet when considering a study abroad program. Over 200 ETSU students have participated in the ETSU at Rome program.

“The financial support from many generous individuals has been a key to the sustained success of the Rome program,” said Acting Chief Operating Officer Jeremy Ross, who founded the ETSU at Rome project. “Students will experience an intellectual and cultural explosion beyond any imagination.

There are many paths to a purposeful and meaningful life, but living and learning in one of the world’s greatest cities will positively transform students’ lives forever. We cannot thank donors enough for helping students who, in turn, serve the region with an enhanced and broader perspective.”

ETSU in Rome: Hannah Jenkins, Kaleb Korol, Kailey Riddle, and Hannah Manis. Photo by Ben Daugherty.

Ansley McCarley had just the opposite experience. She chose to go to Chester, England, where food is not highly seasoned. At the University of Chester from January to June 2016, she studied humanities as well as theology among budding theologians.“The people there were very environmentally conscious,” she says.“Everyone walks wherever they go. And they pay extra if they use plastic bags.” She travelled as much as possible and among her destinations were France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.

Melissa McElroy is minoring in German and wanted an immersion experience, so she attended the Philipps University of Marburg in the spring of 2016.“You aren’t really a student of the university in Germany,” she says,“but of the department in which you study. I was in the Department of Political Science.” She was surprised to find that Germans were very relaxed and not “hyper-competitive.” And, she was not coddled as an international student.

She points out,“I was expected to be independent, handling class registration and opening a bank account, for instance.”

The students agree that their experiences had a great positive impact on their lives. They know that they can be placed in another land, form lasting friendships, find their way from country to country, and be self-reliant. All of them want to experience more travel and other cultures. And none of them can understand how any student would fail to take advantage of opportunities to study abroad. n ~ Carol Fox recently retired from ETSU after working in the University Relations Office since 1996.

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Who’s Going to ETSU? ERICA COLEN: Destined to Teach As a young girl, Erica Colen loved visiting her mom’s classroom in Chattanooga where she taught (and continues to teach) fifth grade. She would be there at night to help her mom prepare lessons and grade papers, and she even worked there as a volunteer.

Now, Colen has her own classroom. She is currently at University School completing her final semester of a yearlong residency experience, the last step in her journey to become a teacher.

“I love coming here every day,” says Colen, a student in the Clemmer College of Education. Even though she is excited about her upcoming graduation in May, she already knows she is going to miss her third-grade Photo by students.

Charlie Warden.

“Following in my mother’s footsteps and becoming a teacher was always in the back of my mind, but when I first came to ETSU in the fall of 2013, I declared biology as my major because I love it so much,” she said. “But over time, I realized that being a teacher was what I really wanted to do.”

Colen applauded the faculty in the Clemmer college, saying they are truly invested in the students and in preparing them to become effective educators.

And while Colen is following in her mom’s footsteps to become a teacher, she is also retracing the steps of other family members who have attended ETSU. Her late father attended ETSU, as did her sister, who earned her degree in nutrition.

Now her younger brother is at ETSU majoring in criminal justice. Colen says it is great having him here and that the siblings enjoy studying together.

Colen is a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education, and plans to pursue graduate school once she finishes her degree.

NILS BRESINSKY Finds Fulfillment Far from Home Nils Bresinsky is a lover of libraries. It runs in the family. Both his father Andreas and his mother Birgit have Ph.D. degrees in biology. Now retired, his father taught biology at the University of Regensburg in Nils’ native Germany for 16

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most of his professional life. A passion for learning has always driven the Bresinsky family.

“The library is one of my favorite spots on campus, since I care a lot about academics, history, and research,” says the East Tennessee State University graduate student, who will earn a master of arts degree in History this spring.“I often spend hours in the library writing on my thesis and studying.”

Nils does admit, though, that he will sometimes take a break from the books for a plate of pork schnitzel and fried potatoes at Freiberg’s, the German restaurant in downtown Johnson City. Most of the Photo by dishes remind him of home, Larry Smith. but he confesses that “beer cheese” was something he never encountered in his hometown of Viehhausen, a small community about an hour from Munich.

The deep connection Nils has made to East Tennessee began with a student exchange program at Greeneville High School in 2007-08. He still considers his hosts, Henry and Anne Higgins, his American family and sees them about once a week. They run a small e-commerce company, Vintage Paper and Postcards, and sell historical postcards over the Internet. During his high school years, Nils helped them advertise their business worldwide and translated the words on old German postcards for them.

Despite the demands of his undergraduate studies in History and Political Science and his graduate work at ETSU, Nils has fully immersed himself in campus life. With his vast knowledge of the library, he became a member of the Sherrod Library Student Advisory Council, and he has been a leader in campus Greek life, serving as Vice President of Fraternity Values for the Interfraternity Council. During his undergraduate years, he was also a member of the President’s Pride student ambassador organization. He met his wife Morgan at ETSU, and they were married in front of the courthouse in Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town.

A few ski trips to Sugar Mountain in North Carolina and a two-week, cross-country trek to California did not divert the energetic young German from his goal of completing his master’s. His thesis topic is the Baltic German Population Transfer of 1939.“Hitler removed these Germans from Estonia

Twenty-seven-year-old Daniel Gouger cannot believe he is in his fourth-year at ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine. After all, it feels like just yesterday when he was an undergraduate struggling to comprehend organic chemistry and considering going to culinary school instead of pursuing a medical degree.

“I was working in an organic chemistry lab at Middle Tennessee State University and I had a studying breakdown,” Gouger recalls.“I pulled up culinary school applications and filled them out for places in France, Italy, and Spain.”

But Gouger pushed through, passing the course and landing at Quillen for medical school after first taking a year off to serve as a Fulbright Scholar in Barcelona, Spain, where he conducted chemistry research.

Once at Quillen, Gouger quickly immersed himself in medical school. As a first-year med student, he also enrolled in a graduate certificate program for health care translation and interpreting for Spanish-speaking patients.

“That is definitely an underserved need in Northeast Tennessee,” says Gouger, a native of Marion County, just outside of Chattanooga.“I’ve done a lot of volunteer interpreting and I’ve helped bolster that presence within our medical school, too.”

In addition to his regular studies, Gouger has taken on leadership roles both within the college and in national organizations. He has served on curriculum review committees at Quillen for three years, even developing interpreting training modules that are now part of each medical student’s education, and also was involved with the formation of a diversity and inclusion council at Quillen.

T O D A Y

DANIEL GOUGER Puts Patient Welfare First

Last year, Gouger served as the cultural sensitivity coordinator within the Race Ethnicity and Culture Division of the American Medical Student Association, the largest professional society in the country that represents physicians in training. He worked on national campaigns and served as the facilitator for the AMSA cultural sensitivity scholars program in which students across the globe use an online community to learn about cultural sensitivity and health equity issues within medicine.

This year, Gouger is the national chair of AMSA’s medical education team, focusing on the largest issues in both undergraduate and graduate medical education.

Most recently, Gouger was selected for AMSA’s prestigious Education and Advocacy Fellowship. Through the one-year position, Gouger will work with the AMSA executive director and president at the national organization’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. He will be serving on a national platform to address the problems facing the people of the Appalachian region.

All of his extracurricular activities have revolved around Gouger’s belief that treating a patient means so much more than simply making a diagnosis.

“It goes all the way back to the foundation of physician ethics,” he explains.

“The priority is patient welfare. The second principle is patient autonomy and the third is social justice.

“As physicians, we have a responsibility to understand how our patients are impacted by community. If we don’t understand the struggles they face that impact their health, then we are really doing ourselves and our patients a disservice.”

Following his stint with AMSA, Gouger plans to pursue a residency in anesthesia followed by Photo by a critical care fellowship.

Charlie Warden.

“I’ve had some pretty amazing faculty who have taught me about being a physician and what is important,” he says.“They taught me to remember that our patients are rarely at their best when they need us the most. I will carry that with me throughout my career.” n

E T S U

and Latvia and took them to Polish territory,” Nils explains. Some of Nils’ own relatives lived through that experience, and he was able to use their diaries and accounts in writing his thesis.

“Nils has come to understand how a historian thinks and the process by which we gather data and analyze and assess it in order to arrive at an interpretation,” says ETSU Professor of History Dr. Stephen Fritz, who has directed Nils’ thesis.“He looked at the subject from a personal, grass-roots point of view, but he didn’t let this undermine his objectivity. He was very straight-forward in discussing the impact of Nazi occupation policies and resettlement of Baltic Germans on the Polish population, as well as the hostility and poor relations this produced.”

Along the way, Nils has completed valuable internships at the Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. He hopes to use his analytical and writing skills in marketing and business development for a multi-national company in the U.S. Last year, he became a permanent resident of the U.S.

Summing up his experience on the campus and in the community, he says,“I am incredibly grateful for the experience I have had at ETSU, for the professors who have mentored me, for the friends I have made, and for the things I have learned in and outside of the classroom.”

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Who’s Teaching at ETSU?

Kelly Price

“She was my favorite professor,” Kelly says.“She has been such an influence on my life, and I’ve always been in contact with her, ever since I sat on the back row in the first class I had with her. I still have the textbooks she used.”

When asked about the teaching skill she remembers most vividly from her days with Anna Roberts, Kelly responds quickly: “She cared.”

Kelly would go on to work in retail for many years as an apparel buyer, but she had an epiphany while taking a communication class as she completed her master’s at ETSU. All that family history and all those positive experiences “Education is the key to everything in at ETSU converged in her mind. She got her license plate changed to 2BPHD, decided to dedicate the rest of her life to higher education, too, and finished her your life.” And Dr. Kelly Price should doctorate at UT. “I have always loved school,” she says.“I loved school lunches. I loved know. In her family, there are four schoolteachers. I love the environment of learning. It’s a earned doctorates. wonderful place to be, full of potential. I’m one of the ones who gets all emotional at ETSU Price, who coordinates ETSU’s Master of graduations.”

Science Program in Digital Marketing, She says ETSU’s Master of Science points to her mother as a source Program in Digital Marketing of inspiration and a love of is one of the most unique lifelong learning. Dr. Julia in the country, since few Price of Newport was full programs online are in public education in housed in an accredited Hamblen County for 40 business school. Kelly years, the first half as is a faculty member a third-grade teacher in the College and the second half of Business and as a principal. Then Technology, where she retired. But not she has won a host of really. Coming out teaching awards. of retirement, she

Most of moved into a full-time her teaching now job as an Associate takes place online, Professor at Carsonincluding courses such Newman University, where as “E-Commerce” and she now directs the online “Consumer Behavior in the doctoral program in the College Online Environment.”

Photo by of Education.

Kelly says she resisted teaching Charlie Warden.

All four of those doctoral degrees in online at first, but now she says she has the family translated to careers in education never been more engaged with her students. and research. Kelly’s uncles on her mother’s side

“I’m in contact with them almost on a daily both have doctorates. Dr. Chris Jones taught physical education basis—by phone, email, video chats,” she says.“I know their families. for many years at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate. Dr. Joe Jones is an I know their jobs, their hobbies. astrophysicist. And Kelly’s sister-in-law, Dr. Jamie Price, teaches mathematics at “It has been a long road to get here, through the doctorate and the tenure Northeast State Community College in Blountville. process, but it has been worth it. I have a dream job. I love it here.” n “And I have lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins in public education,” Kelly proudly adds. Her own doctorate is in Human Ecology from the University of ~ Fred Sauceman Tennessee, completed after graduating from ETSU in fashion merchandising, under the tutelage of Dr. Anna Roberts.

Continues a Family Tradition in Public Education

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Picture this: You’re in a field on the edge of the ETSU campus below Buc Ridge apartments, and up in the air you see something coming toward you. It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a cheetah!

Wait…what? A cheetah?

Well, okay, it’s a disc with a cheetah on it.

Still, why is a cheetah on a disc in the air on the edge of campus?

The ETSU Disc Golf Club team could certainly tell you.

Disc golf, also known as “Frisbee golf,” has been around for about 40 years.

“Steady Ed” Headrick, developer of the modern-day Frisbee, is considered the father of disc golf. But Matt Love, an ETSU student, gets the credit for starting the ETSU disc golf student organization in 2011. That student organization is now a club sport, and ETSU has a nine-hole disc golf course that is open to anyone. Students can check out discs from the Center for Physical Activity and Buc Ridge with a valid student ID. To say that Patrick Shaw, current President of the disc golf club, is enthusiastic about the sport is an understatement. Shaw is from Rock Hill, South Carolina, east coast home of Innova, a company dedicated to the development of disc golf equipment. He said he grew up playing sports, particularly football, but disc golf is a passion.

“It’s a fun sport, and it’s one of the cheapest sports as most courses are usually free for beginners and it’s a family sport. Everyone can play it.”

T O D A Y

E T S U

Cheetahs and Cobras Take Flight on Campus

He does admit that while it’s easy to learn, it’s hard to get good at it, but he wants ETSU students and anyone interested in learning how to play to have that opportunity.

“We try to compete in three to four tournaments each year with our competitive teams in the club, but we try to appeal to as many people as possible, so we also have non-competitive memberships in the club for people who don’t want to travel for competition but who just want to play.”

The team also hosts a “Glow in the Dark” fundraiser to help offset travel costs.

According to Adam Knobloch, Assistant Director of the CPA for Intramurals, Sport Clubs, and Outdoor Recreation Facilities, the disc golf program is an example of what teamwork can do for you. The Office of Residence Life and Housing, Student Government Association, Campus Recreation, and the Disc Golf Club team have all contributed funds and sweat equity to build and maintain the course. SGA and Campus Recreation put up $6,300 each for the construction of the course, Campus Recreation and Housing share the costs of maintenance, and the club members are responsible for weed-eating and trash pick-up.

Knobloch reports that the club represents ETSU well.“They are a great asset to campus. The tournaments bring people to campus, and they found a use for space that had been underutilized.”

They also take ETSU’s name with them to competitions.“They have a shirt with the ETSU logo that they wear in competitions, and they are in our school colors as well,” Knobloch added.

Club sports provide ETSU students the opportunity to be involved in athletic competitions in the region and nationally, and while they aren’t at the same level as intercollegiate athletics, they do compete at a higher level than intramurals. Currently, 13 sports, including climbing, cycling, disc golf, Quidditch, rugby, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, swimming, tennis, ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, weightlifting, and wrestling, are listed on the CPA website as active sport clubs.

But back to that airborne cheetah. Or maybe this one is an airborne cobra. Does it fly flat? Is it a classic driver? Will it work for a controlled bomb shot?

Come out to the disc golf course and see for yourself! n ~ Susan Epps, Associate Professor, Department of Allied Health Sciences

Photo by Larry Smith.

19

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E T S U T O D A Y

“Mr. Marion” ETSU Alumnus Ken Heath is a Southwest Virginia Treasure

Walk down Main Street in Marion, Virginia, with Ken Heath and you’re immediately convinced that there’s nowhere else in the world he’d rather be. It may not be stated that way in his official job description, but love of home is the primary qualification for the work he does.

Heath is Director of Community and Economic Development for this town in the center of Southwest Virginia, equidistant from Floyd in the north and the Tennessee state line to the south.

Although he quickly passes the credit to colleagues and citizens, between his current job and his previous one as Director of the town’s Main Street program, Heath is largely responsible for filling once empty business locations all over town.

Marion’s Pop-Up business development program for entrepreneurs was his idea.

At last count, the program has trained almost 240 people, sold nearly a dozen downtown buildings, filled that many storefronts, created nearly 30 new businesses and over 100 new jobs, and nurtured over $1.8 million in private investment. The downtown storefront vacancy rate is now under five percent.

A refurbished Francis Marion Hotel and the revived Lincoln Theatre, home to “Song of the Mountains,” the Official Television Series of Virginia, are two of the town’s treasures that Heath promotes far and wide.

Every storefront elicits a Ken Heath story. As he dines on a rack of ribs at Wolfe’s BBQ, he tells of owners Brett and Jill Wolfe, hometown folks who once left Smyth County for the big city of Raleigh, North Carolina. In 2013, attracted by the vibrancy

A refurbished Francis Marion Hotel and the revived Lincoln Theatre, home to “Song of the Mountains,” the Official Television Series of Virginia, are two of the town’s treasures that Heath promotes far and wide.

of downtown Marion, Virginia, they opened their restaurant, continuing a family food tradition going back to Brett’s grandparents, Curtis and Mabel Wolfe, who owned Marion’s Hungry Mother Grocery. With each spoonful of Wolfe’s banana pudding, Heath reflects on the young couple’s entrepreneurial success story.

For over 30 years, downtown Marion has hosted a chili cookoff. Heath and his staff have managed to push attendance past the 12,000 mark. With Emory & Henry College moving its School of Health Sciences into the former Smyth County Community Hospital, Heath believes that downtown Marion’s future is secure and bright. It now calls itself “America’s Coolest Hometown.”

Heath’s reputation for making good things happen is widespread in Marion.

People stop him on the street and ask all manner of questions.“Why don’t we have a Captain D’s?”“Can you get somebody to remove the black widow spiders from my water meter?” Even if those questions don’t remotely relate to his job description, he answers. And he helps.

As we walk past the Marion Volunteer Fire Department, we stop to view a large piece of steel. In this mountain community far removed from Manhattan, there 21

Every storefront elicits a Ken Heath story. is a segment of the World Trade Center, salvaged from the September 11, 2001, attacks. Heath had read about pieces of the twin towers being available for memorials, and his “can-do” drive kicked in again.

Heath had joined the Marion Volunteer Fire Department after the 9/11 attacks.

Five years later, he started the paperwork to bring the tower fragment to Marion.

In 2013, he was one of five firefighters who went to New York to pick up the 14-foot, 4,000-pound relic from that dark day in American history. The firefighters draped their flatbed trailer in American flags for the 12-hour drive. People all along the route saluted them.

That steel memorial is permanently placed in front of the Marion fire hall.

Heath says its intent is two-fold: to serve as a reminder of the tragedy but also to make sure that the way in which Americans came together after the attacks will never be forgotten.

Bringing good out of adversity is a Heath family trait. His father, Marion’s fire and building inspector, volunteered with Civil Defense. His grandfather was a Scout leader.

Two years ago, a recently married young woman from Smyth County was involved in a rear-end car crash, resulting in amnesia. She couldn’t even remember her own wedding. Heath and his buddies gave her an entire wedding, including a horse and carriage ride. Heath served as disc jockey for the reception.

On February 1, 2008, Virginia State Trooper Kris Chapman suffered severe injuries and several broken bones when an impaired driver slammed into his cruiser as it was parked on the shoulder of Interstate 81 at Seven Mile Ford.

The previous month, Marion Police Sergeant Keith Clark had died. Again, Heath employed his DJ skills, this time for a second-chance prom to assist the families.

“They rolled Kris in in a wheelchair, and he danced with his wife,” Heath recalls with emotion.

Ken Heath loves life in all its infinite variety. During a 75th anniversary homecoming skit at East Tennessee State University in 1985, he warbled the “All in the Family” theme song dressed as Edith Bunker. For a television commercial advertising cars, he donned polka-dot shorts, hoisted a boom box onto his shoulder, and danced in cowboy hat and boots in the back of a pickup truck.

Among his many talents, Heath is a broadcaster. He worked for Marion’s WMEV radio part-time while he was in high school, hosting a program called “Scholastic Scoops,” featuring school news, music, and comedy. He worked at ETSU’s campus radio station and, as a work-study student, ran the sound board for the late Jim Patterson in the D.P. Culp University Center.

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After graduating from ETSU in 1986, Heath continued his radio career—on the air and in programming, promotion, and sales. While working at WMEV, he met his wife Pam, a native of Glade Spring, Virginia.

“We were doing a give-away at the station,” Heath recalls.“She won the prize and got stuck with me.” They got engaged beneath the radio station’s satellite dishes.

The walls of Heath’s office reflect his life’s passions—his wife, his Yellow Labrador Retrievers, Republican politics, and Maker’s Mark Kentucky Bourbon.

Almost hidden away among all the cherished memorabilia are a letter and a certificate. Both carry the signature of former President Barack Obama.

The certificate reads: “With grateful recognition the Corporation for National and Community Service and the office of the President of the United States Honor KEN HEATH with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service.” The award requires a minimum of 4,000 hours of community service.

On White House stationery, the letter reads, in part: “Congratulations on receiving the President’s Volunteer Service Award, and thank you for helping to address the most pressing needs in your community and our country.” It is signed, Barack Obama.

Not content to rest on the accolades, just a few weeks after being recognized nationally, Heath was hatching another plan. He had heard that the wildfires in the Gatlinburg-Sevier County, Tennessee, area had left many families in nearby Newport without wages at Christmastime. He launched Operation Rudolph, a toy drive. Some 3,000 toys were collected and distributed to children in Cocke County before Christmas of 2016.

Having answered my questions and being forced to focus on himself far more than he is ever accustomed to doing, Heath suggested we drive down Highway 11 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Dip Dog Stand, where red hot dogs are skewered, rolled in a secret batter, deep-fried, and painted in mustard.

Walking through the parking lot, Heath is recognized by everyone he meets, and Dip Dog co-owner Pam Hall greets him with a hug. Whether he’s recruiting a new business, talking up a Lincoln Theatre concert, or explaining the option of ordering the Dip Dog Stand’s onion rings extra crispy, Heath’s pride and sense of place are evident.

He’s the best ambassador Smyth County, Virginia, could have. n ~ Fred Sauceman is News Director of WETS-FM at ETSU and a Dip Dog devotee.

Treasures Featuring artifacts, documents, curiosities, and photographs in the possession of ETSU and the stories those items tell.

In 1989, the Reece Museum was bequeathed a fiddle that belonged to politician, writer, and fiddler Alfred (Alf) Taylor by his descendant Benjamin Taylor. Alf and his brother Robert (Bob) were born in Happy Valley, near Elizabethton, Tennessee, in 1850 and 1852, respectively. Both brothers were career politicians and prominent citizens who held numerous governmental positions at the state and federal levels. Each served as a Tennessee Governor—Bob from 1887-91 and again from 1897-99, and Alf from 1921-23. The Taylor brothers were descendants of John Carter, an early settler to the region for whom Carter County, Tennessee, is named. Their father, Nathanial Green Taylor, was a lawyer and friend of President Andrew Johnson, who appointed Taylor as U.S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs after the Civil War. In 1886, Alf and Bob were pitted against one another in a contest for the governorship of Tennessee. The race was labeled “The War of the Roses,” after the 15th century House of Lancaster-House of York series of wars for the throne of England. Alf’s Republican supporters wore red roses, and Bob’s Democratic supporters wore white.

Legend has it that the brothers staged fiddle competitions against one another on the campaign trail, but there is no record of such an occurrence.

However, there are accounts of the two playing music together for audiences both during and after the campaign.

Bob ultimately won the race and is remembered as a superb orator and all-around congenial fellow. Alf is also remembered fondly and was considered the more accomplished of the two fiddlers. There were several professional recordings of Alf Taylor made by Victor Records in August 1924, including two that featured his fiddling. Sadly, the fiddle recordings remain unissued and are considered lost, but we are fortunate to have recordings of a recitation about his hunting dog “Limber” and of Alf singing “Pharaoh’s Army Got Drowned” and “Brother Noah Built an Ark” with family members in a quartet.

An inscription inside the Alf Taylor fiddle states, “Hugh H. Bell, February 3, 1878.” It is suspected that Bell made repairs to the instrument (as opposed to building it), since the fiddle appears to be a German factory-produced

Photo by Daniel Boner.

artifact. Bell was born in 1814 and lived near Jonesborough, Tennessee. He was highly regarded as an expert craftsman. A Nashville newspaper article remembered him in 1914 as someone with “little education, but a native talent next to genius” and a builder of fiddles whose voice “swoons and exhilarates like a love song under a mellow moon.” Bell was also a fiddler of some renown and reportedly composed two fiddle tunes that are still being played around East Tennessee,“Green River” and “Georgia Bell.”

The fiddle is currently being restored by The Violin Shop in Nashville, Tennessee, and will be available for viewing at the Reece Museum in the summer of 2017. n ~ Roy Andrade, Associate Professor in the Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies Program, on behalf of the Reece Museum

23

DATELINE: ETSU November 30, 2016: Dr. Larry White, Director of ETSU’s Center for Banking and holder of the John H. Poteat Chair of Banking in the College of Business and Technology, has been instrumental in creating a pilot program to allow ETSU business students to teach personal finance skills to area public school students. The SunTrust Foundation has provided a $25,000 grant to fund the project as part of the organization’s “Lighting the Way to Financial Well-Being.”

January 23, 2017: The ETSU College of Public Health will soon begin offering its Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program in Health Management and Policy. The new concentration will prepare graduates for advanced practice and leadership positions in public health and health care settings, as well as for faculty positions in academic institutions.

January 25, 2017: Photo by Charlie Warden Dr. Karl H. Hasenstein, a world-renowned gravitational plant biologist, is named the spring 2017 holder of the Wayne G. Basler Chair of Excellence for the Integration of the Arts, Rhetoric, and Science at ETSU. Hasenstein is an Endowed Professor and Slemco/LEQSF Regents Professor of Science in the Department of Biology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

February 9, 2017: The Peace Corps selects the ETSU College of Public Health to serve as a partner university for the organization’s Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program. The program provides returning Peace Corps Volunteers the opportunity to continue their service to underserved communities while also pursuing graduate studies at an accredited institution.

February 10, 2017: Dr. Marian Young of ETSU’s Surveying and Mapping Science program is honored at the annual meeting of the Virginia Association of Surveyors in Herndon, Virginia. Young recently retired after 30 years of service to ETSU and the surveying profession. Over that time, an estimated 500 professional surveyors learned from Young during their education and training.

February 15, 2017: ETSU’s Dr. Joseph Florence is honored for helping establish a dedicated training center in India where medical professionals can learn how to treat and respond to emergencies related to the heart.

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E AS T T EN N ES S EE S TATE UNIVE RS IT Y

March 3, 2017: An equipment donation to ETSU from a local industry will benefit students studying engineering technology. The Keysight Technologies four-channel Photo by Ron Campbell analog oscilloscope was donated to the ETSU College of Business and Technology by TEVET, a leading supplier of precision test instrumentation, embedded solutions, and life science products for the defense and aerospace industry. This will be the university’s first Keysight oscilloscope, and it will be used by ETSU and students in the Electrical Engineering Technology and Biomedical Engineering Technology programs for testing circuits.

March 7, 2017: Climate records reveal that the Earth has generally become cooler and drier over the last 50 million years. As a result, environments across North America have shifted from being nearly completely forested to having many open habitats like grasslands and deserts. Past studies of large herbivorous mammals like horses and camels have demonstrated how they evolved grazing and running adaptations for life in these open habitats. However, adaptations in large mammals happened millions of years after open habitats first appeared. A new study by Dr. Joshua Samuels, Assistant Professor of Geosciences at ETSU, and Dr. Samantha Hopkins, Associate Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Oregon, has revealed how smaller mammals, like rodents and rabbits, responded to these changes.

March 14, 2017: ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine is ranked seventh in the nation for rural medicine training by U.S.News & World Report.

March 31, 2017: Communication Perspectives on Popular Culture is the title of a new Photo by Charlie Warden book co-edited by Dr. Andrew Herrmann, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies and Performance at ETSU. The book, also co-edited by Art Herbig, is part of a new book series. Herrmann and Herbig bring together communication experts with diverse backgrounds, including interpersonal communication, business and organizational communication, mass communication, media studies, narrative, rhetoric, gender studies, autoethnography, popular culture studies, and journalism. Contributors tackle topics such as music, broadcast and Netflix television shows, movies, the Internet, video games, and more as they connect popular culture to personal concerns as well as larger political and societal issues.

T O D A Y

April 7, 2017: Leaders in the ETSU College of Nursing recently began recruiting low-income, pregnant, first-time moms to take part in a program that aims to provide women with support to improve health outcomes for

themselves and their babies. Through a $3.3 million grant from the Tennessee Department of Human Services, the Nurse Family Partnership program at ETSU takes a two-generational approach to breaking the cycle of poverty.

More than 40 years of evidence shows that Nurse Family Partnership has been successful in improving birth outcomes, child health and development, and the family’s economic self-sufficiency. It emphasizes providing the mothers with opportunities in four key areas – education; economic supports; health and well-being; and social capital.

E T S U

April 3, 2017: ETSU student David Lutz is one of only 25 people in the country to be selected for the prestigious Veterans Employment Trajectory Initiative, an all-expenses-paid summer internship at The Washington Center.

Sponsored by the Prudential Foundation, the VET Initiative is designed to cultivate veterans’ career advancement and workforce preparedness. The 10-week professional Photo by Charlie Warden immersion program serves as a platform for increasing veterans’ access to quality jobs and for preparing them to transition from university life to the civilian working world.

April 12, 2017: Dr. Hadii Mamudu, Associate Professor in the Department of Health Services Management and Policy in ETSU’s College of Public Health, is awarded a nearly $250,000 grant to further his research in cardiovascular disease.

WELCOME HOME ETSU ALUMNI AND FANS! Homecoming 2017 – October 6, 7 & 8, 2017

The Bucs Are Back…ON CAMPUS! We Want You And Your Family In The Picture This Fall!

Make your plans now! Hotel rooms are already going fast for this weekend.

Check www.etsualumni.org for Homecoming Weekend Schedules and special announcements from the Alumni Association.

UPDATE YOUR EMAIL AND INFORMATION TODAY! 25

ETSU National Alumni Association is building your Membership Program YOUR UNIVERSITY. YOUR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. SHOW YOUR ETSU PRIDE.

East Tennessee State University and your National Alumni Association are working on many fronts to deepen the university experience, attract more students, and enhance the quality of the education students receive.

Doing so takes the combined efforts of all members of the ETSU family. Our involved alumni will enhance our effectiveness and ensure overall success.

The Membership Program is our newest alumni feature and provides the most direct route to helping us help ETSU. In the past, alums enjoyed membership simply by graduating from ETSU. The Membership Program transforms our previous role to a more active one that provides clear evidence of engagement, commitment, and dedication. We know you wave the banner of the university wherever you go; we want you to have a membership program that’s as active as you are. Joining today not only emboldens your own legacy, but it also invests in the efforts of everyone who earns an ETSU degree. As part of the benefits package, we have partnered with Access Development, the nation’s largest network of deals and discounts with an easy online system, to save you money on everything from home goods to travel - Disney World to next door!

The membership levels couldn’t be simpler and are really affordable:

Membership Type

26

Graduation Year

FREE First Year (A gift for Graduation)

Grads of the Last Decade (GOLD)

$25/Year (First 10 Years)

General (11 - 49 years)

$45/Year

Couples (11 - 49 years)

$80/Year

Golden 50s (50 years or more)

$25/ Year

E AS T T EN N ES S EE S TATE UNIVE RS IT Y

Joining is easy! Your personal check or online registration through www. etsualumni.org will put you in the ETSU National Alumni Association Membership Program. Your dues will extend critical support to the alumni association to fund student groups, allow continuing outreach efforts, to engage more alumni, and introduce next-generation students a life-long relationship. With your support, each day the ETSU National Alumni Association will represent your interests and provide a key link in the ETSU community. . . making lasting connections to opportunities and resources that allow for a lifetime of involvement.

Join now! The envelope in the center of this magazine can be the first step to a new era for ETSU Alumni.

Fill it out with your latest information, along with a check or credit card information. If you prefer, you can go online at www.etsualumni. org to register for the Membership Program.

Test the Access Development benefit for a limited time.

Use the promo code “ETSU2016.” The benefit will only be available to members after August 1st.

E T S U

The on-campus visibility for the Alumni Association is changing. Just a few years ago, the staff of the alumni association moved offices to West Maple Street, in one of the last of the “homes” on campus serving as office space.

At 914 West Maple, a three-story white frame house became the association offices. Two doors away, the 908 West Maple Street brick house, which most recently served as the Parking Office, became available for other use. This 2015 change was a result of the shuffle of facilities use that rippled through campus after Public Safety moved to the parking garage office space. The parking office moved to the campus entry point that public safety had occupied.

The parking house was saved from the demolition crew by ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland, whose own house renovation experience told him there was more use in the vacated building. Dr. Noland also knew of the interest for more space to broaden the alumni service capacity, so the strong-boned brick twostory house at the main entrance to campus was preserved.

A new generation of ETSU students and alumni will now have use of 908 West Maple in its new life as “The Alumni House.” This is now the designated meeting space of the association with the front living room and dining room areas remodeled to allow for a larger space for board meetings, small receptions, or for use as an on-campus retreat. This area has been designated as “The ETSU Foundation Room” as an expression of appreciation for the organization’s financial support of the house renovation.

The back room is a soft landing lounge for casual reflection or a breakout discussion setting. Both areas are equipped with 60-inch screens, which are computer-linked and comparable to those in campus classrooms. A small conference room on the second floor provides another breakout space.

T O D A Y

The Alumni House: Something Old Becomes New and Blue!

Nestled under the trees is an adjacent outdoor patio, open front porch, and manicured lawn. Blue and gold tents provide a nice cover for outdoor events and extend the association’s capacity for group functions.

With some funds held by the ETSU National Alumni Association’s Board of Directors and the gracious efforts of our ETSU Family partners, the house is now open for activities and meetings. Special thanks go to High Craft USA Builders and alumnus Ray Jones; our campus neighbor, Richard Preston and Preston Construction; Thomas Construction, owned by alumnus Gerald Thomas and family; and benefactor and friend Joe Grandy and Ferguson Enterprises. Interior design assistance was provided by alumna Karen Hall and Inspire Interiors. We appreciate the leadership of former Foundation Chairman, ETSU Alumni leader, and graduate D. Roger Kennedy as well as the Foundation leadership for their support of this project. n

Another academic year at ETSU is drawing to a close, and I want to thank the hundreds of individuals who support our institution. Because of your generosity, the dreams of our students are being realized every day. Your support is also helping ETSU achieve a dream that began more than a quarter-century ago as, this fall, we break ground on our new performing arts center. Fundraising for this initiative continues, and I want to extend special appreciation to Dr. William and Mrs. Judith Tindall for their recent generous gift in support of our new center.

I invite you to join the Tindalls and the many donors as we complete the final stages of our fundraising campaign. To learn more about how you can support the performing arts center or the many other initiatives at ETSU, contact me at 423-439-4242 or ritterp@etsu.edu. Thank you for all you do to support East Tennessee State University!

Pamela Ritter, Vice President for University Advancement

27

Adversity is something everyone faces in life.

From Sidelined to Side-Armed

Peyton Taylor’s Story of Recovery 28

E AS T T EN N ES S EE S TATE UNIVE RS IT Y

For Peyton Taylor, an ETSU fifth-year senior pitcher, the challenges he faced early in his Buccaneer career helped mold him into a team captain for the 2017 season.

Going from a talented high school position player and pitcher at Dobyns-Bennett High School to a walk-on at ETSU, Taylor is a person whose road to success has taken numerous twists and turns.

After arriving on campus in the fall of 2012, Taylor knew he had to out-work and outperform his teammates to earn a spot on the Buccaneer pitching staff. Following a successful fall camp, he made his collegiate debut against Wofford on February 19, 2013, at Thomas Stadium. He pitched two innings in relief as ETSU defeated the Terriers, 12-10.

Following a handful of relief appearances, Taylor got his biggest call on April 1 when Coach Tony Skole gave the Buccaneer freshman the ball for his first collegiate start, against Radford.

Taylor took a no-hitter into the fifth inning.

“In college, I became more physical than I was in high school, and I also learned what it takes to be more successful on a consistent basis as a baseball player and pitcher,” said Taylor.“I feel that my maturity has grown from the adversity I have faced. I have also learned many life lessons from the game that I will carry with me forever.”

The 2013 season was a historic one for the Blue and Gold as ETSU won the Atlantic Sun Championship en route to advancing to the NCAA Regional at Vanderbilt.

“The 2013 team was a special team to be a part of,” said Taylor.“As a freshman, I had a lot of older guys in our clubhouse to look up to and learn from during my first year here.

Winning a conference championship with those guys was one of the best experiences I have ever had in baseball.”

E T S U T O D A Y

Unfortunately, Taylor’s career was halted because of a knee injury. He was something that changed my career and took me to the next level,” said Taylor. forced to red-shirt his entire sophomore season as he was recovering from the “I was able to be competitive on a consistent basis, and I wouldn’t be where I second knee surgery of his career. am today without that change.”

“I suffered the injury during the fall of 2013. I was running to first to cover He recalled his first true test of being a new “side-arm” pitcher when he the play and get the guy out. But my knee just gave out,” said Taylor. faced Samford on April 17, 2015, at Thomas Stadium. He came on in relief in the He had suffered the same injury at Dobyns-Bennett. third inning and worked a then career-high five innings, allowing just two runs.

With the help of ETSU’s athletic training staff and support from teammates, From there he played summer baseball in Massachusetts and the new coaches, and family, he began the road to recovery. approach began to take hold.

“It was a lot During his red-shirt of long days in junior season, Taylor the training room a teamAfter recovering from two knee surgeries recorded and a lot of doctor leading 31 appearances, appointments,” said then 50th in the and proving to be a pivotal part of the Taylor.“I remember country. He finished specifically going the 2016 season with ETSU team, he was rewarded with a to see a doctor, and 38.1 innings including scholarship as a fifth-year senior. he told me straight a team-best five saves. up how severe the He struck out 24 batters injury was.” while walking seven en Following rehabilitation, the training staff and doctors cleared Taylor, and route to the most successful season in his ETSU career. he returned to the diamond during the 2015 season. He slowly regained his After recovering from two knee surgeries and proving to be a pivotal part of the ETSU team, he was rewarded with a scholarship as a fifth-year senior. confidence on the mound and made eight appearances with one start.

He was faced with an opportunity to change his pitching style, moving “It meant a lot to me receiving a scholarship. It is just truly special for my from an “over-the-top” pitcher to a “side-armer.” family and me personally, but it is not possible without the ETSU coaches. I just “Coach Skole presented the idea to me one day, and in the back of my mind want to thank them for giving me the opportunity and believing in me.” n I was questioning myself about whether I could even do it. Prior to the change, ~ Mitchell Miegel is a Graduate Assistant in Athletic Media Relations I was having trouble being consistent, but dropping down my arm angle was

ETSUBucs.com WELCOME HOME On September 2, 2017, ETSU will kick-off its football season on campus for the first time since 2003. The new home of Buccaneer Football is a classic horseshoe-designed stadium nestled in the campus' southwest corner. The new facility features modern amenities, comfortable seating, ample parking and tailgating options, and phenomenal views of our campus and region.

LEVEL

PRICE

SKYBOXES

SOLD OUT

CLUB SEATS

$750 *

MID-FIELD SEATS

$400 *

GOLD LEVEL

$400

SILVER LEVEL

$250

BRONZE LEVEL

$100

STUDENT SECTION

NOTAVAILABLE

VISITOR SECTION

NOT AVAILABLE

Sept. 2 - Limestone Sept. 16 - The Citadel Sept. 23 - Mercer Oct. 7 - Robert Morris (HC) Oct. 28 - Wofford Nov. 4 - VMI * = Premium seating requires additional Capital Gift per seat.

Excellence Fund contributions are included in the cost of a seat relative to particular sections. So there is one price and one payment each year. Donor priority points are used to calculate donor rank, which will be utilized in the seat selection process for the new stadium. Later this summer, the Athletic Department will notify season ticket holders about their priority rank and scheduled time for seat selection in the new stadium.

Due to tremendous interest, premium seats are selling fast.

Don’t miss your opportunity to secure premium seating options in the Club Level or Mid-Field areas.

ETSU Athletics Box 70707 Johnson City, TN 37614 - Phone: 423-439-3878 - Email: tickets@etsu.edu - Website: ETSUBucs.com

29

CLASS NOTES 1960s

Services Building. Dr. McCamey served WSCC for 29 years. He was the college’s President for 11 of those years.

President for 11 of those years.

George Nichols (BS ’62) was an inaugural inductee in the national ROTC Hall of Fame. He was an outstanding cadet and among the first black students to attend what was then East Tennessee State College. Nichols was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation.

He spent seven years in the military before embarking on a second career journey in bank administration. Now retired, he continues efforts to promote civil rights.

Hubert “Hugh” Smith (BS ’62) was an inaugural inductee in the national ROTC Hall of Fame. He was commissioned in the U.S. Army after graduation and spent 35 years on active duty. He became a specialist in general logistics, supply, and transportation.

Samuel (BS ’64) and Betty (BS ’67) Hilbert celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 11, 2016, in Gray.

Ronald Hite (BA ’64) was an inaugural inductee in the national ROTC Hall of Fame. He had 33 years of commissioned military service prior to retiring. Notable assignments included: first commander of the Army’s Combat Systems Test Activity and development of the Army’s High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle.

After retiring, Ronald became President and CEO of Cypress International.

Priscilla E. Sarvadi (BS ’64, MA ’65) has recently retired from Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and a Master of Arts in Secondary Education. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she taught two days per week at University School and three days at ETSU. Her classes included conditioning, racquetball, tennis, and ballroom dancing. In 1989, she took a part-time job at Munsey working with the singles ministry and eventually became director of the program. She retired from ETSU in 2000 but remained on the staff at Munsey.

30

Eleanor Yoakum (BS ’65) was honored at a ceremony on June 11 when a portion of U.S. Highway 25E was named for her. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing and was named an Outstanding Alumna in 1999. She has served the public in various positions over the years including Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Tennessee Arts Commission, Commissioner of Personnel for the State of Tennessee under Governor Don Sundquist, Chief Administrative Officer and President of the Walters State Community College Foundation Board, and Secretary of the East Tennessee Foundation Board.

Gerald N. Cox (BS ’66) has recently retired from Crawford & Co., the largest independent adjusting company in the world, located in Atlanta. He served the company for several years as Senior Vice President of Human Resources.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics.

Henry McCarthy (BS ’66), a poet and radio host, now has The Henry McCarthy Collection available at UNC-Chapel Hill.

The collection catalogs his radio program Poets and Writers and additional works.

Donald Roger Kennedy (BS ’69) was presented the Richard A. Manahan Margin of Excellence Award for his service as the longtime Chair of the ETSU Foundation. He has served since 2001 on the Foundation Board of Directors. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army through ETSU’s ROTC program. In 1981, he joined AFG Industries, one of the largest glass manufacturers in North America, and held numerous executive positions before becoming Chairman, President, and CEO of the company in 1999. He served on the Board of Directors of the Glass Association of North America, was named one of the most influential people in the glass industry, and was awarded numerous certificates of achievement prior to his retirement in 2004.

1970s John Coward (BS ’72) is the author of a new book, Indians Illustrated: The Image of Native Americans in the Pictorial Press, published by the University of Illinois Press. He teaches journalism at the University of Tulsa.

Charles “Peck” Gill (BS ’73) was highlighted as an interesting local resident in Pickens County, South Carolina. After a long career with Milliken, he now serves as Chairman for the Pickens County Beautification and Environmental Advisory Committee. He is an alumni leader with his beloved Sigma Chi fraternity.

Dan Mahoney (BS ’66) was re-elected to serve as Secretary of the East Tennessee State University Foundation Board of Directors.

Dr. Wade McCamey (BS ’68) had a building on Walters State Community College’s campus named in honor of his service to the college upon his retirement. The building will now be known as the Dr. Wade B. McCamey Student

E AS T T EN N ES S EE S TATE UNIVE RS IT Y

Dr. Ann Lowdermilk (BS ’73, MA ’75, BPT ’97, EDD ’16) was inducted into the ETSU College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences Alumni Hall of Fame.

For the past 10 years, she has been Associate Professor and Director of the Physical Therapy Assistant Program at Walters State Community College. She has worked in health care for the past 34 years.

Allan Strange (BS ’73), of Richmond, Virginia, former ETSU men’s golf star, was inducted into the ETSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.

Pamela Fansler (BS ’73) has been promoted to Chairman of First Tennessee Bank’s East Tennessee region. Her banking career in Knoxville has spanned more than four decades. She has been the face of First Tennessee in Knoxville for 15 years and will continue to provide community leadership, mentoring, and business development. She earned her degree in History.

Dr. Robert (Bob) Robertson (BS ’74) was recently appointed President of BVTI (Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute). He has also been appointed to the Steering Committee for the Prime Minister’s National Development Plan and the Board of the Youth Commonwealth Games 2017. Dr. Robertson was also recognized for taking part in the 2016 Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program Collaboration Mission.

Rosalee Sites (BSN ’78) was recognized as a healthcare hero by VIPSEEN magazine for being a driving force in healthcare in the region for years. She has served as an emergency director at Holston Valley Hospital and had a hand in establishing the Trauma Nurse Tough Talk program, Friends in Need Healthcare Center in Kingsport, and the Children’s Advocacy Center in Blountville. Currently she serves as Director of Parish Nursing for Wellmont.

Dr. David Schilling (RES ’79) was recognized as a healthcare hero in VIPSEEN magazine for his work in helping to start a free medical clinic in Church Hill. The clinic has been successfully operating for over 10 years.

1980s

Lucy Fleming (BA ’75) was featured in VIPSEEN magazine’s Power Women issue for her work in the Kingsport community and the annual FunFest.

John Bell David Lee Buck (BS ’76) was inducted into the Elizabethton/Carter County Imagination Library Educators Hall of Fame on April 3. Recipients are chosen from nominations submitted by former students and colleagues.

He retired from Carter County Schools in 2007 after 32 years as a teacher at Central Elementary School. He has served as a school board member for Carter County since 2010.

Marsha Beasley (BS ’78) has recently been chosen as the new head coach for the rifle program at Ole Miss. She earned her degree in Psychology. She had previously served as the head coach at West Virginia University and was involved with the Civilian Marksmanship Program as well as the Atlanta Olympics.

Pamela Ditto (BS ’78) was inducted into the ETSU College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences Alumni Hall of Fame. She was in the first class of cardiopulmonary science graduates at ETSU in 1978. Throughout her 38-year career in the field of respiratory care, she has taken on many roles in healthcare, including several administrative positions.

Lynn Myers (BBA ’78) is the Director of Grant Accounting in Financial Services at ETSU. He was honored with the Distinguished Staff Award in the Executive, Administrative, and Managerial category during the annual ETSU staff picnic.

Laurie Higgins (BS ’80) received the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award from the ETSU College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences. She spent 25 years as Chief Clinical Audiologist and Managing Director of Watauga Hearing Conservation. A strong supporter of the audiology program at ETSU, she has funded a scholarship since 2009 and continues to serve on the board.

Matthew McFee (BS ’81) recently joined the WIVK-FM team in Knoxville.

He earned his degree in Mass Communications.

Donna Morton (BS ’81) is quickly becoming known as the “author who writes with a parrot on each shoulder.” Her first book, Watching the Water, was released nationally in November. The second book in the series, Seeking the Shore, will be released this year.

Justice Jeff Bivins (BA ’82) was unanimously elected by the Tennessee Supreme Court to be Chief Justice. He was appointed to the court in 2014 by Governor Bill Haslam. Prior to assuming that position, he was a judge on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals from August 2011 until July 2014. He earned his degree in Political Science with a minor in Criminal Justice.

Mike Yaniero (BS ’82, MA ’98) is President of the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police. He is a veteran law enforcement officer with over 35 years of service and has been Chief of Police in Jacksonville, North Carolina, since 2004.

Kenneth Heath (BA ’86) received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, which requires a minimum of 4,000 hours of community service.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is the top level of a tier of service hours that qualify a person for a President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Scott Henson (BS ’84) has been promoted to Associate Vice President for Alumni Affairs at Augusta University. He earned his degree in Mass Communication. He spent most of his alumni affairs career at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, where he served more than a decade as Director of Alumni Affairs.

Dr. Mike Stoots (BS ’87, MPH ’90), one of the longest serving faculty members in the ETSU College of Public Health, was presented with the Innovation Award by The Business Journal of Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia. He has been highly innovative in developing new ways of teaching. He developed a course, ESSENTIALS, designed to train students for low-resource situations such as disasters, refugee situations, or isolated regions.

Edward Wise Jr. (BS ’89) has been appointed by the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission as Deputy Commissioner at its Lebanon regional office. He will serve as an administrative law judge for evidentiary and on-therecord hearings under the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act. He earned his degree in Political Science.

Larry La (BBA ’84) is the President of Meiwah Restaurant Group and is actively involved in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. He also serves as Vice President of US-Asia Links, LLC, an organization that promotes trade among the U.S., Vietnam, and China.

Additionally, he is a founding member of the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce in Rockville, Maryland.

David Leslie Miller (BS ’84) joined the University of Tennessee system as Chief Financial Officer in January. Before joining UT, he served as Vice President for Administration and Fiscal Affairs for the University of Wisconsin system.

Louise Skalko (MED ’84) was inducted into the ETSU College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences Alumni Hall of Fame. She worked as an educator for nearly 30 years before entering the corporate world. Having lifelong troubles with hearing loss, she received cochlear implants. She went on to fund the development of the Cochlear Implant Clinic at ETSU. Bob Cantler (BBA ’85) has stepped down from his position as General Manager of the General Morgan Inn after a decade of service. Leaving the position will allow him the opportunity to devote attention to his company, Internity Business Group, based in Johnson City.

1990s David Crigger (BFA ’90) recently took first place for best Individual Achievement-Body of Work in Photography at the Associated Press Broadcasters and Media Editors Awards contest.

Kenny Chesney (BS ’90) was honored in Nashville with the Broadcast Music Inc. President’s Award.

Dr. Jeff Hopland (BS ’90, MD ’95) was featured in VIPSEEN magazine for his work with platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy. He developed an interest in PRP in 2013 and has since implemented it into his practice.

VIPSEEN’s Power Women of the Tri-Cities magazine. Her leadership and activism over the years were highlighted as well as her continued contributions to the community.

Dr. Carmen Bryant (BS ’96, EDD ’13) was named Assistant Superintendent – Instruction of Kingsport City Schools.

She brings 18 years of experience to the position.

Theresa Feliu (MED ’91) is among 213 math and science teachers nationwide to be recognized by President Obama and the National Science Foundation.

She received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

LeAnn Hughes (MA ’96) has been named Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing at Illinois Wesleyan. She will lead the reorganized admissions, financial aid, marketing, and communications functions at the university.

Patti Vanhook (BSN ’91, MSN ’94) was recognized as a healthcare hero in VIPSEEN magazine. She operates 14 nurse-led health clinics in the region and currently serves as Associate Dean for Practice and Community Partnerships at ETSU.

Ketina Taylor (MA ’96), along with the National Archives and Records Administration, presented a workshop on researching a family’s genealogy.

B.J. Adigun (BBA ’97) of Clay, New York, a former ETSU football standout, was inducted into the ETSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.

Chuck Ashworth (BBA ’97) had a recurring role as bailiff on American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson.

Dr. William Block (MD ’92, MBA ’12) has returned to Quillen College of Medicine to serve as the new Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He held various faculty positions at the medical school from 1998-2004.

David Brown (BS ’93) has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Murtis Taylor Human Services System in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his degree in General Psychology and was a member of the football team.

Sheri Leonard McRae (AAS ’93, MSN ’12) was featured in VIPSEEN’s Power Women of the Tri-Cities magazine for her dedication to nursing and her desire to see others seek education.

She currently serves as a professor at King University and is working on her doctorate.

Tammy Albright (BSN ’94) was promoted to President of Takoma Regional Hospital in Greeneville. She had served as the hospital’s Chief Nursing Officer since 2011.

Dr. Brenda White Wright (BGS ’90, MA ’05, EDD ’08) was featured in

Monica Lewis-Patrick (BGS ’96, MALS ’03) was recognized by the Kind Foundation as one of seven 2016 Kind People Award winners. Along with a group of co-founders, she helped create We the People of Detroit to organize grassroots movements that fight for clean water in underserved communities.

Vicky Hutson (AAS ’94) was featured in VIPSEEN’s Power Women of the Tri-Cities magazine. She has been a nurse for a number of years and is now a practitioner in the community. She was featured for her caring ability to work with people when they are at their most vulnerable.

Melissa Cloyd (BS ’97, MPA ’05) is an Information Research Technician in the ETSU Department of Physical Therapy after serving as a Web Media Coordinator with the Quillen College of Medicine and Medical Education Assistance Corporation. Her degrees are in Mass Communications and Public Administration.

Michael Alden Roller (BFA ’97, MS ’03) received his Ph.D. in 2016 from Purdue University in Digital Media.

Mark Collins (BBA ’97) has been named linebackers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is a former ETSU Buccaneer player and coached for the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets.

Chad Capps (BS ’98) was inducted into the ETSU College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences Alumni Hall of Fame. He serves as Director of Physical Therapy at Unicoi County Memorial Hospital. For the past 18 years, he has served as a clinical site instructor for ETSU physical therapy students.

Dr. Joseph Ibrahim (MD ’98) was one of six surgeons caring for victims of the Orlando mass shooting at Pulse Night Club. The surgeons were interviewed by CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley.

2000s Catherine Berry (BS ’00) of Johnson City, a former ETSU track and field/cross

country star, was inducted into the ETSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.

Samuel Haynie (BS ’00) has resigned from his position as Head Football Coach at Sullivan South High School.

He earned his degree in Geography and was a member of the ETSU football team. As a student, he was an assistant football coach at Colonial Heights Middle School in 1998 and spent a year assistant coaching at Dobyns-Bennett High School while student teaching.

He joined the football staff at Sullivan South in 2000 and took over as Head Football Coach in 2009.

T O D A Y

Robin Montgomery (BBA ’85, MBA ’11) is the Business Manager for the Department of Pediatrics in the Quillen College of Medicine. She received an award in the Professional Non-Faculty category at the annual staff picnic.

E T S U

Sherri Lawson (BSW ’82) was appointed Deputy Commissioner for Child Programs for the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. She married Timothy A. Lawson in Blount County on June 13, 2016.

Kevin Krouse (BS ’00) has a new position as City Manager for the city of Lowell, North Carolina. He has 16 years of public service experience.

Jill G. Scott (MA ’00) has accepted a position with the State of Tennessee as Northeast Regional Program Director for the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. She earned her degree in Counseling.

Angela Vachon (BS ’00) was featured in VIPSEEN’s Power Women of the Tri-Cities magazine for her work in the Tri-Cities community renovating buildings with Urban Synergy.

Dr. Holly Flora (MED ’01, EDD ’05) was named a 2016 Tennessee National Distinguished Principal by the National Association of Elementary School Principals. The NAESP honors outstanding administrators in elementary and middle schools across the country for setting high standards for instruction, student achievement, character, and climate for students, families, and staff in their learning communities. She is in her second year as Principal of Sevier Middle School, after previously serving as Principal at Jackson Elementary and as Kingsport City Schools’ System-Wide Literacy Coordinator.

Dr. Kevin Hamed (MA ’01) was selected for the Outstanding Faculty Award by the State Council for Higher Education of Virginia. Not only is he an expert on Appalachian salamanders, but he consistently involves his students in research that is used by many state and federal agencies. He is a faculty member at Virginia Highlands Community College.

Christopher Mullins (BS ’01) has been recognized for his business achievements as well as his community involvement by the Business Journal of Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia with his induction into the 40 Under 40 Rising Stars of Business listing. He is the owner of Mullins Real Estate in Mountain City, where he also serves as a broker and auctioneer.

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Dr. James W. Battle (MD ’02) was featured in VIPSEEN magazine. He is a Johnson City native and practices comprehensive ophthalmology including cataract and refractive surgery with a special interest in the medical and surgical treatment of glaucoma.

Major Melissa Ogle Folsom (BS ’02, MPT ’05, DPT ’05) received the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award from the ETSU College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences. She is a 10-year veteran of the Army and remains on active duty, working as Chief of Rehabilitation Services at Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital in Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Dustin Walters (BBA ’02) was named one of Automotive News’ 40 Under 40.

He serves as Vice President, General Manager, and Operating Partner for Friendship Hyundai of Johnson City and Bristol.

Jennifer D. Brockett (BA ’03, MED ’06) has recently accepted a teaching position at Dalewood Middle School in Chattanooga. She has been the Head Girls’ Cross Country Coach at Science Hill High School for the past 12 years and took over the boys’ program four years ago. She was also Head Coach of the track program for the past three years after serving as an assistant for nine years.

Dr. Lauren Chiles (MD ’03) was featured in the Greater Knoxville Business Journal’s 40 under 40 list. She is a pathologist with Innovative Pathology Services. The list honors 40 individuals younger than 40 years of age who are leaving an imprint on the Knoxville area.

Dr. Heather Cook (BBA ’03, MBA ’06, EDD ’12) was featured in VIPSEEN’s Power Women of the Tri-Cities magazine. She is Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the City of Kingsport.

Starr Lloyd (BS ’03) organized an exhibition to showcase the talent of East Tennessee artists as her final graduate project at Savannah College of Art and Design. It took place in Erwin and was titled “The Appalachian Arts Exhibition.”

Sarah Schumaier (BS ’03, AUD ’07) was featured in VIPSEEN’s Power Women of the Tri-Cities magazine for her work in the Tri-Cities community. An audiologist, Sarah has a passion for helping others through her private practice.

Dr. Daryl A. Carter (BS ’04, MA ’06), Associate Professor in the ETSU Department of History, has authored one of the first scholarly examinations of the Bill Clinton presidency from the perspective of race and class. The title of the book is Brother Bill: President Clinton and the Politics of Race and Class.

Angela D. Ogle (BSN ’04) accepted

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a position at Hixson Urology in Chattanooga. She is a Board-Certified Registered Nurse with advanced training as a Certified Urologic Nurse Practitioner.

Gretchen Rupert-Schindler (BS ’04) was inducted into the R.E. Lee/Booker T. Washington Athletic Hall of Fame.

In high school, she was All District for four years, All Region three years, and two years All State in volleyball. She played on the 1999 high school state championship volleyball team. She was awarded a scholarship to play volleyball at ETSU. She earned her degree in Political Science and Human Development and Learning.

Diane Smith (BBA ’04) was appointed to the 2016 Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence Board of Examiners.

She earned her degree in Finance and was part of the Honors College.

Jennifer Barber (BS ’05) was one of three ETSU employees to earn the Best Paper Award from the International Conference on Learning and Administration in Higher Education for a paper that deals with the Focus on College and University Success Act. She earned her degree in Mass Communications and is now a doctoral student. She serves as Marketing Coordinator in ETSU’s University Relations office.

specialize in optimizing retirement plans for small business owners.

Dr. Brett Kindle (BS ’07, MD ’11) has joined Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Gulf Breeze, Florida. He will practice primary care sports medicine. His bachelor’s degree is in Mathematics.

Jacob M. Elkins (BS ’11) married Whitney Kane on September 3, 2016, at Lookout Mountain. He earned his degree in Digital Media.

Dr. Luke Stanley (BBA ’07, MD ’16) will complete his medical residency in Psychiatry at ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine.

Dr. Jason Fleenor (BS ’11, MD ’16) will complete a transitional year at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth.

His bachelor’s degree is in Engineering Technology.

Meagan Stark (BS ’07) has been named Program Director of the Honors Program at Tusculum College. She earned her degree in Political Science and Sociology. She has been part of the Student Support Services team at Tusculum College since 2014. She will direct the restructured program along with Dr. Troy Goodale, who will serve as faculty director.

Leslie Blevins (BA ’08) of Bluff City was appointed to the 2016 Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence Board of Examiners. She will serve as a Master Examiner.

Kristen Klem (BS ’08) and Matthew Clements were married June 4, 2016, at the Millstone in Johnson City.

Erin Ashton (BS ’06), former ETSU soccer standout, was inducted into the ETSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016. She was the first women’s soccer player to be inducted.

Tyler Ramey (BSED ’09) was a second-place winner in the SCW Fitness Education’s Mania Convention’s Fitness Idol competition. He earned his degree in Education and Interdisciplinary Studies. He has worked at the Greater Kingsport Family YMCA for more than a decade and has taught group exercise classes for the past seven years. He now serves as the group exercise director at the YMCA.

Courtney E. Brooks (MALS ’06) recently married Sergeant John Kamin.

Dr. Brooke Foulk (MD ’06) was featured in the Greater Knoxville Business Journal’s 40 under 40 list. Dr. Foulk is a physician with Fort Sanders Women’s Specialists. The list honors 40 individuals younger than 40 years of age who are leaving an imprint on the Knoxville area.

Tyler Campbell (BBA ’07) joined the team at Waypoint Strategic Advisors, a business consulting firm and independent Registered Investment Advisor in Greenville, South Carolina. He will

E AS T T EN N ES S EE S TATE UNIVE RS IT Y

Lisa Reis (MAT ’10) is an instructor at University School after teaching in the Johnson City School System.

Dr. Joseph Allen Muse (BS ’06, DCHI ’10) was featured in VIPSEEN magazine.

A Kingsport native, he has returned to the area to start his practice.

Brandon Hudson (MA ’05), Ticket Manager at ETSU since 2007, spent several years working for the University of Tennessee’s club hockey team. Brandon is part of the program’s 50th anniversary Hall of Fame class that will be enshrined in the fall of 2017.

Clay Bailey (BBA ’06) has been promoted to National Sales Executive Account Manager in the Southeast Region for Penske based in Nashville. He started with Penske in 2006 as a Management Trainee in Knoxville. He moved into roles of increased responsibility that included Rental Sales, Branch Rental Manager, Lease Sales Representative, and Business Development Manager in Nashville.

Ireland in Rio de Janeiro at the 2016 Olympics, where he finished tied for 15th. He won five tournaments while playing for ETSU and was ranked 290th in the World Golf Rankings.

Richard C. Crain (MACC ’09) has a new position at Knob Creek Professional Accounting and Tax Services in Johnson City.

2010s Benjamin E. Fraley (BS ’10) has recently accepted a position as a programmer analyst with Ruby Tuesday of Maryville. He earned his degree in Computer and Information Sciences.

Laura Jansone (BS ’10), a former ETSU golfer, tied for fourth in the first round of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters at the Emirates Golf Club and finished tied for 23rd. While at ETSU, she finished first twice at the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships. She now plays on the Ladies European Tour.

Seamus Power (BS ’10), a former ETSU golfer, was selected to represent

Dr. Allana Hamilton (EDD ’11) has been appointed President of Jackson State Community College. Dr. Hamilton previously served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Northeast State Community College.

John Krause (BA ’11) performed with the Greater Cleveland Concert Band in the Cleveland Greenway Park Pavilion in Cleveland, Tennessee. He earned his degree in Mass Communications.

Callie Richardson (BBA ’11, MBA ’13) has a new job at BAE Systems.

Dr. Matthew Allison (BS ’12, MD ’16) will complete his medical residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine.

His bachelor’s degree is in Physical Education.

Dr. Stephen Aaron Ashe (BS ’12, MD ’16) will complete a preliminary year in medicine at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans before continuing on to complete his medical residency at LSU/Ochsner in Ophthalmology. His bachelor’s degree is in Biology.

Maggie Branch (BBA ’12) is a Patient Care Representative with the Bristol Family Practice Residency Program.

She was previously a Customer Service Representative for Sprint.

Rachel Chute (BS ’12) married Samuel Adams (BA ’13) on July 25, 2015, at Grace Meadows Farm in Jonesborough.

She earned her degree in Education, and he earned his in English.

Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson (BA ’12) will serve as the Highlander Research and Education Center’s CoExecutive Director in New Market, Tennessee. It is in its 85th year of movement building in the South and Appalachia.

Ash-Lee is the first Black woman to serve as Executive Director.

Dr. Michael Neblett (BS ’12, MD ’16) will complete his medical residency in Obstetrics-Gynecology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. His bachelor’s degree is in Health Sciences.

Dr. Anuj Patel (BS ’12, MD ’16) will complete his medical residency in Pediatrics at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry.

Dr. Megan Quinn (DPH ’12) received the 2016 Distinguished Faculty Award for Service at ETSU. She received a medallion, plaque, and a $5,000 check provided by the ETSU Foundation during the annual Faculty Convocation.

Debra Roberson (BS ’12) is the Executive Aide in the ETSU Department of Psychology. She earned the staff award in the Clerical and Secretarial category at the annual ETSU staff picnic.

Amanda Shelton (BS ’12) married Paul Osborne, Jr., at The Wedding Barn at Beck Mountain in Elizabethton in May 2016. They live in Unicoi.

Dr. Michael Stockwell (BS ’12, MD ’16) will complete his medical residency in Obstetrics-Gynecology at Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology.

Dr. Amit Vashist (Res. ’12) was recognized as a Healthcare Hero by VIPSEEN magazine for his work to improve the provision of healthcare in Southwest Virginia.

Spenser Brenner (BFA ’13) is an Exhibition Coordinator at the Reece Museum after serving as a Curator.

Chad Bruckman (BS ’13) has been appointed Emergency Response Coordinator for the Tennessee Department of Health’s Northeast Regional Office. He earned his degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Dr. Kelley Cross (BS ’12, MD ’16) will complete a preliminary year in medicine at the University of Louisville School of Medicine before completing her Dermatology residency at Geisinger Health System. Her bachelor’s degree is in Biology.

O.J. Early (BS ’13) of Greeneville was recently married to Kristen Buckles, also of Greeneville. He earned his degree in Mass Communications.

Sander Gille (BBA ’12) of Belgium recently made waves in the professional tennis rankings, beating the 99th-ranked player in the world. This was his first career win over a player ranked in the top 200. He plans to compete in the ATP Challenger tour in 2017.

Dr. Jocelyn Mary-Estelle Wilson (MD ’13) was published in in-Training: Stories from Tomorrow’s Physicians. The publication features peer-edited narratives written by medical students on humanism and the challenges of being a physician-in-training. She is a family

Ethan Noel (BBA ’13, MBA ’15) has a new job at Noel Professional Solutions Group. He lives in Knoxville.

Matthew R. Young (MPA ’13) and Shelly R. Jones (BBA ’09, MACC ’11) have recently married.

Heather Banks (BGS ’14) married Robert E. Lee II on August 20, 2016, in an outdoor ceremony. They reside in Erwin.

Tammy L. Knapp (BS ’14) of Greeneville was recently married to Kody Stanton. She earned her degree in Criminal Justice.

Blakely Bays (BA ’15), Miss Tennessee United States 2016, has chosen the Unsmokeable movement as her platform.

The Unsmokeable movement aims to inspire youth to live a smoke-free life and is increasing in popularity across Tennessee.

Andrew Howell (BBA ’15) is a Technical Clerk in the Office of the Registrar at ETSU. Before coming to ETSU, he was a Front-End Manager with K-VA-T/ Food City.

Jordan Nease (BS ’15) married Rosa Martinez on November 14, 2016, at The Stinnett Farm in Rogersville. Jordan’s degree is in Criminal Justice.

Levi Smith (BS ’15) is a Transcript Analyst in the ETSU Office of Admissions.

He previously worked as a flow team member with Target. His degree is in Digital Media.

Christopher Adams (MA ’16) has been sworn in as Secretary of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers at the Association’s 59th annual meeting.

He launched his own practice in 2007 and has since represented clients in cases all over the country. Before starting his own practice, he was a public defender for 15 years. He earned his master’s in Reading.

Robert King (BS ’16) was hired as a Video Producer for Creative Energy, the region’s largest locally-owned advertising, marketing, and public relations firm.

Adrian Meronk (BBA ’16), a member of the ETSU golf team, was named Second Team All-America by both PING and Golfweek.

Andrew Norris (BFA ’16) presented an art exhibition titled “Replications” at Shakti in the Mountains.

Chad Smith (BS ’16) is Grounds Foreman with Facilities Management at ETSU. His degree is in Exercise Science.

Mary Taylor (BS ’16) has been named to a new position at The Corporate Image, an integrated firm headquartered

Laura Traister (BA’16) has received the Fulbright-Nehru English Teaching Assistant Award. This award will allow her to spend nine months teaching conversational English and some composition in India. She will be teaching at St. Elias High School in Mumbai, India’s largest city with approximately 12 million people.

Kristen Wilhoit (BFA ’16) was hired as a graphic designer for Creative Energy, the region’s largest locally-owned advertising, marketing, and public relations firm.

Sarah Zadrazil (BS ’16), a former ETSU soccer standout, signed a professional contract with FFC Turbine Potsdam. The team is one of the most successful teams in the German Women Bundesliga.

Dr. Jonathan Jacob Allred (MD ’16) will complete a transitional year at the University of Tennessee Graduate School Of Medicine before continuing on to complete his medical residency in Radiology-Diagnostic.

Dr. James Bailey (MD ’16) will complete a transitional year at Tripler Army Medical Center before completing his medical residency in Ophthalmology at the Madigan Army Medical Center.

Dr. Adam Carrera (MD ’16) will complete a transitional year at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine before continuing on to complete his medical residency in Ophthalmology.

Dr. Madeleine Garren (MD ’16) will complete a preliminary year in surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine before completing a medical residency in Anesthesiology.

Dr. Michael Morris (MD ’16) will complete a preliminary year in medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine-Shands Hospital before completing his medical residency in Neurology.

Dr. Joseph Zachary (MD ’16) will complete a preliminary year in medicine at the Quillen College of Medicine before continuing on to complete his medical residency in Radiology-Diagnostic at the University of Florida College of Medicine-Shands Hospital in Gainesville.

Medical residency placements for the Quillen class of 2016: Dr. Faris Adam Bakeer, Internal Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St Louis; Dr. Brent Allen Baker, Family Medicine, ETSU; Dr. Jonathan Boyd, Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Dr. Caryn Brehm, Internal Medicine, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center; Dr. John BuAbbud, Psychiatry, Carilion Clinic-Virginia Tech Carilion School of

Medicine; Dr. Benjamin Cearlock, Emergency Medicine, Carilion Clinic-Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine; Dr. Amy Cohee, General Surgery, the University of Virginia; Dr. Markiza Cooper, Dermatology, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education in Jacksonville; Dr. Nate Davis, Emergency Medicine, UT St. Thomas Hospitals in Murfreesboro; Dr. Adam DelConte, Family Medicine, Northwestern McGraw/NMH/VA in Chicago; Dr. Lindsey Denney, Emergency Medicine, UT St. Thomas Hospitals in Murfreesboro; Dr. Ashton Fisher, Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University in Portland; Dr. Vanessa Freeman, Psychiatry, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Dr. Andrew Gibson, Emergency Medicine, Florida Hospital in Orlando; Dr. Christopher Gill, Pediatrics-Primary, the Medical University of South Carolina; Dr. Val Hansen, Pediatrics, the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha; Dr. Chris Hill, Internal Medicine, the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine in Knoxville; Dr. Tina Jackson, Psychiatry, the University of South Alabama Hospitals in Mobile; Dr. Katie Johnson, General Surgery, Oregon Health & Sciences University in Portland; Dr. Elijah Kennedy, Emergency Medicine, Florida Hospital in Orlando; Dr. Kara Kilpatrick, Psychiatry, the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington; Dr. Jordan Kim, Family Medicine, University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Chattanooga; Dr. Erin Kimbrough, Internal Medicine, the Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education in Jacksonville; Dr. Stephen Kinser, Family Medicine, the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Chattanooga; Dr. Rachel Lindsey, Pediatrics, Quillen College of Medicine; Dr. Baillie Lott, Pediatrics, the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis; Dr. Hicks Manson, Orthopedic Surgery, the Navy Medical Center Portsmouth; Dr. Brittany Matney, Family Medicine, Mountain Area Health Education Center in Asheville; Dr. Lorenzo Olive, Surgery, the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis; Dr. Nathan Page, Emergency Medicine, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center; Dr. David Pollock, Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine; Dr. Cornelius Powell, Emergency Medicine, Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte; Dr. Landon Pratt, Emergency Medicine, the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson; Dr. Joshua Ragan, Anesthesiology, the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine in Knoxville; Dr. Kent Rinehart, Orthopedic Surgery, the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha; Dr. Megan Roberson, Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical

Center; Dr. Ashley Rose, Internal Medicine, the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa; Dr. Leigh Schlactus, Internal Medicine, the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine in Knoxville; Dr. Rusty Shults, Anesthesiology, the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington; Dr. Steven Matthew, Internal Medicine, the University of Florida College of Medicine-Shands Hospital in Gainesville; Dr. Ben Stockton, Family Medicine, Caldwell Rural Training Track in Boise, Idaho; Dr. Igor Tkachenko, Emergency Medicine, the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Chattanooga; Dr. Catherine Voorhees, Obstetrics-Gynecology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Dr. Kip Weaver, Pediatrics, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Dr. Dana Williams, Internal Medicine, the University of Louisville School of Medicine; Dr. Logan Williams, Pediatrics, the University of Florida College of Medicine-Shands Hospital in Orlando; and Dr. Tyler Woodall, Internal Medicine, the University Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi.

OBITUARIES 1930s Jason Snyder (BS ’39), September 11, 2016, in Elizabethton. He was 106 years old. He taught elementary and high school in Carter County before going into the Army Air Corps in 1942. He was honorably discharged as Staff Sergeant in 1945.

1940s Kathryn Lockett (BS ’41), July 29, 2016. She earned her degree in Art. She began a Bible program for the public schools in Corinth, Mississippi, teaching grades 3-6, junior high, and high school.

In 1953, she began teaching Bible in grades 4-6 in Kingsport. In all, she taught Bible for 34 years.

Roger E. Gibson (BS ’45) of Jonesborough, June 5, 2016. He earned his degree in Chemistry.

Mary L. Stribling (BS ’45), August 16, 2016. She earned her degree in Elementary Education. She taught at several schools throughout her 33-year career but is most often associated with her time at Towne Acres Elementary, where she was named Teacher of the Year for K-4 in 1986 for her school and district. She was a member of the National Education Association, Tennessee Education Association, Johnson City Education Association, Delta Kappa Gamma (past president), Phi Delta Kappa, and Business and Professional Women’s Club (past president). She served on the Superintendent’s Advisory

Council, Southern Association Accreditation Committee, and Methodist Church Board. She received various accolades including Outstanding Educator of the South, Honorary Life Member PTA, the Silver Poet Award, and was one of the Outstanding Leaders in Elementary and Secondary Education for 1976.

Margaret Huffman (BS ’47), June 25, 2016. She was a graduate of Science Hill High School. She taught many years in the Washington County School System at West View Elementary School in Limestone.

T O D A Y

Phillip Wyrick’s (MA ’13) thesis, Police Militarization: Attitudes Towards the Militarization of the American Police, was the 16th (out of four million) most accessed master’s thesis on ProQuest.

in Bristol. In her new position, she is responsible for accounts payable and receivable, human resources, and all internal communication systems.

E T S U

physician with Baylor Scott & White Health in Central Texas.

Hugh A. Lawing (BS ’48) of Greeneville, May 23, 2016.

Frank L. Knisley, Jr. (BS ’49), October 3, 2016, in Johnson City. He was a U.S. Army veteran and an active member of the community. As an architect, he was credited with the design of numerous local buildings. He also contributed to the formation of Buffalo Mountain Park and the early stages of the Tweetsie Trail.

Emily Barnes McClellan (MA ’49), October 1, 2016, in Johnson City. Emily was a Johnson City native and devoted much of her life to Rocky Mount State Historic Site where she worked as a historical interpreter for 42 years. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution John Sevier Chapter and a member of United Methodist Women.

1950s Dr. Floyd May (BS ’50) of Elizabethton, October 15, 2016. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served during World War II. He obtained his medical degree in 1957 and then returned to the area, where he practiced medicine. His hobbies included genealogy, farming, and spending time with his family.

Elizabeth S. Shanks (BS ’50) of Henderson, Tennessee, May 16, 2016. She earned her degree in Home Economics.

She taught for several decades in public education in both Old Fort, North Carolina, and Greeneville, Tennessee.

She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Delta Kappa Gamma, and the Greeneville-Greene County Retired Teachers Association. She will be remembered for her love of her family and friends and her delight in children.

Helen Sheffield (BS ’50, MA ’63), September 9, 2016. She was a retired assistant principal.

Margaret H. Slonaker (BS ’50) of Jonesborough, September 3, 2016. She earned her degree in Home Economics.

She was a teacher for the Washington County School System for 30 years, having taught fifth grade at Sulphur Springs and Jonesborough Elementary schools. She was a member of Jonesborough United

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Methodist Church and sang in the choir for many years. She was also a member of Open Door Sunday School Class.

Lon E. Sorrell (BS ’50), August 12, 2016. He earned his degree in Mathematics. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and a Mason.

Carl E. Snapp (BS ’50), July 11, 2016.

He earned his degree in Business Administration. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War and was a member of the American Legion. He was employed by Mead Corporation as an accountant, retiring in 1990 as Manager of Accounting.

Helen M. Teague (BS ’50) of Spring Hill, Kansas, June 22, 2016. She earned her degree in Health and Physical Education. She sang in the Sweet Adelines for over 30 years and was a member of Solon Gentry Sunday School Class since 1951. She taught Sunday school classes at Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church.

Keener C. Depew (BS ’51), July 20, 2016. He earned his degree in Business Administration. He was a veteran of the Korean War, having served in the U.S. Air Force. He retired from Eastman Kodak in 1994 with 40 years of service.

Mary Jane Greene (BS ’51, MS), March 12, 2016, in Greeneville. She began working as a secretary for TVA and then became a teacher in Sullivan County, then Greene County, and lastly she taught and coached at Greeneville High School.

She earned her degree in Elementary Education.

She loved God, her family, friends, and her church family.

grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

James Lowery (BS ’52, MA ’66), November 3, 2016. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Education and his master’s in Educational Administration and Supervision. He was a World War II veteran.

Mary Testerman (BS ’53), September 17, 2016. She earned her degree in English. She retired as a first-grade teacher.

Charles E. Johnson (BS ’55), October 13, 2016. He earned his degree in Education. He was a veteran of the Korean War, having served in the U.S. Army. He retired from the Greene County School System after 30 years of service.

Frank H. Maples, Jr. (MA ’53), July 19, 2016, in Elizabethton. He earned his master’s in Education. He was Principal of Burbank Elementary School and then a biology and chemistry teacher for the Bristol, Tennessee, city schools before he retired in 2004. He was a football trainer for Tennessee High from 1956-82. In 1961, he was named State Science Teacher of the Year.

Charlie C. Matlock (BS ’53), July 9, 2016. He earned his degree in History and was a member of the football team.

He was a long-time faculty member at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, where he was a nationally respected college golf coach with many winning golf teams.

Theodore McCown, Jr. (BS ’53), January 24, 2017, in Kingsport. He was an active Band and Student Government member while in college. He served in the U.S. Army and was very active in the Kingsport community. He served on several community boards, worked as Assistant City Manager, and was instrumental in the development of Bays Mountain Park.

George Eugene Woodward (BS ’51), March 13, 2016, in Huntsville, Alabama.

After graduation, he was hired by the Department of the Army at Redstone Arsenal, where he worked on various missile projects until his retirement.

James Armentrout (BS ’52), October 6, 2016. He earned his degree in Mathematics. He was a pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps, attaining the rank of Captain. After his Marine Corps career, he was an educator in Prince William County, Virginia, where he taught mathematics and physics, was a Guidance Director, Assistant Principal, and served a short term as a middle school Principal, spanning more than 30 years of service. He was a founding director and corporate secretary for the Prince William Savings and Loan Association, its subsidiary and subsequent corporations for over 25 years. He was recognized for over 20 years of service to the Boy Scout program at St. Paul United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Retired Officers Association and the National Naval Aviation Museum.

Vivian C. Estep (BS ’52) of Johnson City, May 10, 2016.

Bernelle K. Johnson (BS ’52) of Bristol, Tennessee, June 17, 2016.

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Mariko Terasaki Miller (BA ’53), September 7, 2016. She earned her degree in English. After graduation, she moved to Wyoming and became active in state and national politics. She was the first woman appointed Honorary Consul-General of Japan. She brought Japan Arts Day to Casper and organized many cultural events. She also lectured frequently in the United States and Japan. In 2006, she was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, one of Japan’s highest honors, during a ceremony attended by Emperor Akihito. She was named an ETSU Outstanding Alumna in 1998.

Mary Lou Smith (BS ’53) of Morristown, September 17, 2016. She earned her degree in English. She was a member of Morningside Baptist Church.

E AS T T EN N ES S EE S TATE UNIVE RS IT Y

Jack Brewer (BS ’54), November 19, 2016. He earned his degree in Business Administration and was a member of the football team and the debate team. He was also a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Upon graduation from college he began his working career as a high school football coach in Tennessee and Georgia. He later taught accounting at Tennessee Wesleyan College and Lee University. In 1962, he went to work for Olin Corporation as an accountant and retired 34 years later as Corporate Vice President, Government Relations, responsible for Olin’s government relations in all 50 states. He served on a number of civic and business organizations as well as boards of Penn-Olin Chemical Corp. and Lion Chemical Corp. He was a past national president of the State Government Affairs Council and past chairman of the Chemical Manufacturers Association’s State Affairs Committee.

Dorothy Baird Carpenter (BS ’54), September 16, 2016. She earned her degree in Business Administration.

She began her career in education as a teacher and librarian at Washington College Academy before becoming a library educator at Appalachian State University. After 19 years, she retired from ETSU as an associate professor. She was active in the library education association until her retirement. She was a member of the Johnson City Monday Club and the P.E.O. Sisterhood.

Gladell Crum (BS ’54, MA ’66), November 5, 2016. She earned her degrees in English and Guidance and Counseling. She was a Licensed Professional Counselor and worked as the Director of Guidance and Counseling at Gate City High School for 23 years and at Twin Springs High School for three.

She had also been a classroom teacher and counselor at Rye Cove High School.

She was a member of the Virginia Counselor’s Association, Delta Kappa Gamma (Alpha Zeta Chapter), and a life member of Delta Psi Omega.

Joe Fairchild (BS ’54), August 2, 2015, in Rogersville. He served in the U.S. Army as a cryptographer. He is survived by his wife Dorcas.

Kathleen Hill Henderson (BS ’55), August 20, 2016, in Oak Ridge. She earned her degree in Elementary Education. She taught in Elizabethton for over 30 years. In 1992, she and her husband moved to Oak Ridge. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, two

Clara S. Persinger (BS ’55), August 4, 2016. She earned her degree in English.

She served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a Hospital Corpsman.

She was a first-grade schoolteacher in the Sullivan County School System for over 30 years.

Dr. Frank T. Rogers Jr. (BS ’55) of Paint Rock, Tennessee, October 22, 2016. He earned his degree in Biology.

He cared for patients beginning in Washington D.C., with a large part of his career in Knoxville, Jellico, Benton, and Pigeon Forge. He was generous with his talents here at home and participated in mission trips traveling to Honduras and Guatemala to name a few. He loved being a dentist and serving his patients.

Dorothy Sliger (BS ’55), June 16, 2016. She earned her degree in Physical Education. She taught at Lamar High School and Jonesborough High School and completed her teaching career as a substitute teacher for the Johnson City School System.

Frank Cloud (BS ’56), October 1, 2016.

He earned his degree in Physical Education. He was retired from the U.S. Army after serving 33 years. He was an Elder at Gardenside Christian Church and a devoted member of the Lions Club.

Edward Cook Jr. (MA ’56), October 4, 2016. He earned his degree in Education. He was Principal of Shouns Elementary and Mountain City Grammar schools before accepting a position with the United States Dependent Schools, European Area. While overseas for 20 years, he served as the youngest of five superintendents who oversaw American schools stretching from Pakistan to England. At one time, he had the unique position of simultaneously overseeing schools on three continents (Europe, Asia, and Africa) with schools in Greece, Crete, Libya, Ethiopia, Pakistan, and Turkey. He served as publicity chair for the Johnson County Community Theatre for several years. He served on the Johnson County Bank Board of Directors for 25 years. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Navy.

Robert Johns (BS ’56), November 3, 2016. He earned his degree in History.

Janice C. Dinges (BS ’57) of Centerville, Ohio, June 3, 2016. She earned her degree in Business Administration.

Paul J. Duncan (BS ’57), August 18, 2016. He earned his degree in Mathematics.

Thomas Innes (BS ’57), November 12, 2016. He earned his degree in Elementary Education. Before college, he was in the Army Air Corps for 38 months, serving in World War II. His career of 30 years was entirely in the field of education.

In 1965 he joined the staff of the State Testing and Evaluation Center at UT, retiring after 19 years there. He served 10 years as Officer of Elections in the Heiskell District of Knox County and for two years was President of the Heiskell Volunteer Fire Department.

Ralph E. Sams, Jr. (BS ’57) of Sylva, North Carolina, May 20, 2016. He earned his degree in Accounting.

Lorene R. Burleson (BS ’58), July 7, 2016. She earned her degree in Business Administration. She worked at Auburn University for 25 years in several administrative positions before her retirement from the College of Science and Mathematics.

Ernest “Buck” Fleenor (BS ’58) of Jonesborough, September 5, 2016. He earned his degree in Economics. He was a renowned gun and furniture maker, hunting enthusiast, and storyteller. He retired from the Johnson City Power Board after 40 years of service.

Dr. Gordon W. Gray (BS ’58, MA ’64) of Sarasota, Florida, November 9, 2016. He earned his degrees in Physical Education and Reading. He was a professor at Clemson University before his retirement.

Robert F. Sliger (BS ’58) of Johnson City, June 16, 2016. He earned his degree in Business Education.

Paul E. Wright (BS ’58) of Mountain City, August 13, 2016. He earned his degree in Geography. He worked in Missouri for 38 years. He was a member of Vandover Baptist Church and attended Valley View Methodist Church.

Roy Y. Ammons (BS ’59), August 5, 2016. He earned his degree in Geography. Following graduation, he began his decades-long education and coaching career at Hot Springs High School, followed by other positions throughout Madison County. He led state champion teams in baseball, basketball, and football.

Robert Chumbley (BS ’59), September 11, 2016. He earned his degree in Physical Education.

William Early, Jr. (BS ’59), September 5, 2016. He earned his degree in Chemistry and retired from Piedmont Paint Manufacturing.

Robert H. Fields (BS ’59) of Surgoinsville, November 25, 2016. He earned his degree in Business Education. He served in the Army during the Korean War. He was a government servant for the State of Tennessee, retiring after many years of service.

Selwa Fiskus (BS ’60), October 6, 2016. She earned her degree in Speech and Hearing. She worked for the York County School System as a speech and hearing therapist. Later in life, she taught at Hampton University, where she passed her knowledge and experience on to future pathologists.

Jimmy L. Fleming (BS ’60, MED ’73) of Kingsport, September 5, 2016. He earned his degrees in Physical Education and Education. Over his career with the Sullivan County School System, he served as a teacher, coach, vice principal, principal, and superintendent. He loved spending time with friends, having breakfast, and trying to solve world issues. He was a member of the Northeast Church of Christ.

Jerry Pease (BS ’60) of Knoxville, June 6, 2016. His degree is in Business. He spent six months on active duty and two years in the Army Reserve. In 1961, he began working for Pease Furniture.

He loved his family and was involved in several community clubs, including the Vestal Boys’ Club and South Knoxville Optimist Club. He is survived by his wife, Mickey, and their children.

Lloyd G. Slagle (BS ’60) of Johnson City, September 27, 2016. He earned his degree in Industrial Arts. He honorably served his country in the U.S. Navy as an Airman with the Fighter Squadron VF-33 from 1951-55. He served as a Manual Arts Therapist for the Veterans Administration Hospital for over 40 years. He retired as Chief of Vocational Rehabilitation Therapy in 1997.

Charlie Zimmerman (BS ’60), September 11, 2016, in Kingsport. He earned his degree in Mathematics. He served in the U.S. Army as an artillery officer. Later, he taught at Colonial Heights Middle School. He then worked as a claims representative for Allstate and State Farm insurance. For the last five years of his life he served on the board for Meals on Wheels.

Colonel Paul R. Davidson (BS ’61) of Jonesborough, November 27, 2016. He earned his degree in Sociology. He served on active duty with the U.S. Army for 25 years as an Infantry Officer and Adjunct General Corps Officer. He was directly involved in the repatriation of POWs from Hanoi and South Vietnam and returning our remaining soldiers killed in action home to the United States.

Billy Douthat (BS ’61), March 6, 2016, in Atlanta. After his years in the Air Force, he enrolled at East Tennessee State. He worked in the Knox County School System as an Industrial Arts and Vocational Education Administrator.

Kathryn J. Hunnicutt (BS ’61) of Fort Blackmore, Virginia, November 14, 2016.

She earned her degree in Sociology.

Kenneth P. Johnson (BS ’61) of Knoxville, on November 8, 2016. He earned his degree in Business and played on the varsity football team. He owned the Delrose Motel for many years before becoming a contractor until his retirement.

Janice K. Kennedy (BS ’61) of Knoxville, July 8, 2016. She earned her degree in Elementary Education.

James Wade Blankenbeckler (BFA ’62) of Kingsport, September 18, 2016.

Lloyd H. Blevins Sr. (BS ’62) of Alpharetta, Georgia, December 2, 2016. He earned his degree in English.

He served in the U.S. Navy until 1966.

He then attended the University of Tennessee College of Law. He was the Democratic nominee for the First Congressional District seat in the U.S. Congress in 1974 and 1976 and remained a lifelong Democrat. He and his wife moved to Atlanta in 1976 where he began his career with Consolidated Freightways, later transferring to Houston, where he retired. In 1997, he and his family moved back to Georgia where he worked as an agent for Century 21 Real Estate.

Douglas “Doug” M. Greene (BS ’62) of Apex, North Carolina, June 2, 2016.

He earned his degree in Health Education. His main focus in life for more than 33 years was to serve schoolchildren in various Mitchell County communities.

He played a key role in the development and construction of all three football stadiums in the county that still exist today. After receiving his master’s degree from Western Carolina University, he served as Superintendent of Mitchell County Schools for 12 years and was one of the original organizers of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. After he retired from the school system in 1993, he owned and operated Greene Insurance in Spruce Pine until 2004.

Jackie Hicks, Sr. (BS ’62), June 26, 2016. She earned her degree in Business Education.

Clark J. Laughrun (BS ’62, MA ’69), August 1, 2016. He attended Happy Valley High School and earned ETSU

degrees in Industrial Arts Education and Elementary Education. He retired from the Veterans Administration in 1994 after 25 years of service as a Vocational Rehabilitative Therapist. He also was a schoolteacher for several years in the Johnson City School System.

Ervin W. Simpson (BS ’62) of Shelby, North Carolina, May 20, 2016. He earned his degree in Social Science.

John Young, Jr. (BS ’62), November 5, 2016. He earned his degree in Chemistry. He was the owner of C & J Sales and Enviro Technologies.

Thomas Wayne Hill (BS ’63), January 21, 2017, in Jonesborough. He retired from TEC in 1999 and enjoyed his retirement by traveling, fishing, and working in his orchard. His faith and Pactolus United Methodist Church were mainstays in his life.

Donald V. Adkins (BS ’64, MA ’65) of Kingsport, June 20, 2016. He earned degrees in Physical Education and Secondary Education.

David Sewell Carroll (BS ’64), January 21, 2017, in Knoxville. He retired from Lockheed Martin, where he was a Health and Safety Engineer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He was also a former Bass Pro fisherman and a member of the “PK Hope is Alive” Parkinson’s Support Group. He was a member of Beaver Ridge United Methodist Church in Karns.

Warren K. Broyles (BS ’65) of Jonesborough, November 18, 2016. He earned his degree in Business Management. He was the founder of Mountain Empire Oil Company, Inc./Roadrunner Markets.

He started the company in 1977 and worked every day for the next 39 years to make the company a success. He was a generous and intelligent man who was well read and always interesting to talk to. However, all his success and accolades were a distant second to his love for his children and grandchildren.

He lived his faith quietly, always mindful to give God credit for his success and his beloved family.

Larry Clark, Sr. (BS ’65), July 31, 2016. He earned his degree in Business Administration and was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He taught at Pound High School and then went into the mining business as owner and operator of Mountain Mining Inc., Ron Ell Coal Company, and MAC Mining. He was a member of the Virginia and Kentucky Mining Reclamation Association.

He served on the Board of Directors of Norton Community Hospital for 20 years, was one of the founding Directors of First State Bank in Wise, was a founding Director and President of First Commonwealth Bank in Wise, and was a member and served on the Board of Directors of the Lonesome Pine Country Club.

Otis Damron (BS ’65), March 19, 2016, in Whitwell, Tennessee. He was a P.E. teacher, an assistant principal, a football coach, and a principal. He was a Christian and a supporter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. His is survived by his wife, Martha, his daughters, and his grandchildren.

Franklin Grindstaff (BS ’65), October 1, 2015, in Ocala, Florida. He earned his degree in Industrial Arts Education. He is survived by his wife, Catherine, brother, Larry, and several nieces and nephews.

Elizabeth Pritchard Brock (BS ’65), July 2, 2016 in Georgia. She was a prominent business figure in Georgia manufacturing circles. She was active in the Chamber of Commerce and also served on the executive board of directors for years. A lifelong learner, she earned her private pilot’s license in her 50s. She is survived by her daughter, seven siblings, and nieces and nephews.

Dan Brooks (BS ’65), September 25, 2016, in Rogersville. He played football for ETSU. After graduating, he taught mechanical drawing and became the football and track coach at Rogersville High School. He served as Transportation Supervisor, Vice Mayor on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen in Rogersville, on the Hawkins County Commission, and as Chairman of the Rogersville School Board. He had a successful business career in Hawkins County.

Jerry A. Houck (BS ’65) of Inman, South Carolina, June 7, 2016. He earned his degree in Physical Education.

William Kincheloe, Sr. (MA ’65), June 24, 2016. He earned his degree in Educational Administration. He was a World War II veteran earning the following honors while serving: Army Occupation Medal-Japan, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon, Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and two Overseas Bars.

He was with the Sullivan County and Bristol, Tennessee, school systems for 34 years, serving 32 years as Principal of Avoca Elementary. He served as President of the State Elementary School Principals’ Association, was Director of the State Principals’ Study Council, and was a charter member of Partnership for Successful Schools in Tennessee. He was a lifetime member of the National Education Association, Tennessee Education Association, National PTA, and

Tennessee PTA. He was also active in his community, serving as President of Avoca Civitan, President of Avoca Little League, and was involved in Boy Scouts.

Barbara L. Morrison (BS ’65, MA ’67), August 5, 2016. She earned her degrees in Biology. She was hired by Whitehall Labs in 1986 and quickly rose to the top as the Senior Medical Representative. She won many awards in her 10-plus years at Whitehall and in 1996 won the President’s Gold Cup, recognizing her as the best in the company at her position.

T O D A Y

1960s

Betty Dotson (BS ’61), September 1, 2016. She earned her degree in Elementary Education. Following college she began her teaching career, spending the early years in Georgia and later in Chattanooga. She retired in 1996.

E T S U

Robert (Bob) LeSueur (BS ’59), December 14, 2016, in Knoxville. As a young man, he served with the Marine Reserves in Johnson City. During his professional years, he was a teacher and coach at East High and Bearden High schools. The Bob LeSueur track sign was placed in his honor and Bob LeSueur Day was proclaimed at the school.

George M. Haldane III (BS ’66) of Douglasville, Georgia, May 8, 2016. He earned his degree in Business.

George Legg (BS ’66) of Knoxville, June 16, 2016. After graduating from ETSU, he was a Captain in the U.S. Army.

In 1972 he earned his law degree and joined the law firm of Stone & Hinds, P.C.. He practiced law there for 42 years.

He earned numerous awards, including the Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent rating. He enjoyed volunteering and was a member of Church Street United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife, Bobbie, and their children.

Alfred Anderson (BS ’67), September 27, 2016. He earned his degree in Physical Education. Early in his career, he taught 8th grade geography at Northside High School as well as history and government at Cave Spring High School.

He then served as Treasurer of Roanoke County for 28 years. His dedication and service were recognized by both the Treasurers Association of Virginia in 1989 and the National Association of County Treasurers & Financial Officers in 1996 as Treasurer of the Year. He served both TAV and NACTFO as President. He received the Lifetime Service Award from TAV. David E. Couch (BS ’67) of Mount Carmel, June 13, 2016. He earned his degree in Geography.

Dexter O. Keck (BS ’67), June 1, 2016, in St. Augustine, Florida. He earned his degree in Business Administration and was active in sales all his life.

C. Vaughn Leslie, Jr. (BS ’67), October 10, 2016. He earned his degree in Speech Pathology. He held offices in the Knoxville and Tennessee Claims Associations, Blue Goose, and the National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters. He began his career as a claims adjuster with Crawford & Company. In 1977, he started his own business, Appalachian Claims Service, in Knoxville. He was widely known for his love of music and traveled as the leader of his band “Boys’ Night Out.” Arthur L. Livesay (MA ’67) of Pennington Gap, Virginia, May 9, 2016.

He earned his degree in Educational Administration.

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Larry E. Torbett (BS ’67) of Piney Flats, June 7, 2016. He earned his degree in General Science.

Charles Phillip Beal (BS ’68) of Rogersville, December 29, 2015. He earned his degree in English. He was the owner and operator of WRGS Radio in Hawkins County. Phillip was active in church and served in various roles in community organizations. He is survived by his wife, Debbie, and their children.

Samuel “Bill” Campbell (BS ’68), May 18, 2016. He earned his degree in Science.

He worked for Ingersoll-Rand and Stanley Tools for many years.

William “Bill” Case (BS ’68) of Washington County, November 9, 2016. He earned his degree in Industrial Technology. He attended the Welcome Church of God. He retired from Lexcom Communications.

He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

Avery “Smokey” Maggard (BS ’68) of Johnson City, May 7, 2016. He earned his degree in History. He was a member of Central Baptist Church in Johnson City where he served as a Deacon, on the Board of Directors, and as Sunday School teacher, as well as various other roles within the church. He retired from Blue Cross Blue Shield and was working at Widener Insurance. He also served as a board member for the Washington County Boys Club, was a member of the NAIFA, and served as a youth soccer coach. He enjoyed reading and watching old movies, but most of all he loved being with his family.

Patricia A. Osborne (BS ’68) of Dothan, Alabama, October 18, 2016. She earned her degree in Medical Technology. She was an entrepreneur, having owned a gas station, tax office, lavender farm, and a funnel cake business. She loved to travel all over the country and world, but it didn’t exceed her love for her family. She was known as the “lavender lady.”

Dan M. Ward (BS ’68) of Johnson City, November 26, 2016. He earned his degree in Mathematics.

Leslie Doss, her daughter, and her family and friends.

Nathan Irvin, Jr. (BS ’69), August 17, 2016. He earned his degree in Business.

He joined the U.S. Air Force when he turned 18, serving in the Korean War and the early part of the Vietnam War, reaching the rank of Tech Sergeant.

He taught at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels in Franklin County, Virginia, in the 1970s and ’80s. He returned to the Air Force as a civilian at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina from 1982-84, as the official base historian. He also taught at business colleges in Tennessee and enjoyed working at Dollywood in his retirement years.

Vivian M. Mann (BS ’69), August 8, 2016. She earned her degree in Social Work. She worked for the North Carolina State Department of Facilities Services as an Adult Home Specialist Consultant.

She was also a member of the Parkway Volunteer Fire Department. In addition, she worked part-time in emergency room admissions at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital.

Barry T. Murrin (BS ’69), July 9, 2016.

He earned his degree in Physical Education. He was a well-respected coach and teacher for the Blount County School System for 35 years. He was selected to the Blount County Sports Hall of Fame and inducted into the first class of the William Blount Hall of Fame.

John H. Stiles (BS ’69) of Kingston Springs, Tennessee, May 2, 2016. He earned his degree in Journalism. Those who knew him describe him as a newspaperman respected by his sources and beloved by his colleagues. He was always fair, always striving for accuracy, always able to ask the right questions and get to the heart of a story with a well-chosen quote.

Howard Wright (BS ’69, MS ’72), May 19, 2016. He earned his degrees in Mathematics and was a U.S. Army veteran.

Helen Williford (BSN ’68) of Knoxville, October 17, 2016.

1970s

Ronald A. Allison (BA ’69) of Saltville, Virginia, December 3, 2016. He earned his degree in Public Health. He was a U.S Air Force veteran and retired as Executive Director of the Cumberland Mountain Community Service Board.

Wayne E. Greene (BS ’70) of Gray, June 3, 2016. He earned his degree in Business.

Paul E. Burwell (BS ’69) of Asheville, November 9, 2016. He earned his degree in Biology.

Rita Munsey Doss (BS ’69), October 15, 2015, in Nashville. A wife, mother, and former Miss Tennessee winner, she began performing at an early age. She said the greatest accomplishments in her life were being a great mother, having a wonderful daughter, and marrying a wonderful man. She is survived by her husband, Dr.

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James C. Gunter (BS ’70) of Bristol, Tennessee, September 11, 2016. He earned his degree in Business. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served during the Vietnam War. Guilda Orren (BSW ’70), September 11, 2016. She earned her degree in Social Work and was employed as a Social Worker with Mountain States Health Alliance.

Doris Steppe Freeman (MA ’71), October 31, 2016. She earned her degree in Education. She retired from the State of Virginia Education System, where she worked for over 49 years.

E AS T T EN N ES S EE S TATE UNIVE RS IT Y

Robert A. Proffit (BS ’71) of Knoxville, May 15, 2016. He earned his degree in Political Science.

Jerry R. Whitt (BS ’71) of Rogersville, July 3, 2016. He earned his degree in Education. He had recently retired from the Hawkins County School System after 33 years of service.

Daniel W. Barry (MA ’72) of Mountain City, August 26, 2016. He earned his degree in Educational Administration. He was a former Principal at Little Milligan Elementary School until his retirement in 2001. He loved genealogy. He was a member of Taylorsville Masonic Lodge #243 and the Dewey Christian Church.

Gary D. Davis (BS ’72), August 11, 2016, in Bristol. He earned his degree in Business. He was an ASE-certified Master Technician and worked in the automotive industry for 41 years.

Larry E. Hardin (BS ’72) of Spartanburg, South Carolina, June 1, 2016. He earned his degree in Speech Pathology.

Ronald “Ronnie” Etter Hicks (BS ’72), December 22, 2016, in Kingsport. He retired from Tennessee Eastman. He loved doing things with his family and was a member of Sunrise Baptist Church.

Kent L. Jessee (BS ’72) of Abingdon, October 25, 2016. He earned his degree in Sociology. He was of the Episcopal faith and was a kind-hearted man who was very talented.

Ronnie A. Nease (BS ’72) of Knoxville, September 1, 2016. He earned his degree in Elementary Education. He was a life member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. He worked at Chevrolet for 30 years. He loved hunting, traveling, and spending time with his grandkids. He and his wife Deborah opened Briarwood Ranch in November 2006 where they shared their love of animals from many continents with travelers from around the world.

John Branton Roberts, Jr. (BS ’72), January 24, 2017, in Johnson City. He was a brother in the Sigma Chi fraternity during his time at ETSU. He worked for many years at East Tennessee Rent-All and volunteered at hospitals upon retirement.

He was a member of Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church and enjoyed traveling.

Mildred E. Carder (MA ’73) of Williamsburg, Virginia, November 25, 2015.

She taught second grade at Cherokee Elementary School for many years, retiring in 1986. She received a Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of her service in the Women’s Air Corps Pilots during World War II. She is survived by sons Patrick (BS ’68, MA ’74), Kinney (BS ’72), three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Betty S. Collins (BS ’73) of Kingsport, October 3, 2016. She earned her degree in Dental Hygiene. She was a World War II

veteran, having served in the U.S. Marine Corps from April 1944 to June 1946 and again from November 1952 until June 1954. She obtained the rank of Sergeant and worked as a recruiter. She loved the trips she and her husband Ralph took to see her sister and brother in Minnesota each year.

James W. Dobyns (MBA ’73) of Kingsport, October 21, 2016.

Freda Snyder (BS ’73, MA ’80) on November 2, 2016. She earned her degrees in English.

Tommy Barrett (BS ’74), September 17, 2016. He earned his degree in Geography.

He was a talented woodworker, a wellknown farmer, and a preacher of God’s word.

Warner Hagen Cleek Jr. (BS ’74, MA ’76), October 7, 2016. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years and was stationed in England where he was a specialist on the first operational jet bomber in the USAF. Later, he serviced Air Force One when Kennedy and Johnson were president. He taught Industrial Technology for the Harford County, Maryland, Board of Education for 19 years.

Margaret King (BS ’74), August 23, 2016. She earned her degree in Elementary Education. She taught for 24 years in the Bristol, Virginia, school system and served as President of the Bristol, Virginia Teachers Association.

Tony W. O’Dell (MA ’74) of Chuckey, November 14, 2016. He earned his degree in Secondary Education.

Dorothy Davis (MA ’75), January 6, 2016, in Crozet, Virginia. She was a teacher for the Charlottesville City Schools and later owned and operated Ivy Preschool. She enjoyed sewing, gardening, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Brenda Holcombe (BS ’75), May 18, 2016. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in English. She retired from teaching after 32 years at Jonesborough Elementary School.

Gary W. Owens, Sr. (BS ’75), October 10, 2016. He earned his degree in Speech and Hearing. After serving as a Captain in the U.S. Army for 10 years, he moved to Marion, Virginia, and worked as an Audiologist for Smyth County Community Hospital for 26 years.

Bennie Ray (ASN ’75), November 28, 2016. She retired from Mountain Home VA Medical Center. She was a member of the Tennessee Association of Drug Court Professionals, serving as an advocate and a member of the Greene County Recovery/ Drug Court.

Richard G. “Buddy” Bennett (MA ’76), July 15, 2016. He earned his degree in Physical Education. He coached football at Waycross High School from 1962-63, Georgia Tech from 1963-64 under Coach Bobby Dodd, the University of South

Carolina from 1964-65, and Screven County High School from 1965-66. The pinnacle of his coaching career was at ETSU from 1966-70 where his defense was nicknamed “Bennett’s Bandits.” He retired from Altamaha Technical College, now known as Coastal Pines Community College. He was inducted into the Wayne County Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. After retirement, he founded Buddy’s Puddy, a disinfecting and pest control service and traveled the state of Georgia treating schools and lunchrooms.

Charles E. Jenkins, Jr. (BS ’76), August 12, 2016. He earned his degree in Journalism with a minor in Speech. He was a proud member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity and a reporter for the school newspaper, The East Tennessean. He had a 29-year career with Gannett.

Mary Reynolds (ADH ’76), October 6, 2016. She worked as a dental hygienist for over 23 years.

Beverly Schroeder Allison (MA ’77), August 21, 2016. She earned her degree in Library Science. She was an outstanding librarian and teacher of literature. Her many accomplishments led her fellow teachers to select her as the 1986 recipient of the Greeneville City School System’s Teacher of the Year Award. She retired from Tusculum View in 2000.

John Colley (BS ’77), March 3, 2016, in Kingsport. He earned his degree in Criminal Justice. He went on to graduate from the FBI Academy. He held many titles, such as Criminal Investigator, President of Tennessee and Mississippi’s Police Officer associations, and President of the Appalachian Crime Clinic.

Robert Renn Webb (BS ’77), September 19, 2016, in Johnson City. He was a member of the ETSU tennis team. After college, he was an employee of Johnson City Parks and Recreation and State Farm Insurance.

Trigg C. McNew II (BS ’78), January 28, 2017, in Bristol, Tennessee. He was a member of the U.S. Navy Reserves, working his way to Lieutenant before being discharged in 1982. He also retired as a Lieutenant from the Bristol, Tennessee Police Department in 2000. He worked as a Security Guard for Bristol Regional Medical Center from 2004-09.

Midge Lucille Peake Ervin (BS ’78), May 21, 2016. She earned her degree in Science. She lived in Unicoi County her entire life and retired from teaching after 30 years of dedication to the Unicoi County school system.

Dr. William A. Bell (EDD ’79) in Middlesboro, Kentucky, May 18, 2016.

His first job as Principal was at Harlan Elementary School in Kentucky. In 1980, he and his wife Toni moved to Pike County where he was named Assistant Principal at Pike County High School, and then Principal of Pike Elementary School in

Dr. C. David Hensley (BS ’79, MD ’83) of Mount Carmel, November 14, 2016.

His bachelor’s degree was in Biology.

Betty J. Hyder (BS ’79) of Piney Flats, October 9, 2016. She earned her degree in Elementary Education. She retired as a schoolteacher for Sullivan County. She was a member of Edgefield United Methodist Church. She loved Jonesborough Storytelling, quilting, crocheting, and sewing. Her grandchildren were the light of her life.

Thomas Testerman (BS ’79), October 18, 2016. He earned his degree in Political Science.

Ron Triplett (BBA ’79) of Clintwood, Virginia, September 6, 2016. He was employed by the Clintwood Lumber Company for six years and the Dickenson County Treasurer’s Office for 35, serving as an Office Assistant, Accountant, Deputy Treasurer, and Treasurer.

Charlotte Stout (ASN ’82) from Jonesborough, August 15, 2016. She retired from Mountain States Health Alliance after serving in the ER for 42 years.

Kevin Wine (BBA ’82), March 10, 2016. He was employed by GENCO as a Continuous Improvement Trainer.

James Thomas (BS ’83), October 11, 2016. He earned his degree in Psychology. He worked at RGIS as an Inventory Auditor, at Siemens as an Electronic Board Assembler, and at Johnson City Medical Center as a PBX operator.

David Kinser (BSW ’84) of Greeneville, October 31, 2016. He earned his degree in Social Work.

Karen Bassett (BS ’85, BSN ’95), June 4, 2016. She earned her degrees in Political Science and Nursing.

1980s

Jane B. Eddy (BBA ’85), August 10, 2016. She worked as Office Manager for Eddy & Eddy CPAs. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, where she was active in numerous committees including United Emmaus.

Rodney C. Balch (BS ’80), December 28, 2016, in Johnson City. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.

He was employed by Philip Morris USA for 28 years. He was a member of Cherokee United Methodist Church and is survived by his wife and many other family members.

Duncan L. Street (BBA ’85) of Johnson City, September 13, 2016. He advanced through the hierarchy of the Carter County Bank to become President. The company has now established the Duncan L. Street Scholarship Endowment for full-time ETSU students who graduated from Cloudland High School.

Judy Hovatter (ASN ’80) from Jonesborough, August 29, 2016. She worked in nursing for several years and retired from that field.

John C. Fogarty, Jr. (BSW ’86) of Bristol, Virginia, June 21, 2016. He earned his degree in Social Work.

Dr. Timothy “Tim” L. King (BS ’80) of Martinsburg, West Virginia, September 30, 2016. He earned his degree in Biology. He was an internationally recognized expert in the field of conservation genetics and genomics, using molecular techniques to understand the evolutionary basis of genetic variation and adaptation. His research contributions provided the basis for identifying unique species and populations and have guided state and federal conservation programs for threatened and endangered species.

Dwight Edwards (BBA ’82) of Johnson City, October 17, 2016. He loved sports and excelled in softball and basketball.

He worked as an Accountant for H.T. Hackney for 26 years.

Stuart M. Jewell (BS ’82) of Herndon, Virginia, July 7, 2016. He had a successful career in software engineering, most

Katherine Hannabass (MA ’87), November 12, 2016. She earned her degree in English.

Catherine Holt (BS ’87), August 7, 2016. She earned her degree in Elementary Education. She worked many years for Rogersville City Schools. During her time at ETSU, she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority.

Leslie Gilliam (MA ’88), December 9, 2016, in Keswick, Virginia. She was a compassionate and caring individual who enjoyed serving her friends, family, and community. She started the first Relay for Life in Abingdon in 1996. Later, she became engaged in her Charlottesville, Virginia, community by supporting the United Methodist Church, the UVA Cancer Center, and the Paramount Theater. She is survived by many loving friends and family members.

Deborah Hogg (BSN ’88), October 17,

2016. She taught at Hazard Community College in Kentucky for 23 years. She ended her career in 2013 with Mountain Instant Care, which she founded in 2010.

She served on several advisory boards during her lifetime including Hospice of the Bluegrass, Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation, The Letcher County Tourism Committee, and the Esta Craft Conway Center for Domestic Violence.

Upon completion of the Build, Heal, and Thrive addition to Whitesburg ARH Hospital, a labor and delivery room was named in her honor.

Jane Blankenship Brown (MA ’89) of Wilmington, North Carolina, June 2, 2016. She was a lifelong advocate for the elimination of poverty and for criminal justice reform. She completed a 42-year career with the State of Virginia where she led multiple programs. She also served on many boards and volunteer committees in North Carolina. She is survived by her daughters and grandchildren and an extended family of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Captain Ted Danzer (BS ’89), October 25, 2016. He earned his degree in History and was a member of ROTC. Richard “Rick” Ridings (BS ’89), January 29, 2017, in Kingsport. He was employed with Jefferson Sales in Kingsport, an active member of First Broad Street United Methodist Church, and a Boy Scout leader in Troop 51.

1990s Amy B. Grimes (BS ’90) of Loudon, September 8, 2016. She earned her degree in Education. She went on to enjoy a 26-year career with the Loudon County School System, teaching primarily second-graders and more recently kindergarten. She was a longtime member of Reed Springs Baptist Church. She was a vibrant and loving wife, mother, sister, friend, and educator.

Steven Hale (BBA ’91), July 27, 2016.

John R. Newell (BBA ’91) of Bluff City, Tennessee, May 22, 2016.

Robert Duane French (BBA ’92), March 11, 2016. He was employed by the Virginia Tech Department of Athletics as a Financial Service Specialist.

Dr. James D. Seber (MD ’92) of Wartburg, Tennessee, May 11, 2016.

James Blankenbeckler (BFA ’93), September 18, 2016.

Jonathan “Greg” Carrier (MBA ’93) of Bristol, Tennessee, November 19, 2016. He worked for over 25 years in the pharmaceutical industry, most recently with Pfizer. He was also a member of Elizabeth Chapel United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday school for 20 years. In recent years, he took joy in being a barbecue pitmaster and shar-

ing his creations with friends and family.

Julie A. Ferguson (BBA ’94) of Johnson City, December 2, 2016. She is fondly remembered for working at Skoby’s and later, Sun Trust Bank. She attended Grace Fellowship Church. She was a faithful friend and daughter, and she will be greatly missed.

George Thomas Morton, III (BA ’94), October 24, 2016. He earned his degree in Political Science. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1988-92. During his service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Air Force Overseas Service Long Tour Ribbon, the Air Force Training Ribbon, and the Air Force Good Conduct Medal. He worked at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.

Janet Rodifer (AAS ’95) on August 16, 2016. She earned her degree in Nursing and was a Registered Nurse for 25 years.

Maude E. Powers (MA ’97) of Weber City, Virginia, May 20, 2016. She earned her degree in Counseling.

Judith A. Barrett (BGS ’99) of Kingsport, May 12, 2016.

2000s Stacy Caruthers (MPT ’02), August 17, 2016, in Johnson City. An Occupational, Physical, and Certified Hand Therapist at Johnson City Medical Center, she was an inspiration to her co-workers and patients. Her charismatic personality and love of people influenced her to dance and sing at various places, including Six Flags, Opryland, Greece, and Romania.

She is survived by her parents, her sister and brother-in-law, and many family and friends.

Lynn C. Watts (BS ’03) of Gray, August 30, 2016. She earned her degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. She was a loving mother and grandmother who loved flowers and gardening. She also enjoyed decorating and celebrating holidays.

Teresa “Tess” Carlson (MA ’04), November 5, 2016, in Nashville. She was talented and graceful, a songwriter, model, and lover of cowboy poetry. She earned her degree in Storytelling.

Cathy Johnson (BSW ’04) of Gray, October 14, 2016. She earned her degree in Social Work.

Marshall D. Stables (BS ’05) of Piney Flats, September 7, 2016. He served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. After his military service, he worked as a Forester with the USDA Forest Service. Following his retirement, he earned his degree in Cardiopulmonary Science. He then worked as a Respiratory Therapist for 10 years.

Dr. Nicole Yoder (MD ’08), May 5, 2015. She used her medical degree to serve around the world multiple times with Medical Ministries International.

She was always reaching out to others.

Her family, friends, and church were important to her.

2010s LeeAnn S. King (BSW ’11) of Kingsport, November 13, 2016. She earned her degree in Social Work. She loved to bake and often used her talents decorating cakes for special occasions. She was a generous individual who loved to travel and who was extremely passionate about her family and friends and life in general. She was a blessing to everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her, and she will be greatly missed.

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Pamela Collins (BS ’79) of Rogersville, September 11, 2016. She earned her degree in Public Health.

recently as a Software Test Engineer for IBM. He was active in the local music scene, playing under the name of Third and Monroe with Susan Villella and serving on the music committee for the Herndon Festival. He played regularly at open mic nights at Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern and The Old Brogue. His passion was live music, and he was a great fan and friend of many area musicians.

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Concord. After completion of a new school in Zebulon, he became Director of Elementary Education until he retired in 2004. After retirement, he became the Transportation Director for the Lamar County School System and worked there for three years.

Linda DeeLaine Odum Gibson (MA ’12), July 21, 2016. She joined ETSU in 2001 as Director of Disability Services and ADA Coordinator, working to make the university’s campus a more affirming and accessible place for students and all individuals with disabilities. She earned her degree in History.

Lauren Fritts (BBA ’14), October 8, 2016. She was the Member and Customer Service Representative at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

Lauren A. Buettel (BS ’15) of Johnson City, June 29, 2016. She earned her degree in Clinical Psychology and was planning to go to graduate school to pursue her master’s. She is survived by her parents, siblings, friends, and extended family.

Justin Cole Roberts (BS ’15) of Gray, June 8, 2016. He earned his degree in Physical Education. While at ETSU, he had an internship in the Center of Excellence in Sport Science and Coach Education where he trained Olympic athletes. He especially enjoyed the outdoors and activities such as hiking and fitness training.

FACULTY AND STAFF OBITUARIES Hoyt R. Bragg of Johnson City, May 6, 2016. He worked at the ETSU post office for 10 years until his retirement in 1995. His coworkers and friends say he took great pride in his years of service and was always willing to help anyone out. After retirement, he served as a volunteer with the Johnson City Medical Center for a number of years. He was a faithful member of the Elizabethton Church of Christ.

William B. Hansen, Jr. (BS ’06), August 20, 2016. He earned his degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.

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Dr. Danny A. “Dan” Brown of Jonesborough, October 4, 2016. He joined the faculty of the Department of Communication at ETSU in 1984. In 1989, he was appointed Associate Dean of Student Affairs in the College of Arts and Sciences.

He was still serving as Associate Dean and Professor in the Department of Media and Communication, and he also served as Graduate Coordinator of the M.A. in the Professional Communication program.

He was a specialist in mass communications, focusing his intellectual energies on popular culture, sports, and television.

He authored or co-authored 18 book chapters, with seven articles in refereed journals. He will be fondly remembered by the thousands of students he advised during his 32-year tenure at ETSU, shepherding them through the often complicated advisement process.

Alabama and New York. She also served for several years as Registrar at Livingston State College (now the University of West Alabama). During her time as ETSU First Lady, she was a state leader in supporting services for the developmentally disabled.

After Dr. Culp’s retirement in 1977, she became a successful real estate agent, a career she pursued into her 80s. Her memberships included the DAR, the UDC, Pen Women, Delta Kappa Gamma, the Johnson City Monday Club, the Watauga Art League, and the Blue Ridge Quilters Guild, among others. For 45 years, she was an ardent supporter of ETSU. In appreciation of her many endeavors on behalf of the university, the auditorium in the D.P. Culp University Center and the street in front of University School were named in her honor.

Dr. Robert Donaldson, November 28, 2016. After high school graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he was a Commander. He served his medical internship from 1968-70 at Gorgus Hospital in Panama and completed his GYN Oncology Fellowship with City of Hope Hospital at UCLA in 1978. He was a dedicated physician in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee, having practiced OBGYN and GYN Oncology in Kingsport for 20 years before retiring in 2000. He was an ETSU staff member.

Dorothy B. Carpenter (BS ’54) of Johnson City, September 16, 2016. She earned her degree in Business and began her career in education as a Teacher/Librarian at Washington College Academy. After earning her master’s degree at Vanderbilt University, she became the Librarian at Lees-McRae College. She later went on to be the Librarian at King College. She taught at ETSU for 19 years as an Associate Professor before her retirement.

Mariel Cathey, June 28, 2016. She worked for Eastern Airlines following graduation from college. She then was a Testing Proctor at ETSU, and she also spent many years on press row with her husband John, who was Sports Information Director at ETSU for 25 years.

Martha Culp, former First Lady to the late University President Dr. D.P. Culp, May 6, 2016. Most of her professional career was spent teaching elementary school in

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Joan Cecilla Dressel, September 2, 2016. In 1966 she was hired as Assistant Dean of Women at ETSU and went on to hold various other positions including Director of Housing, Assistant Director of Career Development, and faculty member in Developmental Studies. She retired from ETSU in 1992. ETSU honored her in 2001 by designating the new study room and resource center as the Joan C. Dressel Room. She was named an Honorary Alumna of ETSU in 2004 and was an active member of the ETSU Retirees Association.

Dr. William J. “Bill” Fisher of Johnson City, June 3, 2016. He was Professor of Business Management at ETSU and taught there from 1962 until his retirement in 1992. After retiring, he was very active with the ETSU Retirees Association, serving in many offices including President in 2004. He was also the longtime Chair of the Liaison Committee representing the ETSU group across the state and helped

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organize the Tennessee Higher Education Retirees Association.

Baptist Student Union Director at the University of Louisville until taking a position as BSU Director at ETSU, where he served until retirement in 1993.

Virgie I. Frisco of Johnson City, June 22, 2016. She served as a Secretary for the ETSU Division of Student Affairs from 1966 until her retirement in 1994.

Linda Gibson, July 21, 2016. She served as Director of Disability Services and ADA Coordinator at ETSU. She tirelessly worked to make the campus a more affirming and accessible place. She is survived by her husband, three children, nine grandchildren, several great grandchildren, two sisters, and one brother.

Robert LaPella, April 13, 2017. He came to East Tennessee State in 1962 and retired as Professor of Music 35 years later. He mentored countless students in the art of singing. He and his wife Jane founded the Johnson City Civic Chorale.

Dr. Anne K. LeCroy of Kingsport, May 6, 2016. She taught for one year at the ETSU Training School before joining the Department of English faculty in 1960 as Assistant Professor. She was highly regarded for her work in a number of areas including mythology, world literature, linguistics, and the works of T.S. Eliot. Following her retirement from ETSU in 2000, she became an Ordained Deacon and was an active Chaplain at Johnson City Medical Center in addition to her volunteer work. She also was a consultant for English and Latin hymn translation for the Episcopal Church.

Michael T. Montgomery of Elizabethton, July 18, 2016. He had worked for ETSU Facilities Management for several years.

Dr. Willene Paxton, July 23, 2016. She came to ETSU in 1963 as the university’s last Dean of Women. After leaving to earn her doctoral degree in Education at Indiana University, she returned to establish the ETSU Counseling Center, which she directed until her retirement in 1993. She continued to serve the university as an officer of the ETSU Retirees Association and a member of the ETSU Centennial Steering Committee. A member of the ETSU Distinguished President’s Trust, she developed and funded a lectureship on civic engagement.

Dr. Ellen M. Rasch, July 31, 2016. She earned her Ph.D. in Botany at the University of Chicago and was an early member of both the Histochemical Society and the American Society for Cell Biology. She joined the faculty of the ETSU College of Medicine in 1978 as a Professor in the Department of Biophysics. In 1989, she was presented with the ETSU Distinguished Faculty Award. Her work was significant in understanding chromosome structure and behavior during meiosis, and scientists from all over the world came to her laboratory in Johnson City to be mentored.

Glenn Smith, July 28, 2016, in Johnson City. He was retired from ETSU, after having worked in procurement for the Library.

Dr. Clarence L. Spannuth, July 5, 2016.

He was a practicing Nephrologist with East Tennessee Medical Associates for over 30 years before transferring to the VA, where he shared his gift of medicine and enthusiasm for helping others with his students. He received the Faculty of the Year Award from ETSU Internal Medicine residents in 2010-11 and was recognized as Outstanding Professor and Practitioner of the Art of Medicine by the Quillen College of Medicine.

Barbara Sucher, July 17, 2016, in Arlington, Virginia. She began working at ETSU in 2001 and retired in 2014 as Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Education for the Quillen College of Medicine. She enjoyed exploring the mountains and cooking.

Dr. Terrence Tollefson, September 23, 2016. He was a Professor in the Educational Leadership Department at ETSU for 18 years.

Fred S. Witty, Jr., August 12, 2016. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany and Italy during World War II. He worked as

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