Congressman John Lewis

1940 -2020

Selecting Institution: American Baptist College

Education:

American Baptist College - B.A., Theology - Class of 1961
Fisk University - B.A., Religion and Philosophy - Class of 1967

• Civil Rights Leader
• Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient
• 17 term United States CongressmAN

Congressman John Lewis embodied the values and mission of American Baptist College, a historically black college, with a liberal arts emphasis, to educate, graduate, and prepare diverse students for Christian leadership, service, and social justice in the world. His life's work speaks to these values.

In 1964, John Lewis coordinated the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) efforts to organize voter registration drives and community action programs during the Mississippi Freedom Summer. The following year, Lewis helped spearhead one of the most seminal moments of the Civil Rights Movement and led over 600 peaceful protesters across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama on March 7, 1965. They intended to march from Selma to Montgomery to demonstrate the need for voting rights in the state. The marchers were attacked by Alabama state troopers in a brutal confrontation that became known as "Bloody Sunday." News broadcasts and photographs revealing the senseless cruelty of the segregated South helped hasten the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Congressman Lewis' contributions to the Civil Rights Movement of the 60's helped to change the world. Under his leadership as Director of the Voter Education Project (VEP), the VEP transformed the nation's political climate by adding nearly four million minorities to the voter rolls.

He was elected to Congress in November 1986 and served as U.S. Representative of Georgia's Fifth Congressional District until his death where he continued to fight for equality for all people, often referred to by his colleagues as the ‘Conscious of Congress.’ President Barack Obama honored Congressman Lewis with the Presidential Medal of Honor for his incredible contributions in 2011.

Despite more than 40 arrests, physical attacks, and serious injuries, John Lewis remained a devoted advocate of the philosophy of nonviolence. One of his last messages on Twitter encouraged future generations to carry on his legacy. "I know your pain, your rage, your sense of despair, and hopelessness. Justice has, indeed, been denied for far too long. Rioting, looting, and burning is not the way. Organize. Demonstrate. Sit-in. Stand-up. Vote. Be constructive, not destructive."

Rebekah Lemley

1983-2019

Selecting Institution: Aquinas College

Education:

Aquinas College - A.S., Nursing - 2005

• Dedicated Volunteer
• Compassionate Nurse
• Follower of Christ

The legacy of Rebekah Lemley, a 2005 graduate of the Aquinas College Associate of Science in Nursing program, makes evident how a life well lived embraces the Dominican imperative of Aquinas College to preach the Gospel, serve others, and engage culture in truth and charity. As a nurse, she brought healing to others through her faith, hope and charity, which were evident in all that she did.

For Rebekah, faith was not simply going to church on Sunday; rather, it was something that she lived every day and every moment of her life. Her Christian faith was the very foundation of her life and Rebekah sought to share that with others by teaching Sunday school for 15 years and serving on the church board. With this foundation, Rebekah’s life was structured by God, family, and community, preaching the Gospel by her very life. She did not need any words. It may also be said that she worked in such a way that the community would become part of her family.

Volunteering was Rebekah’s faith in action. Her life was characterized by service to others. She was a 4-H volunteer leader for 17 years, volunteer at the Robertson County Fair for 21 years, chaperone for several educational programs and trips; President of the Cross Plains Family and Consumer Education (FCE) club and Secretary of the county-wide Family and Consumer Education clubs.

Rebekah was a Registered Nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and served as the Burn Program Manager. In this role she improved patient care by managing data and by providing educational outreach and professional development to hospital and prehospital personnel in Tennessee and Kentucky. Over the course of her career, Rebekah educated thousands of utility and health care workers about the care and effects of burns, pediatric burn considerations, and safety prevention techniques.

While there are many examples of how Rebekah engaged culture in truth and charity, her participation with Camp Hope is perhaps the work for which she was most passionate. Camp Hope is a nonprofit organization that offers a time away for children between the ages of 6 and 16 who have suffered burn injuries. The programs of Camp Hope develop life skills, encourage healthy living and promote a positive self-image while participants enjoy some of their favorite activities with other children experiencing similar experiences and challenges. Recognizing the impact of Camp Hope and in order to make it accessible to all burn victims, Rebekah helped to create community partnerships which fully funded each camp experience so that children could attend free of charge. Through the community partnerships not only were the children provided access to a supportive program, but other volunteers were encouraged to participate and become a part of this good work to make Camp Hope more sustainable.

Rebekah passed away unexpectedly on May 5, 2019, from a pulmonary embolism. Her absence leaves a substantial hole in the Nashville medical community and in the organizations privileged by her support and participation. Rebekah served as an exemplary ambassador of the mission of Aquinas College through preaching the Gospel and serving others in truth and charity. Rebekah’s success in engaging culture with this mission, and encouraging others to do the same, designates her as a distinguished alumnae of Aquinas College.

Anita Vaughn

Selecting Institution: Baptist Health Sciences University

Education:

Baptist Health Sciences University- B.S, Nursing - 1973
University of Memphis – B.A. Health Sociology; M.P.A.

• Dedicated Nurse for 43 Years
• Former CEO of Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women
• Philanthropist

Anita Vaughn’s continued dedication, support, and vast knowledge of the healthcare profession embodies the values and supports the mission of the Baptist Health Sciences University. 

The lifelong Memphian is a registered nurse who served Baptist Memorial Health Care for over 40 years. Vaughn has worked in most areas of the Baptist System from bedside patient care to administrator and CEO of Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women.

A true champion for women’s health, Anita has worked diligently to make quality health care more accessible and convenient for women and their families.

In 1998, she accepted the CEO position and led the planning and development team for Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women. The hospital opened in May of 2001 making it the first of its kind in Memphis and one of only about 15 in the country. She and her team lifted women’s healthcare in Memphis to a national level.

She also led the efforts in opening the Spence and Becky Wilson Baptist Children’s Hospital in 2015. The opening of the Children’s hospital added to her many career achievements before retiring in 2016 following a 43-year career.

In addition to her work in health care, Anita has long term involvement with multiple organizations within the Memphis community such as the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis and the American Heart Association. Recognized for her many outstanding contributions to the community, Anita has received numerous awards throughout the years. Two most recently awarded to her include the Inaugural 40th Change Makers 2019 (Leadership Memphis) and The Legends Award 2018 (Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis).

Anita has been an inspiring corporate leader and has the passion for people especially women and children; she continues to make a real difference in their lives.

R. Milton Johnson

Selecting Institution: Belmont University

Education:

Belmont University - B.A. Accounting - Class of 1979 

• Former Chairman and CEO of HCA Healthcare
• Philanthropist
• Nashville Native

There are few people who embody Belmont's core values - Integrity, Inquiry, Collaboration, Service and Humility - more directly than Mr. R. Milton Johnson.

The former chairman and CEO of HCA Healthcare started in humble beginnings and worked his way to the top of the top of ladder at one of the nation’s largest healthcare systems in the country.

Johnson attended Nashville’s Stratford High School, working multiple jobs to help his single mom support their family and forgoing many of the typical extracurricular activities most teenagers enjoy. It was a habit he continued during his tenure at Nashville State, balancing the weight of a full-time job with the stresses of completing college courses, believing education could someday catapult him into a different situation.
Milton’s hard work paid off when he was offered an academic scholarship to what was then Belmont College, paving the way to an accounting degree and rapid career advancement in Nashville’s healthcare industry. A 37-year veteran of HCA, Johnson served in various financial and senior management positions for the company.
In his role, Johnson led a company that now includes 184 hospitals and 2,000 sites of care located in 21 states and the United Kingdom.

He has remained a dedicated leader and supporter of the University's mission since his graduation. He currently serves as a member of the Executive Committee of Belmont's Board of Trust, chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, and previously served as a member of the Development Committee.

He and his wife Denice are active in the lives of Belmont students. He created the R. Milton and Denice Johnson Bridges to Belmont Endowed Scholarship, the Johnsons spend substantial time each year with the more than 120 students whose experience at Belmont is made possible by their gift. Milton and Denice offer inspiration, support and guidance to these dedicated students.

Altha Stewart

Selecting Institution: Christian Brothers University

Education:

Christian Brothers University - B.S., Biology -Class of 1973,
Temple University Medical School - M.D.
Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital - Chief Resident - 1981-1982 

• First African American President of the American Psychiatric Association
• Psychiatrist, Professor, & Pioneer in Minority Mental Healthcare
• Children Focused Non-Profit Founder

Altha Stewart, MD is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in public sector and minority issues in mental health care and in the effects of trauma and violence on children. Her dedication to public medicine is clear in her efforts to bring together education, health, family, and legal agencies to create a community-wide resource for families with children impacted by violence. In her work, she aims to find creative solutions to bring hope to young people, their families, and our entire community. She is the founder and director of the Center for Health in Justice Involved Youth, which aims to reduce the number of young people in the juvenile justice system by addressing the trauma and exposure to violence that contribute to the mental health and behavioral issues that land them there.

Dr. Stewart grew up in South Memphis and was among the first class of women admitted to what is now Christian Brothers University. As a Lasallian school, Christian Brothers University engages in a concerted effort to respect the dignity of all persons and to respond to their needs through programs of community service, advocacy, and social justice. We call upon our students to “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve.” Dr. Stewart has accepted this call to service not only as her professional focus, but as her personal passion.

Dr. Stewart is an associate professor of Psychiatry and chief of Social and Community Psychiatry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She served as president of the American Psychiatric Association from 2018 to 2019, and was the first African American elected to lead the 38,000-member organization since its start in 1844. She has also served as president of the Association of Women Psychiatrists and the Black Psychiatrists of America. Dr. Stewart served as executive director of the Just Care Family Network, a federally funded program in Memphis for children with serious emotional disorders and their families. Additionally, she has served as director of Systems of Care for the Shelby County Office of the Public Defender and executive director of the National Leadership Council on African-American Behavioral Health.

Cordell Hull

1871-1955

Selecting Institution: Cumberland University 

Education:

Cumberland University, Law, Class of 1891

• U.S. Representative, Senator, & Secretary of State
• Nobel Peace Prize Recipient
• ”The Father of the United Nations”

Cordell Hull’s contributions to the world exemplify the values and mission of Cumberland University: to not simply to have a successful career, but to lead an impactful life.

Cordell Hull served in the military, as a judge, Tennessee State representative, U.S. representative, senator, Secretary of State, championed the creation of the United Nations, and was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945.

Born in a long cabin in Pickett County, Tennessee, he was one of five sons, and the only one that sought out an education. He received his elementary education in a one-room school that his father built. After attending Cumberland University and beginning his law practice, he felt called to serve his community. That calling would lead him to an incredibly successful and productive career that we still feel the impact of today.

While Hull was serving as Tennessee’s senator, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed him as the Secretary of State on March 4, 1933. He was sixty-two years old. He served as the nation’s chief diplomat for almost twelve years, the longest tenure of a Secretary of State in American history.

During his time as Secretary of State, in the middle of World War II, he prepared the blueprint for an international organization dedicated to the maintenance of peace that ultimately became the United Nations. In 1945, the Nobel Committee awarded the Peace Prize to Hull, who is now known as the "father of the United Nations.”

David Levering Lewis

Selecting Institution: Fisk University 

Education:

Fisk University - B.A., History and Philosophy - Class of 1956
Columbia University -  M.A., U.S. History -1959
London School of Economics - Ph.D., Modern European History - 1962 

• Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner
• Historian, biographer, and author of 8 books
• Acclaimed Professor of History at New York University

David Levering Lewis exemplifies Fisk University graduates who have immersed themselves in their professions and set high standards with their accomplishments. He is a scholar that serves as a shining example of a product of strong liberal arts education that focuses on discovery and advancement of knowledge through research in the natural and social sciences, business and the humanities.

Lewis is a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner and is the author of a two-volume life-and-times of W.E.B. DuBois, W.E.B. Du Bois: Biography of a Race, 1868-1919 (1993), which won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography, the Bancroft Prize, and the Francis Parkman Prize; and W.E.B. Du Bois: The Fight for Equality and the American Century, 1919-1963 (2000), which also won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography. He is the first author to win two Pulitzer Prizes for biography for back-to-back volumes. Professor Lewis has received fellowships from the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (twice), the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the American Academy in Berlin. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and of the American Philosophical Society. He is a former trustee of the National Humanities Center, a former commissioner of the National Portrait Gallery, a former senator of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, and was president of the Society of American Historians, 2002-’03.

He is the author of eight books and editor of two more. Lewis concentrates on comparative history with special focus on twentieth-century United States social history and civil rights. His interests include nineteenth-century Africa, twentieth-century France, and Islamic Spain.

John & Rosemary Brown

Selecting Institution: Freed-Hardeman University

Education:

(John) Freed-Hardeman University, Associates of Science, Class of 1955
(John) Auburn University- B.S., Engineering - 1957

(Rosemary) Freed-Hardeman University, Associates of Science, Class of 1955
(Rosemary) Auburn University - B.S., Chemistry - 1957 

• Passionate education advocates & philanthropists

The motto of Freed-Hardeman University has long been “Teaching How to Live and How to Make a Living.” John and Rosemary Brown have embodied this motto throughout their lives.

The Browns have been incredibly successful in life but have never forgotten where they came from. Their extraordinary success in business and life has led them to give back to the people and organizations important to them and that impacted them along the way.

John Brown

Mr. Brown grew up on a farm in Paris, Tennessee and learned the value of hard work. He credits his education in helping him transform a small, family-owned business into one of the world’s premier medical equipment companies with annual revenue of more than $9 billion.

After being hired by Stryker Corporation in 1976, Mr. Brown charted an ambitious course. He wanted to take the company public, diversify its product line, and consistently achieve 20 percent net income growth each year. After filing for its initial public offering in 1979, the company’s performance kept pace with his vision. Stryker doubled its sales and tripled its profits within five years.

When Mr. Brown joined Stryker, the company had 400 employees and annual sales of $17 million. When he retired as chairman of the board in 2009, Stryker’s sales topped $6.7 billion and its workforce included more than 17,000 employees worldwide.

He gained notoriety as one of the top CEOs in America being recognized for his unprecedented success.

Mr. Brown became chairman emeritus in January 2010. Brown’s incredible success is chronicled in the best seller by Jim Collins, Great By Choice.

Rosemary Brown

Rosemary Kopel Brown spent 30 years teaching mathematics and advanced-placement calculus at a variety of schools in Kalamazoo, Michigan before retirement. She served on the original advisory committee of the Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center, a regional enrichment center serving both public and private school districts in the counties of Kalamazoo and St. Joseph in Michigan. Rosemary worked at the center from 1988-2000. She has served on many community boards. Kalamazoo College annually awards and endowed professorship named the Rosemary Kopel Brown Endowed Eminent Scholar Chair in Mathematics.

The Browns raised two very successful daughters and have always been heavily involved in church and regard their faith of the highest priority. John and Rosemary Brown have contributed extensively to the organizations for which they have worked, the communities where they have lived, and the educational institutions where they attended.

Their unmatched contributions to FHU impact every student on campus by providing state of the art facilities, new academic programs, multiple scholarships, funding professors chairs and more. This transformable couple has partnered with FHU for almost 40 years allowing the bar of excellence to be continually raised. Their willingness to let students into their lives to see their faith, character and business acumen deeply impacts students with once in a lifetime experiences.

Fred Craddock

1928-2015

Johnson University- B.A., Bible/Ministry, 1950
Phillips University, 1953
Vanderbilt University - Ph.D., New Testament, 1964 

• Named One of the Most Effective Preachers in the English-Speaking World
• Served as Pastor of Churches in 3 States
• Distinguished Professor

Johnson University's mission is to educate students for Christian ministries and other strategic vocations framed by the Great Commission in order to extend the kingdom of God among all nations. Although the University now offers dozens of degree programs that fulfill this mission, the school began as "The School of the Evangelists" and for many years existed to train young men for preaching and ministry. One of Johnson University’s most renowned and respected alumni is Fred B. Craddock.

Craddock was one of the most influential voices in homiletics over the last fifty years. A Baylor University research study, published by Newsweek, named Craddock as one of the twelve most effective preachers in the English-speaking world. His scholarly approach to the biblical text and his folksy storytelling ability combined to make Craddock an exceptional model of creative, effective communication.

Craddock served churches in Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Georgia, and taught at Johnson University, Phillips University, and Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He held the title of Bandy Distinguished Professor of Preaching and New Testament, Emeritus, at Candler, and the Minister Emeritus of Cherry Log Christian Church. He wrote extensively in the fields of preaching and New Testament and spoke at prestigious lectureships around the world.

Each year since 1995, Johnson University has held the Fred B. Craddock Lectures on Preaching on the campus.

Katherine Paterson

Selecting Institution: King University

Education:

King University- B.A.,English - Class of 1954, Honorary Doctorate of Letters, 2007 

• Two time winner of the Newbery Medal for Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved
• Author of more than 30 books
• Library of Congress pronounced her a Living Legend

After graduating from King University in 1954, Katherine Paterson began a lifetime of journeys and moves, and in each place she has served as an articulate and enthusiastic ambassador for her alma mater. Although she has never lived nearby, she has returned to campus repeatedly, whether as graduation speaker, honorary degree recipient, or reunion attendee. She has voiced her indebtedness to the university for her development as a writer, praising in particular Pat Winship, longtime professor of English.

Beyond expressing her appreciation for King in words,Katherine has modeled the institution’s values in her life and vocation. King seeks to produce graduates who have a “passion for serving God, the Church, and the world,” and Katherine has exemplified service in her many roles. Whether as a mother, a missionary, a teacher, sharing in the pastoral work of her late husband, or as an advocate for children’s literacy and libraries around the world, Katherine’s desire to serve others shows through. Humble, generous, and gifted, she models the “thoughtful, resourceful, and responsible citizen” that our mission statement describes. But nowhere does Katherine bear King’s standard better than in her writing. Katherine herself describes this best: “The challenge for those of us who care about our faith and about a hurting world is to tell stories which will carry the words of grace and hope in their bones and sinews and not wear them like fancy dress.” She has called generations of King alumni to serve God and others with similar care and passion.

Katherine Paterson’s work can perhaps best be summed up by the Library of Congress, which at its bicentennial in 2000 pronounced her a Living Legend. She is the author of more than 30 books, including novels for children and young people, picture books, Christmas stories, and non-fiction. She has twice won the Newbery Medal, for Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved; she has also twice won the National Book Award, for The Master Puppeteer and The Great Gilly Hopkins (also a Newbery Honor Book). Seven film or television adaptations of her stories have been made. A documentary about her life and work, Katherine Paterson: Written Together was released in 2020.

Thornton Meacham

1917-2009

Lane College, B.A.  - Class of 1939
Fordham University - J.D. - 1942 

• Trailblazer for African American lawyers
• First African American to graduate from Fordham University Law School
• Dedicated his life to helping aspiring jurists succeed

Attorney Thornton Meacham represents Lane College’s mission of transforming lives, liberating minds and souls, and celebrating excellence in Christ. Meacham combined academic excellence and service to mankind with a commitment to life-long learning.

Meacham attended public school in Jackson, Tennessee before enrolling and graduating from Lane College. He went on to become the first African American to graduate from Fordham University Law School in 1942.

His professional competencies led to unusual success in his field. Meacham was the first black attorney to join the legal staff of the office of Price Stabilization on Broadway in New York; first to argue a case before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; first African American to be featured on the cover of the New York Law Journal; first to try both criminal and civil cases in the Bronx and Queens County Courts; and the first to open a law practice in Harlem.

Meacham achieved several additional law-related feats in New York, and he is said to be largely responsible for the admission of Blacks to the New York Bar. During segregation, he tried and won cases in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and New Jersey. Among Attorney Meacham's many distinguished clients were jazz music legends: Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis; Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.; the NAACP; and legendary actress Dorothy Dandridge.

Meacham, along with some of Harlem’s elite class of attorneys, co-founded the Harlem Lawyers Association which later merged into the Metropolitan Black Bar Association. He was inducted into the National Black Association Hall of Fame which recognized lawyers who have practiced for over 40 years and have made significant contributions to the cause of justice.

Meacham led a life of unselfish service to others and became a knowledgeable citizen of the world. He dedicated his life to helping young aspiring jurists succeed. Meacham’s accomplishments brought honor to himself and continues to bring honor to Lane College.

Paul Conn

Selecting Institution: Lee University

Education:

Lee College - B.A. - Class of 1967
Emory University - M.A., Ph.D - 1971 

• Former Lee University President
• Authored or co-authored 20 books
• Longest-serving CEO of a college or university in Tennessee

Dr. Paul Conn epitomizes the mission and values of Lee University through his nearly fifty years of full-time service on campus.

After graduating from Lee College in 1967, Conn earned a Ph.D. at Emory University and returned to Lee as a psychology instructor in 1971. Within the next 15 years, Conn received the school's top award for "Excellence in Teaching,” served two post-doctoral appointments at Harvard University, chaired the Department of Behavioral Sciences, served as Vice President of Institutional Advancement, and authored or co-authored more than 20 books about various public, business, and ministry leaders. Four of these books reached the New York Times bestseller list, and three were adapted for television.

In 1986, Dr. Conn was appointed President of Lee University, a role he served for 34 years. At the point of his transition to Chancellor, Conn was the longest-serving university president in Tennessee, and his length of service is among the 70 longest tenures by a college president in U.S. history. During his tenure as President, he personally conferred 21,420 degrees to graduates of Lee’s myriad programs.

Dr. Conn’s presidency at Lee was characterized by revolutionary expansion alongside a determination to remain true to its original core values. He oversaw explosive growth in size, quality, reputation, and reach, with enrollment and physical campus size increasing fivefold, 30 building projects, a tenfold increase in operating budget, and status as one of Cleveland, Tennessee’s largest employers. He now serves as Chancellor of the university.

James Bishop

Selecting Institution: LeMoyne-Owen College

Education:

LeMoyne-Owen College - B.S., Natural Science- Class of 1958; Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Ph.D., Inorganic Chemistry - 1969 

• Dedicated Education Advocate
• Founder of a program to increase the number of underrepresented youth at The Ohio State University that continues today
• interim President of LeMoyne-Owen College

Dr. James J. Bishop’s lifelong commitment to education embodies LeMoyne-Owen College's mission of providing a transformative educational experience and leadership. Although a scientist by academic achievements, his professional career has reflected his commitment and understanding of the significant role education fulfills in helping society and individuals.
Bishop has manifested his commitment with the significant leadership positions he has held at several colleges and universities including serving as Interim President at LeMoyne-Owen College.

After completing his undergraduate work at LeMoyne-Owen College, with the highest honors and distinction, Bishop completed his Doctorate in Inorganic Chemistry at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1969. In 1977, he attended Harvard’s Institute of Educational Management.

He was the first Director of MIT’s Project Interphase, which began in 1969 as an intensive academic summer program for some entering African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and other under-represented freshmen. For several years, he was a member of MIT’s Task Force on Equal Educational Opportunity, which planned and coordinated many of the Institute’s academic affirmative action programs.

For two years, Dr. Bishop worked in the Massachusetts Governor’s Office as Secretary of Intergroup Relations. In this role he participated in the passage of the nation’s first state law against racial imbalance in public schools. This position developed from his activities in the Boston Congress of Racial Equality(CORE).

Dr. Bishop has worked in higher education most of his life. He is the former Vice Provost for University Life at the University of Pennsylvania, and also served as Dean of Students at Amherst College, Associate Dean for Student Affairs at MIT, and Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Atlanta University. Dr. Bishop served as Interim President of LeMoyne-Owen College for July and August 2002.

But perhaps one of his lasting legacies will be his impact on Ohio’s underserved youth. He was instrumental in founding an innovative program at The Ohio State University in 1988 to increase the number of Black, Hispanic and other underrepresented minority youth from low-income families who wanted to prepare to attend four year colleges and universities. The Young Scholars program continues to provide year-round academic, personal and skill development opportunities for thousands of Ohio students each year. He retired in July 2002 from The Ohio State University, where he had served in several positions including Special Assistant to the Provost.

Dr. Bishop continues to be very active with his undergraduate alma mater and in the community in numerous roles.

Clayton Hess

Selecting Institution: Lincoln Memorial University

Education:

Lincoln Memorial University - B.A., History and Education - Class of 1981
MEd-Counseling and Guidance - 1987
MEd-Curriculum and Instruction - 2006
Walden University - Ph.D., Counseling - 1998 

• President of Lincoln Memorial University
• Longest Tenured Staff Member

It is a great honor when an institution chooses one of its own as its president. Dr. Clayton Hess
came to Lincoln Memorial University from a small town in southwest Virginia, in the heart of the University’s service area. He worked in the Admissions Office as an undergraduate student, and was offered a full-time job as a recruiter following his graduation in 1981. Since that time, he has held several positions, obtained two additional LMU degrees, and devoted his life to the institution he now serves as president.

Dr. Hess lives the LMU mission statement everyday by striving to give students a foundation for a more productive life by upholding the principles of Abraham Lincoln's life: a dedication to individual liberty, responsibility, and improvement; a respect for citizenship; recognition of the intrinsic value of high moral and ethical standards; and a belief in a personal God.
Dr. Clayton Hess has one of the longest continuous tenures at Lincoln Memorial University (LMU). Because of his longevity, his knowledge of alumni and friends spans many decades, and these individuals place great trust in his leadership.

In addition to recruiting and retaining students, it was in the Office of Institutional Research, Effectiveness and Accreditation that Dr. Hess made his mark. Because of his vast working knowledge of Lincoln Memorial University, he was able to guide the University through the accreditation process in new program development. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) relies on his vast knowledge of accreditation principles and standards and calls on him often to serve on committees around the world. He currently serves as the Tennessee Representative to the Principles of Accreditation Review Committee, charged with reviewing and recommending changes to the SACSCOC accreditation. In 2018, he was one of five recipients of the SACSCOC Carol Luthman Meritorious Service Awards, named for a former staff member who served the Commission for more than 30 years and who was also staff liaison to the SACSCOC Board. The awards are presented to individuals whose volunteerism and commitment to the best principles of the academy and of accreditation personify the ideals of the Commission.

The Board of Trustees of Lincoln Memorial University has the utmost confidence and respect in Dr. E. Clayton Hess, and expect that he will continue to lead LMU for many years.

Michael Adams

Selecting Institution: Lipscomb University

Education:

Lipscomb University - B.A., Speech and History - Class of 1970
The Ohio State University - M.A. Communication Research Methodologies - 1971
The Ohio State University - Ph.D., Political Communications - 1973 

• Former President of the University of Georgia and Centre College
• Former Chancellor of Pepperdine University

Through his life’s work and faith, Dr. Michael F. Adams encapsulates the mission of Lipscomb University: to transform lives through education as it integrates Christian faith and practice with academic excellence. Dr. Adams has devoted his career to higher education and through his work, leadership, and character, he has helped shape the lives of countless students around the world.

Dr. Adams is a nationally recognized and award winning educator who, most notably, served as the president of the University of Georgia from 1997 to 2013. Under his leadership, UGA was recognized as one of the nation’s top 20 public research universities for eight out of 10 years by U.S. News & World Report. During his tenure, the university also attained its highest rankings ever, became the most selective in its history, and grew from an estimated 29,000 students to almost 35,000 students today. Upon his retirement from UGA, Dr. Adams held the title of president emeritus and regents’ professor until August 2015.

Prior to his term at the University of Georgia, from 1989 to 1997, Dr. Adams served as president of Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, one of America’s top 40 liberal arts colleges. In addition to his leadership at Centre College and the University of Georgia, Dr. Adams has also served in Christian higher education. From 1982 to 1989, Dr. Adams served as vice president for university affairs at Pepperdine University. He returned to Pepperdine in August 2015 where he served as chancellor until July 31, 2018. In that role, he focused on cultivating existing relationships and developing new partnerships to extend Pepperdine’s reach throughout Southern California and around the globe.

Prior to his work in higher education, he served as chief of staff for former U.S. Senator Howard Baker for five years. After a run for Congress in 1980, Dr. Adams went to work as deputy commissioner of economic and community development for former Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander. In addition, Dr. Adams is a man of faith, is known for his integrity and character, and has been a leader in the church.

Throughout his career, Dr. Adams has worked tirelessly for the betterment of humanity. A widely respected figure in higher education, Dr. Adams has been elected by his peers to lead a number of national organizations, including the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, the American Council on Education (ACE), and the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Executive Committee. He has received more than 50 awards in higher education, including the Knight Foundation Award for Presidential Leadership, the Pioneer Award for Leadership in Civil Rights, and the James T. Rogers Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. He is also the recipient of the Governor’s Award in the Humanities from the Georgia Endowment for the Humanities.

In 2011, Dr. Adams was named Lipscomb University’s Alumnus of the Year. He is also a member of the Lipscomb University Board of Trustees.

William Henderson Franklin

1852-1935

Selecting Institution: Maryville College

Education:

Maryville College - B.A., Oration and Writing - Class of 1880
Honorary Master of Arts in 1891; Honorary Doctorate - 1901
Lane Theological Seminary - Divinity - 1883

• The first African American graduate of Maryville College
• Writer, educator, and preacher
• Founder of Swift Memorial College

For over 200 years, Maryville College has been guided by the motto of our founder, the Rev. Isaac Anderson: “Do good on the largest possible scale.” Few better personify Maryville College’s statement of purpose than William Henderson Franklin. He dedicated his life to educating African-American children who otherwise had no access to education.

Franklin was the first African-American to graduate from Maryville College and was believed to be one of the top students in the 1880 class, distinguishing himself in writing and oration. Following graduation, the Knoxville native set out for Lane Theological Seminary. Completing a divinity degree in 1883, he returned to Tennessee and was ordained by the Union Presbytery, Synod of Tennessee. He began his ministry in Rogersville, Tennessee, establishing a Presbyterian church and founding a school for African-American youth. According to an early 20th-century book Among Colored People, Franklin began the school “under the most unfavorable circumstances.”

For the first 10 years of the school’s existence, Franklin operated Swift Memorial Institute out of a church building. Named for the Rev. Elijah E. Swift, president of the Board of Missions for Freedmen and pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Pennsylvania, the school offered a high-school curriculum. Swift developed a reputation for offering a quality Christian education, and spaces filled quickly. In 1893, a substantial brick building was erected with funds from the Freedmen’s Board, friends of Swift and church women in Pennsylvania and Illinois. While Franklin was principal and president of the institution (1883-1926), the school added other buildings to its campus and expanded its curriculum. Part of this growth can be attributed to Maryville College. Franklin served on the College’s Board of Directors from 1893 until 1901 and was awarded an honorary degree by the College just before the 1901 Murphy Law took effect. As a prominent alumnus and persuasive writer, he and other African-American graduates urged the College to challenge the Murphy Law in court. The College ultimately chose to comply with the rulings of the Tennessee Supreme Court, but in 1903, directors voted to transfer one-tenth of its endowment to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church “for the education of Negro youth.” For the next 50 years, this fund served the students of Swift. The gift of $25,000 in 1903 carried with it a prerequisite that the Freedmen’s Board erect a dormitory and that the institution be elevated to a four-year college. At the time of its closure in 1955, Swift was accredited as a junior college.

John M. Edwards III & Stace D. Dollar

Selecting Institution: Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia

Education:

(John) MTSA - Acute Surgical Pain Management Fellowship - Class of 2018
(John) MTSA - Master of Science - Class of 2002

(Stace) MTSA - Acute Surgical Pain Management Fellowship - Class of 2019
(Stace) MTSA - Master of Science - Class of 2003 

• Nurse Anesthetists Dedicated to Combating Opioid Abuse

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) Stace Dollar and John Edwards III represent the values and mission of Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia (MTSA) which exists to provide a Christian, Seventh-day Adventist learning environment that fosters the pursuit of truth, excellence in and access to graduate nurse anesthesia education, and a life of service. Their commitment to patient safety, education, and research reflects these values.

Dollar and Edwards have joined together in groundbreaking efforts to combat persistent opioid use among surgical patients. Their work has contributed to positive results by helping to reduce the number of patients who develop opioid-use disorders after surgical procedures.

Edwards and Dollar have integrated evidence-based principles of acute surgical pain management into their Acute Pain Service at Baptist Health Lexington in Kentucky, which allowed them to perform more than 5,000 nerve blocks annually, over half of which include the use of catheters to prolong the pain management beyond discharge from the hospital. These pain management strategies for patients – both in the operating room and at home – result in fewer opioid medications being used, reducing the chances that patients will become addicted.

In addition, the pair have been instrumental in a project at Baptist Health Lexington to provide each surgical patient discharged from the facility with an educational brochure about the safe use of opioids and an at-home disposal kit to safely dispose of any unused opioids. The program was implemented collaboratively with not only health care providers and hospital administrators but the business community to help prevent, protect and educate others about the dangers of new persistent opioid use. They are currently working to implement this program throughout Kentucky with the help of the Kentucky Association of Nurse Anesthetists.

Edwards and Dollar have also conducted important research in anesthesia. They worked on a study that utilized an enhanced recovery-after-surgery protocol that improved pain control and reduced opioid consumption for women undergoing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. The research was presented at the American Society of Breast Surgeons Annual Meeting.

Even with the many challenges in healthcare – especially in acute surgical pain management as it relates to the opioid epidemic – the efforts of Dollar and Edwards have had a dramatic effect. They bring passion and determination to their work, and it continues to make an impact.

Del Harris

Selecting Institution: Milligan University

Education:

Milligan University - B.A., Religion - Class of 1959
Indiana University - M.A., History, 1965

• NBA Coach
• Basketball Hall of Fame Honoree
• Ordained Minister

Del Harris lives out the mission of Milligan University to honor God through servant leadership.
Whether it be coaching professional athletes on the basketball court, giving motivational lectures, or authoring books on how to be an effective member of any team, Harris has dedicated his life to leadership through service.

Before Harris became an NBA head coach, he was a standout student athlete at Milligan in the late 1950s. He racked up 36 points a game before the existence of the 3 point line.

Harris has been associated with seven NBA teams over a 37-year period, including as head coach of the Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Los Angeles Lakers. He is also a recipient of the prestigious 2017 National Association of Basketball Coaches International Lifetime Achievement Award, the 13th recipient and 8th from the U.S.

With the Houston Rockets, Harris coached the team to the NBA Championship finals in 1981, making him the winningest coach in Rockets history. He was named ESPN Coach of the Year in 1981 and received the Houston Award for Community Service in Houston, Texas. In addition, New Mexico made him an honorary governor, and San Antonio, Texas, appointed him honorary mayor. With the Lakers, Harris became the 19th NBA coach to earn 500 wins and was named the NBA Coach of the Year in 1995.

Del received the 2019 John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This award is the most prestigious award presented by the Basketball Hall of Fame, and it honors an international or national figure who has contributed greatly to the game of basketball.

But Harris’ accomplishments go beyond the game. He is an ordained minister in the Christian church, a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), and had success in real estate and the oil and gas industry. He also authored three books on basketball coaching theory. In addition, he has lectured on sports and motivational topics to hundreds of groups.

In 1993, Harris endowed a basketball scholarship at Milligan in honor of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Harris of Plainfield, Indiana. Harris remembers his years at Milligan with fondness.

“When I think of Milligan,” he says, “I remember the warmth of friends and faculty.”

Jon Meacham

Selecting Institution: Sewanee: The University of the South

Education:

Sewanee - B.A., English - Class of 1991, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters 2010 

• Pulitzer Prize Winning Biographer
• Contributor to the The New York Times & the Youngest Editor-in-Chief of Newsweek
• Historian and Professor

Upon accepting the Distinguished Young Alumni Award from Sewanee in 2013, Meacham stated: "So much comes and goes - chronicling the ebb and flow of the present is how I make my living...but Sewanee virtues are larger and hardier: grace, courage and good cheer are the lights which guide us all forward, and Sewanee gives us the capacity to draw on the lessons of the past in order to understand the present and shape the future." Whether as a young (29) editor of one of the leading weekly magazines or a Pulitzer prize winning author, highly sought-after speaker and skilled raconteur, Meacham embodies these Sewanee virtues to help us understand and process important issues and events of the past and present in all their complexities.

Born and raised in Chattanooga, Jon Meacham is a biographer, professor, and journalist. A contributing writer to The New York Times Book Review, contributing editor at Time, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, he holds the Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Chair in the American Presidency at Vanderbilt University, where he is also a distinguished visiting professor. Meacham is a contributor to NBC News and MSNBC and lectures widely in the United States on history, politics, and religious faith. A trustee of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, whose board he chairs, of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, The McCallie School, and The Harpeth Hall School, Meacham chaired the National Advisory Council of the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University. He has served on the vestries of St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue and of Trinity Church Wall Street as well as the Board of Trustees and the Board of Regents of The University of the South. The Anti-Defamation League awarded Meacham its Hubert H. Humphrey First Amendment Prize. In 2013 the Historical Society of Pennsylvania presented him with its Founder’s Award; in 2016 he was honored with the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute’s Spirit of Democracy Award; in 2017 he was made a Churchill Fellow of Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri, in services at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury.

Meacham received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University in 2005 and holds honorary doctorates from Middlebury College, Wake Forest University, the University of Tennessee, Dickinson College, Sewanee, Loyola New Orleans, Loyola Baltimore, Emmanuel College, and several other institutions.

Senator John Boozman

Selecting Institution: Southern College of Optometry 

Education:

Southern College of Optometry - O.D.- Class of 1977; Honorary Doctor of Ocular Science

• Two-term United States Senator
• Former U.S. Representative
• Advocate for low-income families

United States Senator John Boozman (R-AR) is the only optometrist to have ever been elected to the United States Senate. After attending the University of Arkansas and playing football for the Arkansas Razorbacks, it was Tennessee where the future Senator chose to obtain his professional degree. Boozman was accepted to Southern College of Optometry in 1973 and spent four years living in Memphis as he trained to become a Doctor of Optometry. 

After his graduation in 1977, Dr. Boozman entered private practice that same year co-founding a family business with his brother that would ultimately become a major provider of eye care to Northwest Arkansas. During his years of private practice, Dr. Boozman established the low vision program at the Arkansas School for the Blind in Little Rock and worked as a volunteer optometrist at an area clinic that provides medical services to low-income families. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2001 and served for a decade before his election and subsequent re-election to the United States Senate.

In addition to his years of private practice optometry and work with agriculture in his home state of Arkansas, Dr. Boozman has contributed a distinguished public record of service. Senator Boozman serves on four committees in the 116th Congress: Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Appropriations Environment and Public Works (EPW) Veterans’ Affairs He also serves on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, commonly referred to as the Helsinki Commission. He serves on the Congressional Study Group on Europe (CSGE), a bipartisan organization dedicated to frank and candid dialogue between American lawmakers and their peers in European capitals and Brussels and has been appointed the Vice Chairman of the Senate Delegation to the British-American Interparliamentary Group during the 116th Congress. In addition, the Senator also serves as one of six Congressional Regents on the Smithsonian Institute's Board of Regents which governs and administers the organization.

Scott Niswonger

Selecting Institution: Tusculum University

Education:

Purdue University - B.A., Aviation Technology - 1968
Tusculum University - B.S., Business Administration - 1986 

• AVIATOR
• BUSINESS LEADER
• PHILANTHROPIST

Scott Niswonger is one of the most accomplished businessmen and philanthropists in Tennessee, and his efforts have contributed significantly not only to the success of his business ventures but also the quality of life of children and young adults throughout the northeast part of the state. He is an outstanding example of Tusculum University’s mission, and he inspires many with the way he demonstrates its principles in his work and life.

After he graduated from Purdue University, Niswonger moved to Greeneville, Tennessee as corporate pilot for the president of The Magnavox Company. In 1973, Niswonger started a cargo airline, General Aviation, Inc. After selling General Aviation he became the vice president of North American operations for Flying Tiger Lines – a military contractor and global cargo airline.

He later co-founded a second transportation company, Landair Services, with an initial investment of $2,000, and in 1990 formed Forward Air Corporation. Those companies today have annual sales of over $1 billion. Niswonger currently serves as chairman emeritus of Landair Transport, Inc. and Forward Air Corporation.

In addition to his tremendous business achievements, Niswonger has excelled as a supporter for the next generation of citizens and leaders in our world. For 30 years, Niswonger has served on the Board of Trustees at Tusculum University in Greeneville and has been an incredibly generous financial supporter of Tusculum through the years, contributing about $70 million. His contributions played a major role in the renovation and expansion of so many areas of the campus.

Niswonger is also the Chairman of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greeneville, TN and serves as a Board of Director of Ballad Health, a 20 hospital – 15,000 employee healthcare enterprise.

He is especially proud of The Niswonger Educational Foundation that he established in 2001 to create opportunities for individual and regional growth through educational programs, scholarships, and other charitable activities. This educational operating foundation currently has 19 Scholars, in universities across America, and 77 Alumni. The Foundation has an annual program budget of more than $3 million and has invested more than $53 million in our region.

Niswonger is the lead benefactor for the Niswonger Children’s Hospital, which is home to one of only eight St. Jude Affiliate Clinics in the world.

His commitment to service impacts countless lives throughout Northeast Tennessee and the world.

Bob Agee

Selecting Institution: Union University

Education:

Union University - B.A., History and Religion - Class of 1960
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary - Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry
Vanderbilt University - Ph.D., Education

• Thirteenth President of Oklahoma Baptist University
• Served as the Executive Director for the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities
• Sports Hall of Famer

Dr. Bob Agee lives out the mission of Union University everyday - to provide a Christ-centered education that promotes excellence and character development in service to Church and society. Dr. Agee has served in higher education for more than five decades and his contributions will impact Christian higher education for many years to come. 

After earning his Ph.D. in 1975, Dr. Agee returned to Union University serving in many roles including Vice President for Religious Affairs, professor of practical studies in the religion department, and Special Assistant to the President for Institutional Planning. 

In 1982, Dr. Agee became the thirteenth President of Oklahoma Baptist University. During his presidency, Oklahoma Baptist University experienced significant growth and attracted national recognition for the quality of its faculty, students, and programs. The university also became known among church-related colleges and universities for its involvement in missionary outreach and international activity. Following his retirement as president in 1998, Brotherhood Dormitory was renamed Agee Residence Center to honor him and his wife, Nelle.  In 1999, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame.  

Throughout his career, Dr. Agee has been actively involved in numerous national educational and denominational activities, serving in leadership roles for various national organizations. Following his retirement from OBU, he became executive director of the Association of Southern Baptist Colleges and Schools. The organization, which became the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities in 2006, includes 51 Baptist-affiliated schools across the nation. He served as Executive Director at the IABCU for nine years. He was a co-founder and served as the executive director of the Consortium for Global Education from 1998 to 2002. He has served on the Boards of Directors of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities among many others.

He is the founder and senior consultant of Agee, Stewart and Allen Development, a company that specializes in long-range strategic planning, board training, leadership development, fund-raising program design and development, and executive coaching. He has been a pastor of many Baptist churches in Tennessee and Kentucky.  He has also been listed in “Who’s Who in American Education” since 1990.  Agee has many published works, including, Faithful Learning and the Christian Scholarly Vocation, The Reason for the Season, and An Unlikely Story: Memories and Reflections on Life’s Journey, while also authoring chapters in many other books. 

Dr. Agee has been married to his wife, Nelle, for 62 years.  They have two daughters, Denise Allen and Robyn Hari.  The Agee's have four granddaughters and two great grandchildren with more on the way. 

Carlisle Hanna

Selecting Institution: Welch College

Education:

Welch College - B.A., Bible - 1952
University of Memphis – B.A. Health Sociology; M.P.A.

• Humanitarian & Missionary in India for nearly 70 years

The Welch College mission is to educate leaders to serve Christ, His church, and His world through biblical thought and life. Carlisle Hanna has exceedingly accomplished this goal with his sixty-seven years of service to the people of India.

A native of South Carolina, Hanna graduated from Welch College in 1952 and moved with his wife Marie to India in 1953, where he has remained since. Hanna has three living children. He and Marie lost their first child just a few months after their arrival in India. Marie died in India in 1998.

Along with missionary work, Carlisle Hanna has served in humanitarian efforts among the people of India for nearly seventy years, demonstrating compassion for the poor and fostering unity across the lines of ethnicity and caste. His efforts have brought new breeds of cattle and chickens into the region, introduced wheat to the northern parts of India, provided hospice care, maintained Christian hostels involving educational work, and engaged in numerous other development projects. Hanna’s unbiased compassion and selfless acts of kindness have touched the lives of the Indian people for nearly seven decades

An NGO established for global humanitarian aid, the Hanna Project, was named for him and his wife Marie in 2004. His life and service to humanity continues to serve as an inspiration and example to those serving around the world.

In November 2000, South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges bestowed South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, the Order of the Palmetto, upon veteran missionary Carlisle Hanna.