Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association
| TICUA Hall of Fame Class of 2024 |
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 Jerry AdamsInducting Institution: University of the South ◊ UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH - B.A. ENGLISH | 1965 University of the South alum Jerry Adams has dedicated his life to bettering his community - from energizing education to growing 21st-century companies and jobs. Adams has always worked with a sense of urgency to help others by serving organizations that move communities forward. Adams was born in Ft. Smith, Arkansas and raised in St Louis, Missouri, but decided to attend The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee in the early 1960s after graduating high school. At Sewanee, Adams was an English major, a Kemper Scholar, a member of the Red Ribbon Society, Inter-Fraternity Council, the Acolyte’s Guild, class editor of the Cap & Gown and President of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. He returned to Arkansas in 1973 to help start Acxiom, a successful consumer database marketing company, where he served in many leadership roles over the next 34 years. He went on to found the Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) in 2008, a non-profit, public-private economic development organization focused on investing in university research to change the economic trajectory of Arkansas. He served as President and CEO until his retirement in 2021. Despite Adams’ busy career, he made giving back a top priority in his life, including his unmatched service to his alma mater. In 2003, he established the Adams Scholars Fund, a merit scholarship for undergraduates from Arkansas. He served as Co-Leader of the Leadership Challenge for the Campaign for Sewanee. He has served as the National Chair for the Annual Fund, a member of the Campaign for Sewanee Committee, a member of the School of Theology Visiting Committee, a member of the Sewanee Call Campaign Cabinet, a member of the Sewanee Development Council, a member of the Board of Trustees, and Chair of the Board of Regents. He is currently his Class Gift Chair for the Class of 1965. In his community of Conway, Arkansas Adams’ career of service is just as remarkable. He focused on reforming education and was the chair of Accelerate Arkansas, a statewide volunteer group of leaders focused on building a knowledge-based economy in Arkansas. He also chaired the EAST Initiative, a secondary school technology-based project learning initiative in over 200 schools in Arkansas and six other states. He served on the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Committee for Higher Education, the Board of Visitors at the University of Arkansas, the Dean’s Advisory Board at the University of Arkansas Walton School of Business, and the University of Central Arkansas Advisory Board for the College of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Adams is a founding board member of the Arkansas Imagination Library, and is the lead member of the steering committee supporting Wisdom House Project, a school for orphans in Idlib province of war-torn Syria. In 2009, Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe appointed Adams to the Governor’s Healthcare Roundtable. Adams is the founding board chair of Interfaith Center of Arkansas and the Conway Interfaith Clinic, a clinic focused on providing medical and dental services to segments of the community that are underserved. Adams also served on the Board of the Conway Regional Hospital, the Faulkner County Community Foundation, the Arkansas Community Foundation, the Conway Development Corporation, and the Conway Downtown Partnership. Jerry is married to Madelyn and they have two grown sons and four grandchildren. Close
 Yvonne Griggs AllenInducting Institution: Lane College ◊ LANE COLLEGE - B.S. EDUCATION | 1973 Lane College alumna Dr. Yvonne Griggs Allen has spent decades helping countless underserved students receive the best possible education. As the first African American principal in Hardeman County, Dr. Allen proved to be a trailblazer in her field, implementing programs and initiatives that transformed schools and the community. Dr. Allen graduated from Lane College in 1973 with her bachelor’s degree, and just six years later earned the title of principal of Whiteville Elementary School at 28 years old. Many in the community referred to the school as ‘the graveyard.’ She devoted her entire first summer to the physical improvement of the building and grounds, and promoting the school through the local media, Allen convinced a previously disaffected community to stand behind its school. Dr. Allen implemented programs to engage families and the community, promote staff development, and enhance schoolwide self-esteem. She also started the first of its kind in the community preschool intervention program and discipline program for at-risk students. Dr. Allen’s work did not go unnoticed. The once troubled Whiteville Elementary was honored by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 1993, a top award in the nation recognizing schools with overall academic excellence or progress in closing achievement gaps among students. Because of her contributions, the National Association of Elementary School Principals honored Dr. Allen with the Outstanding Service Award in 1993 as well as 1995. Dr. Allen retired after 25 years but remains active on several statewide education commissions and advisory committees. She also traveled abroad lecturing on education. Dr. Allen said she hopes her career serves as a model to her former students. Dr. Allen has made it a priority to give back to the institution that gave her the foundation to begin her career in education. Every year, Lane College holds its Annual Spring Commencement Convocation. This past April, Dr. Allen presented a legacy gift to Lane College. She will also be inducted into the Jennie E. Lane Legacy Society. Established in 2017, the society represents donors who have contributed $100,000 or more to benefit Lane College. Close
 Sister Christine Born, O.PInducting Institution: Aquinas College ◊ AQUINAS COLLEGE - A.A. | 1963 Throughout her life, Sister Christine Born, O.P. has prioritized serving others. The mission of Aquinas College has always been a cornerstone of Sister Christine’s pursuits. A Memphis native, Sister Christine began her educational journey in her hometown at St. Thomas Academy. In 1960, she entered the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville. Sister continued her education at Aquinas College where she was a member of the college’s first graduating class in 1963. With a passion for education, Sister continued to Siena College to earn her bachelor’s degree and to Notre Dame Institute and Peabody College where she earned master’s degrees in religious education and educational administration. Sister Christine’s commitment to education and her faith served as a beacon for her career. She dedicated herself to teaching and serving as a principal at various schools across Tennessee, Alabama, Maryland, and Virginia. In 1974, she assumed the position of Director of Education for St. Cecilia Congregation, and in 1986, became President of the Dominican Campus, overseeing Overbrook School, Saint Cecilia Academy, and Aquinas College. In 1988, Sister Christine was elected Prioress General of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia Congregation, a role she faithfully fulfilled for twelve years. At this time, she also served as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Aquinas College, overseeing its transformation from a junior college offering associate degrees to a level-two institution offering bachelor’s degrees. During her tenure, Sister played a significant role in shaping the future of women religious in the United States. In 1992, she became one of the four founding officers of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious (CMSWR). CMSWR was established in response to the Second Vatican Council’s call for the renewal of religious life. Reflecting on the pivotal role of those early CMSWR leaders, Cardinal Justin Rigali remarked on the 25th anniversary of the organization, “These pioneers merit prayerful gratitude.” In 1994, Sister Christine’s leadership extended to the global stage when she was invited by Pope John Paul II to participate in the Synod of Bishops on Religious Life. The evidence of Sister Christine’s lasting impact is evident. There continues to be growth of new religious vocations within congregations such as the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia. Sister currently serves at Bethany Retreat House where she seeks to provide an atmosphere for others to have a deepening relationship with God. Close
 Gust Hubert Cachiaras 1892-1983Inducting Institution: Johnson University ◊ JOHNSON BIBLE COLLEGE - B.A. BIBLE MINISTRY | 1917 For the entirety of his life, Johnson University alum Gust Hubert Cachiaras fulfilled the university’s vision of its founders as he tirelessly preached the faith of God and promoted the interests of Minnesota Bible College, where he worked for more than forty years. Cachiaras was born in 1892 in Athens, Greece, and immigrated to the United States at the age of 18 where he quickly made the Midwest his home. This transatlantic move came with challenges he quickly realized. Cachiaras found himself in desperate financial condition, limited by his minimal English language skills and relegated to menial jobs. While polishing Dr. John Baptist’s shoes, Cachiaras told the doctor he was from Greece. The doctor lowered the newspaper he was reading and spoke to Cachiaras in his native language, “Young man, what do you plan to do with your life?” Dr. Baptist encouraged him to attend his alma mater, Johnson Bible College, where he could work for his education. The advice changed Cachiaras’s life. He arrived on the campus in Kimberlin Heights, Tennessee in 1909. It didn’t take long for Cachiaras to become a “favorite son” of founders Ashley and Emma Johnson, who patiently helped him with his language skills and encouraged his obvious talents. As a student beyond his years, he often preached in the college chapel and led the campus Bible school. Eight years after stepping on campus, Cachiaras graduated and began his preaching ministry in Earlham, Iowa. He joined the faculty to teach Greek at the International Christian Missionary Bible College, which later became the Minnesota Bible College (MBC). During this time, Cachiaras completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Minnesota. Those degrees propelled him to his role as a Greek professor and New Testament dean at MBC. Cachiaras dedicated his entire career to the college and worked for forty-five years until his retirement in 1963. Upon his retirement, then MBC president Harry Poll wrote of him: “Had it not been for the concern of this mighty mite of a man, the college might well have been lost forever; but because of his dogged tenacity the college was preserved.” Despite paving a trailblazing path in Minnesota, Cachiaras continued to give back to Johnson University throughout his lifetime. While preparing for a commencement address in 1974 at his alma mater, Cachiaras wrote, “All I am now I owe to the early years that I spent within the shelter of the walls of Johnson Bible College.” A marbled dedication plaque to Cachiaras hangs today at the entrance to the Old Main building. Cachiaras was married to Mabel Joy Price in Iowa. They had three children: Elizabeth, Ruth Priscilla, and G.H. Walter Cachiaras. Cachiaras continuedto preach and travel as Dean Emeritus until his death in 1983, symbolizing an embodiment of his alma mater. Close
 Clarence ChristianInducting Institution: LeMoyne-Owen College ◊ LEMOYNE-OWEN COLLEGE - B.S. SOCIOLOGY | 1968 Dr. Clarence Christian lives out the mission of his alma mater, LeMoyne-Owen College (LOC), dedicating his life to leadership, scholarship, and service. A lifelong advocate for social justice, educational equity, and historical accuracy through inclusion, Dr. Christian has never failed to uplift the college in every endeavor he has undertaken. He started his advocacy early in life, writing articles for the “Colored News Section” of the Times Promoter, a DeSoto County, Mississippi newspaper. Dr. Christian graduated from LOC in 1968 but continues to pursue his love of learning to this day. Dr. Christian became a decorated educator. He is a founding practitioner of dual enrollment through his work with the American Social History Project and the National Collegiate Honors Council. He was the first African American to teach in the classroom at Southwestern at Memphis, now Rhodes College. He now holds the honor of professor emeritus of sociology and social historian for the Tennessee Board of Regents where he continues to be called upon for his expertise in experiential learning pedagogy. He is also a leader in the Second Congregational Church of Memphis as well as many other organizations, groups, and associations including the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the Memphis and Shelby County Lynching Sites Project, NAACP Life Member, and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. A 1984 graduate of Leadership Memphis and recipient of its Kate Gooch Community Service award, he continues a tradition of civic engagement. He has also held leadership positions at all levels of his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha. Despite his career success, he has always taken the time to volunteer and give back to LeMoyne-Owen College. He serves the college with pride and dignity and considerable financial contributions. He can be found on Thursdays at the DeSoto Museum, thumbing through that old newspaper while serving as a docent. Close
 Debby FlemingInducting Institution: Baptist Health Sciences University ◊ BAPTIST MEMORIAL HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING | 1978 With a comprehensive clinical and financial background in healthcare management, Debby McMillin Fleming is a distinguished leader in healthcare and the community. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Fleming attended McGavock High School and went on to begin her long-standing relationship with Baptist Health Sciences University (BHSU), where she received a diploma from the Baptist Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. Her commitment and dedication to academic success led her to Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Fleming returned to Nashville to pursue her Master of Science in Nursing at Vanderbilt University. After her time at Vanderbilt, she put down permanent roots in the Music City. Fleming’s extensive educational background gave her the platform to excel in her career. In 2003, she assumed the position of Administrator of Baptist Ambulatory Surgery Center in Nashville, where she was accountable for the overall performance of multiple operating and procedure rooms, including Ambulatory Surgery Centers, centers that provide same-day surgical care. After four years, Fleming transferred to AmSurg, where she served as Regional Vice President for three years, before getting promoted to Division President in 2007. Fleming managed fifty-eight sites across ten states, including two hospital joint ventures for thirteen years. Fleming’s talents and experience also offered her opportunities to serve in various roles around the country. She assumed the role of Center Administrator and Director of Recovery Care for Medical Care International in Dallas. Following her time in Texas, she worked in Mystic, Connecticut as the Vice President of Development for Mariner Health before spending time in Boston, Massachusetts as Practice Manager for Spence Centers for Women’s Health. In 2020, Fleming took on a locally based position as a Registered Nurse for both Williamson County Health Department and Maxwell Aesthetics, PLLC. Although Fleming’s career was demanding, she always found the time to give back to BHSU, the school that paved her path. She served on the BHSU Board of Directors and became the President of the Alumni Board and in 2018 received the prestigious Distinguished Alumni Award, based on long-term outstanding achievements and service or contributions to the university. In addition to her contributions to the healthcare field, she values giving back to her community and has a long-standing commitment to volunteering with Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue and Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary. Fleming lives in Nashville with her husband, Michael. Close
 John Hope Franklin 1915-2009Inducting Institution: Fisk University ◊ FISK UNIVERSITY - B.A. HISTORY | 1935
John Hope Franklin was the nation’s leading scholar of Black History who helped redirect the social and political course of the United States throughout the 20th century. He was the historical architect for many of the great legal movements of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in the 1950s and inspired change and knowledge throughout the country. Dr. Franklin was born in Rentiesville, Oklahoma, and raised in Tulsa, where his family was deeply affected by the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot. Despite the trauma of this historical event, Franklin emerged as an exceptional scholar, which undoubtedly influenced his research and teaching throughout his career. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School and was awarded Valedictorian. After high school, Dr. Franklin made his way to Nashville where he attended and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Fisk University. Dr. Franklin went on to earn his master’s and Ph.D. from Harvard University. In 1937, Dr. Franklin’s teaching career came full circle when he became a professor at Fisk University. After teaching at Fisk, he returned to Harvard University to further his history degree and in 1941 earned his Ph.D. He then returned to the classroom and taught at numerous institutions, including St. Augustine’s College, North Carolina College, Howard University, Brooklyn College, the University of Chicago, and Duke University where he left a lasting impact and legacy that led to the university’s formation of the John Hope Franklin Center for Interdisciplinary and International Studies in 2001. While working as a professor, Dr. Franklin dedicated his life to creating awareness and advocating against segregation in the United States. On the brink of America entering World War II, Dr. Franklin grew frustrated with the military’s discriminating policies for enlistment. Although fully capable of joining, he was turned down because of his race. These emotions inspired Dr. Franklin to write his first book, The Free Negro in North Carolina 1790-1860. He then went on to write 16 more books, including his seminal work From Slavery to Freedom: A History of African Americans, first published in 1947. It is considered the most comprehensive history of African Americans ever written, with over three million copies sold and several editions. Dr. Franklin was also actively involved with the NAACP and served as a member of committees of the Legal Defense Fund and notably prepared research for the landmark 1954 Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education. Throughout his life, he also served as president of numerous charitable associations such as the American Historical Association, the American Studies Association, the Southern Historical Association, and the Organization of American Historians. He was a member of the board of trustees at Fisk University, the Chicago Public Library, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association. As a foundation member, he was elected to Fisk’s new chapter of Phi Beta Kappa in 1953 when Fisk became the first historically black college to have a chapter of the honorary society and served as President of the United Chapters of Phi Beta Kappa for three years. Dr. Franklin’s hard work and remarkable career did not go unnoticed. He earned numerous awards and recognitions. In 1976, he was selected for the Jefferson Lecture, the U.S. federal government’s highest honor for achievements in the humanities by the National Endowment for the Humanities. In 1966, he was awarded a Doctor of Laws honorary degree. In 1995, President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. In 2002, he was listed by scholar Molefi Kete Asante on his list of 100 Greatest African Americans. When Dr. Franklin died in 2009, President Barack Obama issued a statement praising Dr. Franklin’s public service over his lifetime, including providing a richer understanding of who we are as Americans and our journey as a people. Close
 Ashley GorleyInducting Institution: Belmont University ◊ BELMONT UNIVERSITY - B.B.A. MUSIC BUSINESS | 1999 A true powerhouse in the music industry, Ashley Gorley embodies the values of Belmont University through his remarkable success and commitment to giving back. As a songwriter, producer, and publisher, Gorley has achieved unprecedented success while maintaining a strong sense of purpose and character. Hailing from small-town Kentucky, Gorley arrived at Belmont with a passion for music but little knowledge of how to make it a career. His journey from student to songwriting icon spans more than two decades, resulting in a record-breaking 70+ #1 radio singles and more than 400 songs recorded by artists across multiple genres, from country stars to rock legends. Named Nashville Songwriter Association International’s Songwriter of the Decade for 2010-2019, Gorley has earned an astounding 24 CMA Triple Play Awards, recognizing songwriters with three #1 hits within a year. In 2023 alone, he was named ACM Songwriter of the Year, spent multiple weeks as Billboard’s Number One Hot 100 Songwriter, and was awarded Songwriter of the Year (all-genre) by Variety at its prestigious Hitmakers event. His Grammy-nominated hit “Last Night,” performed by Morgan Wallen, topped the Billboard Hot 100 for a record-setting 16 weeks in 2023, becoming the longest-running #1 by a solo artist. Gorley’s entrepreneurial spirit shines through in his founding of Tape Room Music in 2011, a publishing and artist development company that has produced over 45 #1 songs, including the 2018 ASCAP Country Song of the Year, “Body Like a Back Road” and 2021 ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC Country Song, “One of Them Girls.” While his own songwriting accolades are impressive, Gorley finds even greater fulfillment in mentoring emerging writers and helping them achieve their first hits. This passion for developing new talent extends beyond his work at Tape Room to his ongoing involvement with Belmont, where he regularly mentors students, leads seminars, and has previously served as an adjunct professor of music publishing. Beyond his songwriting achievements, Gorley is a champion for songwriters’ rights. He has actively advocated for fair compensation and protection of intellectual property in the digital age, meeting with senators and the Library of Congress to promote crucial legislation such as the Music Modernization Act. Close
 Jeremy HarrellInducting Institution: Trevecca Nazarene University ◊ TREVECCA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY - B.A., HISTORY & POLITICAL SCIENCE | 2006 Jeremy Harrell is a living example of what it looks like to use one’s giftedness, skills, and experience to make the world a better place. As a strong advocate for the adoption and foster care systems, Harrell uses his personal adoption experience to make Tennessee more adoption-friendly. After graduating from Trevecca Nazarene University, Harrell began his career in Tennessee politics. He developed an extensive network of top influencers, broad policy knowledge, and keen instincts throughout his career and was squarely at the center of several critical campaigns and initiatives. In 2008, Jeremy successfully ran the record-breaking statewide senate campaign for U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander - Jeremy was then tapped to serve as deputy campaign manager and political director for Governor Bill Haslam’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign and went on to serve in the administration. In 2014, Jeremy became campaign manager for Haslam’s re-election campaign, which resulted in Haslam securing the largest margin of victory of any governor in the country. That campaign set a record for the highest percentage of the vote won by a statewide candidate in modern Tennessee history. At the end of 2014, Harrell shifted from politics to serving as the Executive Director of Tennesseans for Student Success, a statewide network of parents, guardians, teachers, and community leaders that advocate for economic freedom by supporting high-quality educational opportunities. He then co-founded a highly successful public affairs firm in Nashville until his family’s personal experience became a launching pad for his next venture. Harrell and his wife knew they wanted to adopt, but it was only when they began that process themselves that they learned how complicated and traumatic the process could be. It was a conversation with a friend that inspired Harrell to take his frustrations with the systems and be the catalyst to bring positive change to adoption and foster care systems that impact so many families. From there, Harrell founded The Adoption Project, a non-profit organization focused on making Tennessee the most adoption-friendly state in the country. As president and CEO, Harrell works with policymakers and stakeholders to push for changes to improve the adoption and foster care systems. The Adoption Project is working toward destigmatizing placing a child for adoption, streamlining the adoption process, fostering strong bonds and permanence for families, and encouraging support for birth parents so that every child finds a family. In 2022, Harrell and his wife, Michelle, were honored as Angels in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) and by U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty. Harrell serves on the board of the Tennessee Historical Commission and Harlenwood Foundation and in 2024, chaired the 50th Tennessee Governor’s Prayer Breakfast. Harrell and his wife, Michelle, live in Eagleville with their son, Wesley, and two daughters, Ruby and Rosie. Close
 Ben Hooper 1870-1957Inducting Institution: Carson-Newman University ◊ CARSON-NEWMAN COLLEGE | 1890 Governor Ben Walter Hooper’s life and work continues to inspire Tennesseans today. As the governor of Tennessee from 1911 to 1915, he made countless reforms and requirements to benefit the state of Tennessee and its people. Unconventional circumstances marked Hooper’s early life. Born in 1870 in Newport, Tennessee, he was the son of Sarah Wade and Dr. Lemel Washington Hooper, who were not married at his birth. His father was engaged to another woman during this period and Hooper’s mother moved from place to place in an attempt to support them both. Despite her best efforts, at the age of nine, Hooper’s mother placed him in the care of St. John’s Orphanage in Knoxville. Shortly after, in a life-changing turn of events, Hooper’s father legally adopted him, and he returned to Newport. Hooper’s traumatic upbringing later became a factor in his motivation to succeed and the inspiration for his autobiography, The Unwanted Boy, which was published posthumously in 1963. After graduating from Carson-Newman College in 1890, Hooper studied law under Judge Horace Nelson Cate. In 1892, at only 22 years old, Hooper won his first political election— a seat in Tennessee’s House of Representatives where he served two terms. When the United States declared war on Spain, Hooper enlisted in the military and served as captain of Company C in the 6th U.S. Volunteer Infantry. After the war, he continued practicing law in Newport until 1906 when he was appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern Tennessee District and served from 1906 to 1910. It was during this time that political strife mounted across Tennessee. Seizing the opportunity, Hooper, who had embraced moral reform efforts sweeping across the state and nation, received the Republican nomination for governor and defeated former governor Robert L. Taylor by a close margin in 1911. During his two terms as governor, he oversaw critical modern reforms to enhance Tennesseans’ quality of life including laws to protect children from harsh labor conditions, requirements for school attendance, and food safety. His administration authorized counties to issue bonds to buy school property and establish hospitals for treating contagious diseases. Hooper won reelection in 1912, and during his second term, the legislature passed laws to examine the state banking system and to create pensions for Civil War veterans and their widows. Hooper’s acts as a public servant didn’t end with his tenure as governor. He continued to practice law in Newport until 1920 when President Warren G. Harding appointed Hooper to the U.S. Railroad Labor Board where he became a national figure in labor-management arbitration by averting a nationwide railroad strike in 1921. At the end of his tenure, Hooper returned to Newport where he served as a chief land purchasing agent for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and served as vice-chair for Tennessee’s Limited Constitutional Convention in 1953. Hooper and his wife, Anna Belle Jones, had six children and numerous grandchildren. He died on April 18, 1957; he was eighty-six years old. Close
 Myles Horton 1905-1990Inducting Institution: Cumberland University ◊ CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY - B.A. ENGLISH LITERATURE | 1928 Long before the phrase “change agent” became popular in today’s vernacular, Cumberland University alumnus, Myles Horton, was quietly, and sometimes not so quietly, becoming one of the most influential change agents in the United States during the 20th century. Horton taught and influenced many of the most important leaders of the 20th Century including Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, John Lewis, Ralph Abernathy, Andrew Young, and Julian Bond. James Bevel called Horton “the Father of the Civil Rights Movement.” Horton was born in 1905 in Savannah, Tennessee to former school teachers who lost their jobs when education standards changed and disqualified them. As a result, they were forced to work odd jobs to support their family. Horton left home at fifteen to attend high school and supported himself by working in a sawmill and a box factory. During his teenage years, Horton experienced union organization by holding jobs at a sawmill and as a packer at factories. He demonstrated his activism as a teenager by holding a strike for higher wages. In 1924, he attended Cumberland University and continued his work with local unions. In his junior year, Horton attended a YMCA conference in Nashville where he had his first contact with black and foreign students. It upset him that he could not take a Chinese girl to a restaurant or enter a public library with a black friend. After college, Horton moved to New York City and became familiar with social gospel philosophy while studying at the Union Theological Seminary. He went on to study socialism at the University of Chicago and spent time shadowing a school in Denmark. These experiences led him to dream of a similar school in the South where teachers could work with black and white students to address community problems. In 1932, Horton, Don West, Jim Dombrowski, and others founded the Highlander Folk School in Monteagle, Tennessee. Highlander Folk School was a place for the marginalized to gather, learn, organize, and make change. Throughout the Great Depression, the school advocated for the working class by providing training for workers and labor organizers. Eventually, the school shifted its focus to Civil Rights. Throughout the 1950s, the school organized literacy and voter registration for African Americans throughout the country. The fight for civil rights was long and difficult, with interference from the government and hostile community groups. Tennessee held trials, questioning Horton and trying to link him to communism, and in 1961, the state of Tennessee forced The Highlander Folk School to close. Horton and his group organized and reopened the school in Knoxville. Today, the Highlander Research and Education Center is a social justice leadership training school and cultural center in New Market, Tennessee. Horton served as the Director and remained involved with the Center until he died in 1990. Horton’s wife, Zilphia Mae Johnson, was a constant collaborator with Horton until her death in 1956. Zilphia and Myles Horton had two children. In 1962, Myles Horton was remarried to Aimee Isgrig and in January 1990, Horton died at the age of 84. Close
 Jeffrey KuhlmanInducting Institution: Southern Adventist University ◊ SOUTHERN ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY - B.A. CHEMISTRY | 1983 Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Jeffrey Kuhlman has prioritized serving others. He has traveled to 90 countries to assess medical infrastructure and provide care, at times in extremely resource-limited areas. He holds a Certificate in Traveler Health®. Post-retirement, he continues to provide medical direction for AdventHealth Global Missions, participating in medical trips to Ethiopia, the Philippines, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. Throughout his career, Dr. Jeffrey Kuhlman has lived out the values of Southern Adventist University through his commitment to excellence and living a life of purpose. Dr. Kuhlman credits the Christian education he was provided at Southern Adventist University for laying a solid foundation that paved his way to professional success. A Navy captain, Dr. Kuhlman spent 30 years in military medical service, and was appointed to the White House for more than half of that time. As director of the medical unit, he served President George H. W. Bush, President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton, President George W. Bush, Vice President Joe Biden, and President Barack Obama. In January 2009, Dr. Kuhlman was appointed physician to the president by President Obama—a role the captain filled until his retirement from the Navy in 2013. When the president traveled, Dr. Kuhlman stayed within two minutes of him, ensuring the nation’s leader always had immediate access to healthcare. But his efforts went beyond personal attention. He directed and oversaw the implementation of an electronic medical record for the White House, in conjunction with Walter Reed Medical Center. After graduating from Southern Adventist University in 1983, Dr. Kuhlman earned his medical degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in California. He went on to earn his master’s degree from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Maryland and completed post-graduate training in three clinical specialties from Loma Linda University Medical Center, Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Florida, and Johns Hopkins. He is board-certified in family, aerospace, and occupational medicine as well as medical management. Dr. Kuhlman also completed a certificate in management at Rollins Crummer Graduate School of Business in Florida and holds designations as a certified physician executive and a certified professional in patient safety. Since 2013, he has served as a chief medical officer and chief quality and safety officer for Florida-based AdventHealth, leading quality, safety, clinical risk, and transformation efforts. He also serves as executive medical advisor to the Orlando Magic and is a board member of Shepherd’s Hope and AdventHealth University. A highly sought-after speaker on healthcare and care of presidents, Dr. Kuhlman has authored three books: Transformative Healthcare: A Physician-led Prescription to Save Thousands of Lives and Millions of Dollars, High Reliability Healthcare: Applying the Secrets of the Nuclear Navy to Save Patient Lives, and Transforming Presidential Healthcare. Dr. Kuhlman was recognized by Southern as the Young Alumnus of the Year in 1993. He represents a legacy family at Southern Adventist University and credits his parents for giving him a strong foundation of faith, his siblings and kids for keeping him grounded, and his wife for all the support she provides for every success he’s had in life. Close
 Marilyn Laszlo 1933-2021Inducting Institution: Bryan College ◊ BRYAN COLLEGE - B.A. HISTORY | 1959 Known for her strong faith and determination, Bryan College Alumna Marilyn Laszlo is a trailblazer who brought the word of God, education, and knowledge to a group of unreached people and changed their lives forever. Laszlo spent the majority of her life formulating an alphabet for a previously unwritten language and translating the Bible for the Sepik Iwam people in Hauna Village, located in Papua New Guinea. In 1933, Laszlo was born in Gary, Indiana, and grew up helping her father tend to their family’s farm. After graduating from Liberty Township High School in 1951, she would go on to be the first in her family to achieve a college-level education. At Bryan College, she studied History, Music, and Bible and earned a reputation as a strong competitor in women’s athletics. After graduating from Bryan in 1959, she earned a Master’s in Education at the University of Indiana in 1961. Before becoming a missionary, Laszlo was a high school teacher in Michigan and Indiana. Soon after she began teaching, Laszlo felt spiritually pulled into a different direction. In 1965, she studied linguistics at the University of Oklahoma and joined an interdenominational nonprofit organization, Wycliffe Bible Translators. In 1967, Laszlo moved to Papua New Guinea with her translation partner, where she dedicated 24 years to helping educate and teach the gospel to the Sepik Iwam people in Hauna Village. To accomplish this, she first had to learn their language, create an alphabet, and teach the Sepik Iwam people to read and write. But before she could accomplish any of that, she had to first earn their trust. By carving words onto large banana leaves, Laszlo took the unwritten Sepik Iwam language and began crafting a written language. She went on to complete the Sepik Iwam Bible translation in 1990. She recalls her first night in the Huana Village as a horror story due to encounters with snakes, bats, and rats. Earning trust meant that Laszlo had to fully submerge herself in the Sepik Iwam people’s lifestyle and culture. She faced isolation, mental and physical illness, and countless hours trying to learn an unwritten language. Despite the many challenges, Laszlo gained not only the respect but also the love of the Sepik Iwam people. Though her medical knowledge was limited, Laszlo brought medicine and taught better hygiene practices that cut down on malaria, trichinosis, tuberculosis, leprosy, and pneumonia. Under her leadership, a church, school, store, and clinic were established, and the indigenous people were trained to operate them. A Gospel Boat staffed by the Sepik Iwam Christians allowed further sharing of the Gospel and offered medical work along the river. Laszlo spoke in chapel at Bryan College on several occasions, and her story touched the hearts of many and inspired others to go to the mission field or work for Wycliffe Translators. Laszlo died in 2021 at the age of 88, but her legacy lives on through the Laszlo Mission League, the Sepik Iwam people, and the countless missionaries around the world who are making a difference because of her story. Laszlo truly embodied the mission of Bryan College, serving Christ wholeheartedly and making a difference in the world. Close
 Robert ‘Bob’ MahleyInducting Institution: Maryville College ◊ MARYVILLE COLLEGE - B.S. BIOLOGY | 1963 Dr. Robert W. Mahley is an internationally known expert on heart disease, cholesterol metabolism, and Alzheimer’s disease. His seminal research and over 300 published articles on major genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s have defined critical roles in cholesterol balance and artery health. He has also made fundamental contributions to understanding functions in the nervous system and neurodegenerative disorders. These findings encouraged the explosion of research linking the manner of development of Alzheimer’s and neurodegeneration. Dr. Mahley spent his first 30 years in the midwestern and southeastern United States. His family kept a small farm in Shelbyville, Indiana, and Dr. Mahley’s father also ran a furniture business nearby. After his father’s first heart attack, however, the family dropped both enterprises and moved south in search of a less stressful lifestyle. Dr. Mahley’s father opened a restaurant in Wake Worth, Florida, but because the outdoor work proved to be too strenuous, he suffered another heart attack and died at just 37 years old. Dr. Mahley immediately went to work, first selling newspapers on the street and then apprenticing in a neighborhood garage. He worked on motorcycles for hours after school every day and on weekends, including one exciting stint as a pit mechanic for the 1959 Daytona Beach motorcycle races. He planned to study English and become a Presbyterian minister through Maryville College but decided his second year to switch to Biology. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Maryville College in 1963, Dr. Mahley completed a medical degree and a Ph.D. at Vanderbilt University by 1970. Dr. Mahley went on to work with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he was recruited by the trustees of the J. David Gladstone Institutes to help establish a research institute in San Francisco. Dr. Mahley brought his team of six researchers from NIH, and the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease opened in 1979. Dr. Mahley served as a member of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Medicine, and Gladstone’s President, overseeing the organization’s establishment and growth of the five major institutes it is today. The Mahley Lab at the Gladstone Institute has since identified small molecules that hold promise for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. In 2006, Dr. Mahley developed the Gladstone Center for Translational Research to facilitate the movement of Gladstone’s basic research into developmental targets. In 2010, after 30 years as president, he stepped down to more actively pursue his research. He recently received the Builders of Science Award from Research!America for his leadership as Gladstone’s founding director and president, guiding its growth to become one of the world’s foremost independent research institutes. He was also honored by Maryville College with an Alumni Citation in 1993 and an Honorary Degree in 2006. Dr. Mahley currently lives with his wife in downtown San Francisco. With a son in Minneapolis and a daughter in the San Francisco Bay area, Mahley and his wife enjoy spending time with their teenage granddaughters and escaping on weekends to the north coast. Close
 Martha MorrowInducting Institution: Southern College of Optometry ◊ SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY - O.D. | 1974 Dr. Martha Rosemore Morrow is one of optometry’s most distinguished leaders. At the age of five, Dr. Morrow began shadowing her father, Dr. Fredric M. Rosemore, in his Alabama optometry practice and decided to follow in his footsteps. She graduated from Southern College of Optometry in 1974 and later became the first woman to chair Southern College of Optometry’s Board of Trustees. Dr. Morrow went on to be an accomplished leader in her profession in Russellville, Alabama, where she practiced for several decades. She served as president of the Alabama Optometric Association and she represented Alabama at the American Optometric Association’s Congressional Congress. She was later appointed to the Alabama Medicaid Optometric Peer Review Committee and served on the Vision America of Huntsville Advisory Board. Dr. Morrow’s leadership roles also include service to SECO International, the 13-state association representing the southeastern region for optometry. She also has been an active supporter of the American Optometric Foundation. Dr. Morrow’s business leadership led her to serve on PMC Capital’s Board of Directors and as Trust Manager of PMC Commercial Trust on the American Stock Exchange. She has managed an extensive real estate and investment portfolio and served as trustee of her family’s private foundation. With her family, she also became a major supporter of Southern College of Optometry’s multi-million dollar expansion project that constructed The Eye Center, the college’s public eyecare facility serving 60,000 patients each year in Memphis. In recognition of her leadership and support of her profession, Southern College of Optometry awarded Dr. Morrow the honorary Doctor of Ocular Science degree in 2003. She also received Southern College of Optometry’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, just like her father, making them the first father and daughter alumni in the college’s history to share this honor. All three of Dr. Morrow’s children became optometrists, continuing her family’s optometric legacy. She and her husband, former Alabama State Representative Johnny Mack Morrow, reside in Starkville, Mississippi.
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 Warren PayneInducting Institution: King University ◊ KING COLLEGE - B.A. BUSINESS | 1969 A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Warren Payne graduated from King College—now King University—in 1969 as a student of Business and Economics. He was an ambassador for King through his basketball career, having scored more than 1,000 points and secured 120 offensive rebounds during the 1967-68 season, a top 10 record that still stands more than 50 years later. Following his time at King, Payne started his career as a commercial loan officer with the Bank of Virginia in 1969. He then quickly advanced to the roles of Executive Vice President and then President with First Tennessee Bank in Knoxville, serving in that role from 1977 through 1985. He started Kenesaw Leasing in 1985, which was sold to the National Bank of Commerce in 1996. During a three-year transition period, he worked simultaneously with Kenesaw and the National Bank of Commerce as President & CEO. He then remained with the National Bank of Commerce until it was sold to SunTrust Bank in 2004. After departing the National Bank of Commerce, Payne served as interim President & CEO at Baptist Health of East Tennessee from 2005-2006. He went on to Fountain Equipment Finance in 2006 and served as President & CEO until his retirement in 2023. He currently serves in a consulting role with the company. Payne has demonstrated commitment and care for King University, having dedicated more than 20 years of service as a member of the Board of Trustees. Consistently attentive to King’s mission and Christian commitment, he also served as Chair from 2014-2019, sharing his wisdom and insight, and encouraging others to excellence. He concluded his regular service as a trustee in 2023 and continues in his duties in the title of Trustee Emeritus. Payne has led numerous initiatives for new academic programming at King and notably helped establish deeper connections with the University of Tennessee—efforts that resulted in the 3+2 dual engineering degree agreement between King and the Tickle College of Engineering. With his wife and fellow alum Kathy, he selflessly and tirelessy bears the standard of King University in Bristol, Knoxville, and beyond. Close
 Claude PressnellInducting Institution: Vanderbilt University ◊ SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY - B.A. | PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES | 1985 Dr. Claude Pressnell Jr.’s education at Vanderbilt University profoundly shaped his career and contributions to higher education. His time at Vanderbilt equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of higher education administration. Earning his Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership in 1994, Dr. Pressnell gained the skills and knowledge to tackle complex issues within the educational landscape. With nearly 40 years in higher education administration, Dr. Pressnell began his career at Southwest Baptist University in Missouri as an admissions recruiter, quickly advancing to Senior Director of Admissions and Student Development. His commitment to education continued at Belmont University, where he served as the Director of Financial Assistance and Assistant Professor of Religion while pursuing his doctorate at Vanderbilt. In 1995, he became the Founding Executive Director of the Institute for Family Studies in Colorado. Returning to Tennessee in 1996, he served as Executive Director of the Tennessee Foundation for Independent Colleges and, since 2000, as President of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA). During his tenure at TICUA, Dr. Pressnell’s work in legislative advocacy led to numerous victories. He successfully protected the independence of private higher education institutions by refocusing and amending legislative proposals. His efforts also expanded student aid at both state and federal levels, ensuring greater access to higher education for Tennessee college and university students. Dr. Pressnell worked to secure over $1.5 billion from the State of Tennessee to assist low-income Tennesseans who chose to attend a TICUA member campus. Dr. Pressnell’s influence extends beyond the United States. He facilitated U.S. visits from Iraqi and Kosovar delegations, sharing best practices on accreditation, curriculum development, and collaboration between industry and higher education to enhance economic and cultural well-being. His international advisory roles include consulting on higher education reform to governments in the Middle East, South Asia, the Balkans, South America, and Iraq. In 2011, Dr. Pressnell served as a Fulbright Specialist to reconstruct the student aid scheme for the island nation of the Maldives. Dr. Pressnell’s expertise has been recognized at the highest levels. In 2003, the U.S. Senate appointed him to the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, where he served as Vice Chair from 2007 to 2008. In 2013, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam appointed him as a Commissioner on the Education Commission of the States. In 2014, he was appointed by four U.S. Senators to serve on a committee to recommend ways to reduce the federal regulatory burden on higher education. In 2016, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell appointed him to the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), where he currently serves as chairperson. In 2017, he was considered for the position of U.S. Assistant Secretary for the Office of Postsecondary Education by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, an offer he declined to continue his work with TICUA. Dr. Pressnell’s career is a testament to the impact of a Vanderbilt education. His leadership and dedication have significantly advanced higher education policy and practice, benefiting students and institutions in Tennessee and around the world. Dr. Pressnell, and his wife Cathy, have eight grown children between them and six grandchildren. Close
 David SampsonInducting Institution: Lipscomb University ◊ LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY - B.A. POLITICAL SCIENCE | 1978 David A. Sampson is an esteemed alumnus of Lipscomb University, where he serves as a distinguished professor of public policy, and personifies Lipscomb’s values with excellence in his work and service to others. Sampson serves as the president and CEO of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association(APCIA), and has led the industry through some of the most consequential insurance issues of the last decade, including the COVID-19 response, preserving state statutory accounting during once-in-a-generation tax reform, and ensuring that the Dodd-Frank Act recognized the strong consumer protections already provided by state insurance regulators and the guaranty fund system. As a respected industry voice and proponent of private markets, Sampson is a frequent keynote speaker at industry and business events. In addition, he is a leading spokesperson for the property casualty industry in the media. Sampson also is the president of the Independent Statistical Service, Inc. He serves on the board ofdirectors of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety as well as on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission. In 2024, Specialist named David one of the top 25 “Most Influential People in the Commercial Lines Industry.” Before joining the industry, Sampson served in the George W. Bush Administration in two presidential-appointed and Senate-confirmed positions. From 2005 to 2007, he served as the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce and was a member of Bush’s Management Council. Previously, Sampson served in the Governor George W. Bush Administration as chair of the Texas Council on Workforce and Economic Competitiveness and vice chair of the Texas Strategic Economic Development Planning Commission. He also led the Arlington, Texas Chamber of Commerce as the president and CEO. As a 1978 graduate of Lipscomb University, Sampson received the 2003 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the College of Arts and Sciences, a 2011 Heroes of Business Award from the College of Business, and was named Alumnus of the Year in 2014. He earned a master’s degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, a doctorate at Abilene Christian University, and completed the Program for Senior Executives at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Close
 Carla SandersonInducting Institution: Union University ◊ UNION UNIVERSITY - B.S. NURSING | 1981 Jackson, Tennessee native Dr. Carla Sanderson has 40 years of leadership experience, with a global impact in higher education and healthcare through academic leadership and board membership. Recognized for her expertise in regulation, ethics, and the development of people and academic programs, Dr. Sanderson is a mission-driven leader and an ambassador for Christian higher education and the development of a Christian worldview in health care. Dr. Sanderson’s journey with Union University began as a student, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1981. In 1982, she earned her master’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Memphis and joined Union’s faculty as a nursing professor, driven by her commitment to Christian higher education. Her dedication to the nursing profession led her to pursue a Ph.D. in nursing sciences at the University of Florida. Taking an educational leave of absence from Union, Dr. Sanderson and her family made significant sacrifices to make this move possible, selling their home and possessions, and even dipping into their savings. In 1990, Dr. Sanderson was promoted to Dean of the School of Nursing at Union University, where she spearheaded significant expansions and innovations. Her focus on accreditation issues ensured that the School of Nursing maintained high standards of excellence, providing students with a rigorous and comprehensive education. Promoted to Provost in 1998, Dr. Sanderson provided crucial support to faculty members, helping them recognize their community roles and identifying and recruiting talented individuals. Her expertise in accreditation standards laid a firm foundation for the university and facilitated the launch of new key programs, such as pharmacy and nurse anesthesia. Her tenure was marked by resilience, especially during the 2008 EF-5 tornado that devastated the campus. Dr. Sanderson’s leadership ensured the university remained operational, with a focus on student safety and well-being. In 2012, Dr. Sanderson was named Executive Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, and the following year, the university honored her contributions by creating the Carla D. Sanderson Faculty of the Year Award, recognizing faculty members who embody the mission and ministry of the university, just as Dr. Sanderson did each day. After 32 years of devoted service, Sanderson left Union University in May 2014 and was given the honorary title of Provost Emeritus by the Board of Trustees. Dr. Sanderson currently serves as Provost of Chamberlain University, the largest nursing school in the country. Her influence extends beyond Union University, making significant contributions to higher education both nationally and internationally. She has played a pivotal role in helping the Kurdistan Regional Government implement accreditation standards for its new higher education system and has authored several book chapters on academic leadership and ethical decision-making in nursing, further establishing her expertise in the field. In recognition of her outstanding work and dedication to improving patient and health system outcomes, the American Academy of Nursing selected Dr. Sanderson to join the 2021 Class of Fellows, one of the highest honors in nursing. Inductees collaborate with leaders to transform the nation’s healthcare system and advance health policy, practice, and science through effective nursing leadership. Dr. Sanderson has been married to her husband Larry for over 45 years and have three sons together. Close
 Milton SewellInducting Institution: Freed-Hardeman University ◊ FREED-HARDEMAN COLLEGE - A.A. | 1962 Dr. Milton Sewell’s relationship with Freed-Hardeman University began in the 1960s and continues today as he proudly leads the university as its Chancellor. Through it all, his selfless spirit is reflected in his professional achievements and his devoted acts of service. Dr. Sewell’s path to Freed-Hardeman started in 1962 when he enrolled at the campus. Upon graduation, his career took him to Alabama where he worked as a teacher before returning to the classroom himself at the University of North Alabama where he earned his master’s degree before continuing to get his doctorate in education administration from the University of Alabama. For the next six years, Dr. Sewell continued to work as a principal in Georgia before returning to his alma mater and stepping back onto a campus he didn’t know he would lead in various positions over the course of several decades. In 1976, Dr. Sewell accepted his first position at Freed-Hardeman University, which was then Freed-Hardeman College, as the Vice President for Advancement and Planning. In his role, he pioneered the university’s first organized Institutional Advancement program and processes that continue today. In 1983, Dr. Sewell returned to his elementary and high school alma mater to serve as president. During this time at Mars Hill Bible School in Florence, Alabama the school flourished. Enrollment grew from 600 to 1,100 students; he established new programs, constructed a new building, and won two National School of Excellence Awards from the U.S. Department of Education presented by President Ronald Reagan. In 1990, Dr. Sewell returned to Freed-Hardman for a final time as he was appointed president of the university. During his tenure as president, he led transformative growth in enrollment, campus development, and academic programs, and Freed-Hardeman College became Freed-Hardeman University. On top of that, enrollment nearly doubled, graduate programs were implemented, nine new buildings were constructed and others were renovated, the endowment grew by 600%, and fundraising grew to new heights. After serving as president of Freed-Hardeman University for eighteen years, Dr. Sewell transitioned to Chancellor in 2008. As Chancellor for the past sixteen years, he has continued to raise millions of dollars for operations, scholarships, endowments, and capital projects. Dr. Sewell has tireless energy that he leverages in his relentless pursuit of furthering the mission of Freed-Hardeman University. Above all, Dr. Sewell is a man of steadfast faith whose selfless spirit is reflected in his professional achievements and community service awards. Close
 Claire TuckerInducting Institution: Tennessee Wesleyan University ◊ TENNESSEE WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY - B.S. ACCOUNTING | 1975 As a Corporate Director and CEO, Claire Tucker demonstrated her ability to deliver results, increase shareholder value, and create environments where customer-centric growth strategies achieve success. She has long been a consensus builder with a global perspective who is able to unite boards, management, staff, and industry leaders around a common purpose. Tucker is CEO Emerita of CapStar Bank (recently acquired by Old National Bank) and was CapStar’s Founding President. From the development of a business proposition through opening day and ongoing operations, Tucker provided the leadership for the bank’s mission and vision, governance structure, licensing and regulatory protocols, internal operating platform, and logistics for serving both retail and commercial clients. In 2007, she co-led CapStar’s initial capital raise of $88M, a record for a de novo bank in Tennessee. Profitability was achieved within three years of operations, and the bank grew to $1B in 2012, despite the economic recession. With successful organic growth and acquisitions, she created what became a $3B financial institution. Throughout her career she has earned the trust and respect of her peers, evidenced by two distinguished appointments. From 2019-2021, Tucker served as a member of the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and served on the Audit & Operating Risk Committee. Earlier, she was a Gubernatorial appointee to the Inaugural Board of Directors of the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation and served as the Secretary/Treasurer and the Chair of the Audit Committee. She successfully established the operating business including governance, policies and procedures, recruitment of leadership team, development of compensation plan, and oversight of the launch and ongoing operations. Tucker is actively involved in the community. Currently, she is a Board member of the Nashville Convention, Visitors Corporation and serves as Audit Committee Chair and board member of TPAC. Tucker is also a Trustee of both Tennessee Wesleyan niversity and Belmont University. Additionally, she was involved with many organizations including the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, Co-Chair of the Finance Committee for the NCAA Women’s Final Four Committee 2014, Nashville Sports Council, Nashville Entrepreneur Center, Nashville Healthcare Council, Chairmanships of TPAC, Nashville’s Table, Second Harvest Food Bank, Nashville Ballet, and St. Luke’s Community House. Tucker currently serves as a Board Member of Ford Credit Bank; a subsidiary of Ford Motor Credit Corporation. Upon regulatory approval of the bank, she will serve on one or more bank committees. Her outstanding leadership and professional expertise have been recognized with numerous awards including induction into the Leaders in Banking Excellence Hall of Fame at the Tennessee Bankers Association, Project Return’s Leadership Award, Distinguished Entrepreneur from Tennessee Wesleyan University, EY Entrepreneur of the Year, and Financial Services for the Southeast Region. Tucker was named to American Banker’s 25 Women to Watch, Nashville Business Journal’s Women of Influence, as well as a finalist for its Most Admired CEO. Close
 Stanley R. Welty Jr. 1929-2007Inducting Institution: Tusculum University ◊ TUSCULUM COLLEGE - B.A. BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION | 1951 Throughout Dr. Stanley R. Welty Jr.’s life, he was an outstanding example of practicing the civic engagement principle of Tusculum University’s mission. Today, his legacy of service and generosity continues to inspire people and improve their opportunities in life through the Janet N. and Stanley R. Welty Jr. ’51 Endowed Scholarship. Originally from Ohio, Dr. Welty’s pursuit of education and academic excellence took him to then Tusculum College in Tennessee. Dr. Welty quickly began making his mark on the college by serving as President of the College Dormitory, Senior Class President, and Business Manager of the yearbook. He graduated in 1951 during the height of the Korean War and went on to serve his country for four years in the United States Air Force. Upon his return to civilian life, he began working with the Armstrong Cork Company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 1982, he joined The Wooster Brush Company and went on to serve as the company’s President for thirteen years, which were filled with tremendous success and company expansions. Dr. Welty’s appreciation for education, his business acumen, and his philanthropic and civic sense of responsibility played a central role in his life’s stewardship and brought him back to his alma mater, where his impact was particularly profound. Dr. Welty not only held a seat for seven years on the Board of Trustees of Tusculum University starting in 1988, but also supported the college financially by helping fund scholarships, including the creation of the Janet N. and Stanley R. Welty Jr. ’51 Endowed Scholarship. These funds ensured that next generations of students, particularly first-generation college students, had a chance to attend Tusculum. He also backed the renovation and expansion of the Thomas J. Garland Library and the development of a new gym. Dr. Welty passed away in 2007, but he is still making a difference at Tusculum. In 2023, his widow, Janet, donated $25,000 to the university’s Dorm Refresh Campaign, saying she knew her husband would have contributed to the cause were he still alive. Through his dedication and commitment, he was deservedly honored with awards including The Salvation Army Others Award in 1991, the Tusculum College Pioneer Award in 1992, the Goodwill Lifetime Achievement and Wayne County Historical Society Service Awards in 1994, and the Tusculum College of Distinguished Alumni and Wooster Chamber of Commerce Awards in 1997. He also served on numerous boards of directors for organizations including the American Heart Association, the Salvation Army, Junior Achievement, Goodwill Industries, and the United Way. Close
 Russell WiggintonInducting Institution: Rhodes College ◊ RHODES COLLEGE - B.A. HISTORY | 1988 Throughout Dr. Russell T. Wigginton Jr.’s life, he has embodied Rhodes College’s vision of inciting effective leadership and action in the communities and the world. Whether serving as president of the National Civil Rights Museum or working in education reform, he has continued to give back to his community and country. Dr. Wigginton spent his early years in Louisville before relocating to Nashville because of his father’s railroad job. Despite coming from a rich family legacy of HBCUs, Dr. Wigginton chose Rhodes College to pursue playing basketball and to obtain a history degree. After graduation, Dr. Wigginton went on to earn his master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Wigginton returned to Tennessee and Rhodes College in 1996, where he began his career at his alma mater. From 1996 to 2004, Dr. Wigginton taught in the Department of History before assuming the role of Vice President of External Programs and later as Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students. While teaching in the History department at Rhodes, Dr. Wigginton published The Strange Career of the Black Athlete: African-Americans and Sports in addition to articles and essays on African American social and labor history. Through his various positions within Rhodes, he also focused on emphasizing his relationships with students and striving to assist them in discovering their lifelong passions. In following his passion for helping postsecondary students succeed, Dr. Wigginton assumed the position of Chief Postsecondary Impact Officer at the education non-profit, Tennessee’s State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) in 2019. During this time, he led the organization’s work for postsecondary access, retention, and completion while identifying gaps in advocacy, policy, and practice. In 2021, Dr. Wigginton stepped into a new role that his previous decades of education, philanthropy, and executive management prepared him for: president of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Wigginton’s dedication to the museum’s mission of sharing the culture and lessons from the American Civil Rights Movement is a key driver in his impactful leadership. Despite Dr. Wigginton’s busy career, he continues to dedicate his time to serving his community and the world around him. He serves on the Rhodes College Board of Trustees and numerous civic boards including the Memphis Zoo, New Memphis Institute, ArtsMemphis, Overton Park Conservancy, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Ballet Memphis, St. George’s Independent Schools, KIPP Schools, and Facing History and Ourselves. Wigginton is married to Tomeka Hart and has one son, Ryan. |
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