Margaret Gaut '40 visits with Capt. Sam Doak '49 H'14 during the reception July 19.
The Pioneer Perk was filled with smiles and laughter the afternoon of July 19 as more than 100 people turned out for a reception July 19 to reminisce and share their well wishes with Capt. Sam Doak (USN-Retired) ’49 H’14 and his wife, Emily.
The reception was planned to give the Tusculum community, as well as the community at large, an opportunity to say a fond farewell to the Doaks and say thank you for their contributions to not only the College, but also the Greene County area. The reception was coordinated by the Office of Institutional Advancement.
The Doaks have made their mark on Tusculum and the community through their service to others and leadership.
“Captain Sam and Mrs. Emily Doak have throughout the years distinguished themselves, Tusculum College and the community,” said Dr. Nancy B. Moody, president of Tusculum College. “Through service, leadership and lifelong support of the College, the Doaks exemplify the Civic Art values that Tusculum College has promoted for 222 years.”
“As friends, supporters and neighbors of the College, their presence on campus has
Andy Daniels '69 shares her well wishes to Emily Doak during the reception, which more than 100 people attended.
been continually felt, as they are frequently seen supporting art programs, athletic events, lecture programs and other outreach programs of the College,” Dr. Moody continued. “Sam and Emily have been generous contributors to Tusculum College throughout their lives, supporting the growth, expansion and mission of the College at the highest levels. These gifts have impacted the lives of thousands of students who lead better lives today because of their time spent at Tusculum College.”
Captain Doak has deep roots at Tusculum as the great, great, great, great grandson of Samuel Doak, who founded Washington College Academy, and the great, great, great, great, great grandson of Samuel Witherspoon Doak, who founded Tusculum Academy. He has provided leadership to the College as director of alumni affairs and as a valued and influential member of the Tusculum College Board of Trustees.
Emily Doak has been a familiar face to visitors of the museums on campus. She has served as hostess at the President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library and the Doak House Museum. She has also served as an officer in the Andrew Johnson Heritage Association, which supports the educational programming of the museums.
The couple have been active and dedicated members of the Greeneville Cumberland Presbyterian Church and maintain a relationship with First Presbyterian Church of Greeneville.
’60s
Dr. Ruth Lane Carpenter ’60 of Morristown, TN, celebrated her 86th birthday with her church family on July 3. Gatway Church in Morristown declared that Sunday as “Ruth Carpenter Day” to celebrate her life and impact on the local community and Lakeway region. A native of East Tennessee, she achieved her goal of marrying a “preacher man” when she became the wife of Rev. Allen Carpenter 60 years ago. The couple had two children, and Ruth has also mothered a number of foster children and a host of spiritual sons and daughters through the years. She began her teaching career at a one-room school for grades one through eight in Grainger County and served as the basketball coach. During her educational career, she taught every grade through secondary school and eventually became a professor of educational psychology at Walters State Community College where she later served as the head of the behavioral science department before her retirement in 1992. After retiring from education, she began her second and third careers as a Christian therapist and an ordained minister of Gateway Church. In this season of her life, she has counseled a multitude of individuals, served as an advisor to several community organizations – including Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System and the Morristown Police Department, where continues to act as a chaplain. She is a sought-after speaker for churches and women’s groups throughout the region. She is also known in the community as a “prayer warrior” who has faithfully interceded for her church, her community and those who come to her for counsel.
Andy Susong Daniels ’69 of Greeneville, TN, and her husband W.T. Daniels celebrated their wedding anniversary last month with a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC, where they honeymooned 50 years ago. Andy and W.T., who is now serving as mayor of Greeneville, were married on June 17, 1966, at the Greeneville Cumberland Presbyterian Church by the Rev. Roy E. Blakeburn, who graduated from Tusculum in 1984 and passed away earlier this year. The Daniels have two daughters, Angela Daniels ’90 and DeAnna Pillar, and seven grandchildren. Andy graduated second in her class at Tusculum and later earned a master’s degree in early childhood education from East Tennessee State University. She operated a private nursery school, Miss Andy’s Nursery, for nine years. For more than 20 years, Andy served as an adjunct faculty member at Walters State Community College and as an instructor at the YMCA. Both Andy and W.T. are active in community activities and in 2012, they purchased and renovated one of the oldest homes in downtown Greeneville.
‘80s
Beth Maupin Frye ’85 of Chuckey, TN, has been named athletic director at Chuckey-Doak High School for the 2016-17 academic year. A math teacher at the school, she has also served as the head girl’s basketball coach since 2000. She has served as head volleyball coach, assistant softball coach and started the cross country teams at both the high school and Chuckey-Doak Middle School.
’00s
Heather Sellers ’02 of Huntsville, AL, has joined the staff of the Cook Museum of Natural Science in Decatur, AL, as the exhibits coordinator. The new Cook Museum is scheduled to open to the public in late 2017.
Hope Sims Malone ’05 of Bluff City, TN, has been named the new principal at Church Hill Elementary School.
Keith Lambert ’08 of Powell, TN, graduated from the 264th Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA, in June. Lambert, who serves as the deputy chief of the University of Tennessee Police Department, was one of five law enforcement officers from Tennessee in the class. The academy is an invitation-only opportunity offered to the top one percent of the law enforcement community. Lambert completed 17 hours of college courses during the 10-week program, which covered drug enforcement strategies, legal updates for command level officers, advanced leadership, forensic science and other subjects in addition to the physical training associated with the program. The 29-year veteran of the UT department completed the Marine Corps Obstacle Course, called the “Yellow Brick Road.” The grueling 6.1-mile course has come to symbolize attendance and completion of the academy. Lambert received the coveted Yellow Brick for completing all weekly physical challenges.
’10s
Dr. Rebecca Hunley ’12 of Talbott, TN, has been named the new assistant principal at Cherokee High School. Hunley comes to the Hawkins County School from Jefferson County High School, where she was a biology teacher for the past 11 years. During her time in the Jefferson County system, she served as a DATA Team coach, Science Club sponsor. Science Bowl coach and STEM representative for the county.
Justin Reed ’13 has finished his MFA at Washington University in St. Louis and has had his first book published, “A History of Flamboyance” (YesYes Books, 2016). His first full-length book of poetry, “Indecency,” is forthcoming from Coffee House Press in 2018. His work appears—or soon will—in “Best American Essays,” “Callaloo,” “The Iowa Review,” “The Kenyon Review,” “Obsidian,” “PEN American,” “Vinyl” and elsewhere.
Altoine Wilson ’13 of Covington, GA, has joined the coaching staff of the Alcovy High School football team in Covington as an assistant coach. Alcovy is Wilson’s high school alma mater and he played football for the Tigers. He teaches in the Covington school system.
Cameron Carney ’16 has signed a professional contract to play for the Alpine Cowboys of the Pecos League, an independent professional league in the desert mountain region in the Southwest. Carney, a native of Niagara Falls, NY, was a pitcher for the Pioneers and made 17 appearances this past spring, including seven starts where he posted a 4-0 record and a 4.40 earned average. He combined on a pair of shutouts and posted a save against Catawba. He pitched in 47 innings where he tallied 44 strikeouts against 10 walks and limited the opposition to a .272 batting average. In his two years at Tusculum, he finished with a perfect 5-0 record in his 29 appearances, including two saves and a 5.38 ERA. He tallied 65 strikeouts against 20 walks. Carney graduated in May with a degree in criminal justice, while minoring in psychology.
Yared Mamo ’16 has accepted the position of intensive care unit nurse at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville, TN.
Brooke Wilhoit ’15 and Matt Ripley ’09 ’15 were married May 21, 2016, at Asbury United Methodist Church in Greeneville. The couple is living in Greeneville. Brooke and Matt are both teachers in the Greene County School System. She teaches English language arts and he teaches mathematics.
Dorothy “Dotti” Park Range ’45 of Burlington, NC, passed away June 14, 2016. Mrs. Range lived life with zest, enthusiasm and with appreciation for her many blessings, and she served others in many ways with equal enthusiasm. She graduated as salutatorian from Tusculum and continued her studies in history at the University of Tennessee and Tennessee State College. She began her teaching career when she and her husband, Harold, moved to Raleigh, NC, and subsequently to Burlington. She taught at North Carolina School for the Blind in Raleigh, then at EM Holt Elementary School in special needs, returning to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to expand her knowledge as she began teaching Bible studies at both Williams and Cumming high schools. Mrs. Range was active in her church and civic communities. She was a member of Front Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and dearly loved her church family. She participated and taught Sunday school, Bible school, Christian Women’s Fellowship as well as serving on the board of trustees and as a deacon and elder. Mrs. Range served as a counselor at Christmount Christian Camp in Black Mountain and was often invited to lead Bible study group in many local churches. Her community activities included League of Women Voters, Lady Lions, Garden Club competitions, Church Women United and Daughters of the American Revolution. Mrs. Range was an avid golfer and enjoyed many other sports and outdoor activities, including bridge, duct pin team bowling at the YMCA and camping with the Girl Scouts as leader. She was active in the Senior Olympics. She also supported and attended the high school athletics games and matches, having been involved in sports in her own high school and college. Her many activities came second to her love of family – too immeasurable to describe.
Ken Hood Jr. ’50 of Greeneville, TN, passed away on July 16, 2016, after enjoying 91 years of life. Mr. Hood was one of the more decorated veterans from East Tennessee, having served with the 407th Infantry Regiment of the 102nd “Ozark” Division as a Platoon Sergeant of “Rogers Raiders” during World War II. After the war, he came to Greene County and opened a photography studio before joining the Greeneville Sun as the newspaper’s first staff photographer in 1950. Mr. Hood worked at the newspaper until he retired in 2007 as its executive editor. He was active in his church, Trinity United Methodist Church, where he served in various capacities through the years. Mr. Hood also served for several years as a member of the Greeneville City School Board, providing leadership and guidance during the time of desegregation and the construction of Hal Henard Elementary School and Greeneville Middle School. He was a member of the Greeneville Rotary Club for many years until his health precluded him from attending, serving for many years on its board of directors and as an officer of the club. Mr. Hood enjoyed people and kept up with family and friends from near and far through email and Facebook. He was always fascinated with a good gadget and enjoyed keeping up with the latest technologies. He enjoyed telling jokes, teasing his friends, smoking his ever-present pipe, and eating anything chocolate. He was devoted to his family and throughout his life, he invested himself, his values and his work ethic in his family and friends. He will be remembered for his many acts of kindness, his words of encouragement, his firm handshake, his keen sense of humor and his warm, friendly smile.
Diane Leslie Russell ’70 of Asheville, NC, passed away June 29, 2016. Mrs. Russell was an educator, businesswoman and church leader. She served as guidance counselor and admissions director at Asheville Country Day School. Mrs. Russell was the founding president and director of Career and Educational Planning Service, which guided the choice of colleges and careers for students and adults. She continued in the field until the end of her life, helping many make mid-life career changes. She was a leader in the Episcopal church and served as senior warden of the vestry at The Cathedral of All Souls. Mrs. Russell led numerous committees in early career planning, teaching and consulting in an educational environment. She served on the education committee of the Western North Carolina Diocese of the Episcopal Church.
Carrie Ann LaPolt ’04 of Greeneville, TN, passed away July 10, 2016, due to complications from a brain hemorrhage. Ms. LaPolt was a certified yoga instructor and enjoyed her pets, arts and crafts, and watching Tennessee Volunteer football games. Toward the end of her life, she was embracing a newfound spirituality. Ms. LaPolt attended St. James Lutheran Church and her final act of kindness was to share the gift of life through organ donation.
Faculty
Dr. Robert Orr passed away on June 23, 2016, due to injuries received in an automobile accident. Dr. Orr had taught courses related to American history and environmental studies at Tusculum in the 1990s. A local historian with interests in East Tennessee and the Civil War, he had also been a lecturer at the College on numerous occasions. Dr. Orr was a talented musician and had also performed at various College events.