GREENEVILLE – One of the special elements of the Old Oak Festival at Tusculum University this year was memorializing a beloved alumnus who had helped make the annual gathering on campus extra special.
Gail Winterbauer, center, stands with the band Salty Moondogs
Gail Winterbauer, fourth from the right, is joined by Tusculum alumni and members of the band Salty Moondogs.
During the festival, Tusculum announced that the stage for the musicians was now named after the late Kenneth Winterbauer, better known by his nickname “Shadow.” The decision was effective with this year’s festival, and a banner hung on the tent behind the musicians as they played throughout the weekend.
Winterbauer passed away in December.
“We were thrilled to recognize Shadow’s love of Tusculum and his support of the festival by naming the stage after him,” said Edward Roberts, vice president of institutional advancement. “Whenever students graduate and become alumni, we encourage them to remain engaged with their alma mater and return to campus frequently. Shadow was an outstanding example of an active alumnus, and we are grateful for all of his efforts to assist Tusculum.”
Tusculum held a brief ceremony Saturday, April 26, to celebrate The Kenneth “Shadow” Winterbauer Stage. Winterbauer’s wife, Gail, and several alumni, including his college roommate Bill Dunham, attended the event. The ceremony took place before The Salty Moondogs, with which Winterbauer played, performed a set in front a large crowd.
Gail Winterbauer said she was honored to see her husband recognized in this manner.
“Kenneth was happy to help the university in whatever ways he could and was pleased to be part of the Old Oak Festival,” she said. “He had a wonderful experience at Tusculum when he was a student and enjoyed returning to campus as much as possible. He was especially happy to maintain his connections with the students who attended Tusculum at the same time he did as well with other alumni.”
Kenneth Winterbauer was a 1973 Tusculum graduate and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Like many other Tusculum alumni of that era, Winterbauer came from the East Coast to study at the university. He continued to reside in Greeneville for a while after graduation and later lived in Chattanooga, where he met his wife and they raised their daughter, Hannah. He returned to Greeneville in 2019 when he retired.
As an alumnus, Winterbauer demonstrated his love for his alma mater in multiple ways. For years, he organized the music for the festival, and he would play on that weekend as well. In addition, he would perform at other functions, such as alumni gatherings during Homecoming. The banner features a picture of Winterbauer singing and playing the guitar with a cross on the strap.
The Salty Moondogs play Saturday at the Old Oak Festival.
Kenneth Winterbauer, left, attends Alumni Night at the Flyboys in 2024.
Winterbauer was a frequent visitor on campus for other events, such as attending Alumni Night at the Greeneville Flyboys game. He was also part of the community’s welcome to Dr. Scott Hummel when he joined the Tusculum family as president.
He showcased his good humor by filming YouTube videos to promote Homecoming in 2023 with Dunham and fellow alumnus David Misener. He also filmed a separate one with Dunham to encourage members of the 1973 graduation class to return for commencement in 2023 as Golden Pioneers. In addition, he served as a member of the Alumni Executive Board.
His funeral at Reformation Lutheran Church drew a large crowd of well-wishers, including a contingent from Tusculum, in recognition of his warmth, kindness and affection for Tusculum.
“One of the joys of my position is having the opportunity to connect with alumni and hear their stories about their years at Tusculum and how that time influenced their lives,” Dr. Hummel said. “It was a real pleasure to meet and come to know Shadow, and I was struck in my conversations with him about how his love for Tusculum was so strong. We miss Shadow greatly but know that his spirit will continue to be ever-present on campus and will be a light for our students and alumni.”
Additional information about Tusculum’s alumni is available at https://web.tusculum.edu/alumni/. To learn more about the university, please visit www.tusculum.edu.