Volume 31, Number 2
June 2019 Newsletter
President’s Letter
Dear Friends,
The motto for the UTIA Retirees Association could be “To foster harmony and good communications and to support the programs of UTIA.” This statement is a summary of a phone conversation that I had with James L. (Jim) Pointer a few weeks ago, as I was preparing for the State-Eastern Area Annual meeting. You may be aware that the original organization started as an Extension Retirees organization and then later expanded to include the entire Institute. None of the original leaders from fifty years ago are still living, but Jim (with the able assistance of his late wife Ms. Cordie) was very instrumental in supporting the Retirees Association over the years, as were Marion Mariner and LaVerne Farmer and others. We owe them all a sincere debt of thanks. Continue reading on the website…
Ruth
Ruth Henderson McQueen
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Cumberland Area Retirees Enjoy May Meeting
Ruth Henderson McQueen, President
The Cumberland Area UTIA Retirees met in Cookeville on a beautiful spring day, Tuesday, May 7, for a most enjoyable meeting at the American Bank and Trust Community Room. A well-planned program was led by Phyliss Boyce, Linda Tinch, and Jenny Yeary. More than thirty attended and participated in the fellowship and told interesting and humorous stories from days gone by, all while enjoying good food. Carole Reese was the guest speaker, and she shared her horticulture expertise in a very informative and entertaining manner. Ruth Henderson McQueen, state president, gave an update on the fiftieth anniversary of the organization, and then everyone enjoyed the special orange and white anniversary cake for dessert.
State and Eastern Area Spring Meeting
Steve Sutton, Eastern Area Vice President
Steve Sutton, Eastern Area vice president, presided and welcomed the group to the annual meeting. Jordan Bowling, State 4-H All Star chief, brought the thought for the day and thanked the association for their sponsorship of the State 4-H Poster Art Contest and State 4-H Congress Essay Contest.
Tim Cross, chancellor of the UT Institute of Agriculture, addressed the group and gave a brief update. The morning speaker was Sue Hamilton, associate professor and director of the UT Gardens. Sue brought a delightful and informative program on the UT Gardens. The group was impressed with the breadth and depth of programs offered by the Gardens, and I suspect many of us will be checking out this wonderful resource during the coming mon
Eastern Area Meeting
The combined Eastern area and state meeting of the UTIA Retirees Association was held on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at the UT Eastern Region office at Downtown West in Knoxville. There were forty-nine members and guests in attendance.
State Meeting
Ruth Henderson McQueen presided at the state business meeting. Sandie Morton presented the secretary’s and treasurer’s reports. Both documents were approved by the membership. We were pleased to have Dean Caula Beyl, Vice Chancellor Lisa Sterns and Vice Chancellor Keith Barber in attendance.
John Jared, chair of the nominating committee, reported the following officers:
Eastern Area: Wanda Russell, vice president and Connie Geddings Reese, secretary
Cumberland Area: To be determined
Central Area: To be determined
Western Area: To be determined
State: Ruth Henderson McQueen, president and Sandie Morton, secretary/treasurer
Ruth Henderson McQueen and Sandie Morton were elected to serve as state officers for a second term beginning July 1, 2019.
George Mays brought a communications update and encouraged everyone to keep their contact preference information up-to-date. It was announced that Ag Day will be October 5 (UT vs Georgia).
This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the organization. The membership honored Jim Pointer for his many years of service and dedication to the organization.
Andy and Cheryl Seals led the group in remembering those coworkers whom we lost this past year; and Harry Bryan gave the invocation for the meal. The group enjoyed a delicious barbecue chicken lunch prepared by the Knox County 4-H volunteer leaders.
UT Central Region Retirees Gather in Milton
Ruth Henderson McQueen, President
On April 24, a group of more than twenty arrived in Milton, in Rutherford County, for the Central Area UTIA Retirees meeting. Pat Whitaker gave leadership to a delightful gathering. The group enjoyed good food and fellowship and learned more about the lunch venue, aptly named the Gathering. The Vaught family is a long time 4-H family and purchased this old country store building and has renovated it for numerous functions.
Western Area Retirees Meet in Jackson
John Jared, Past President
The Western Area Retirees met in Jackson on June 6 at the beautiful home and gardens of Kayo and Helen Mullins. Vice president John Bradley welcomed the group and made appropriate introductions as members arrived. In the midst of refreshing spring showers, retirees were treated to a scenic tour of the spectacular gardens the Mullinses have developed. Tennessee Extension Master Gardener Helen led the tour and shared much information about the many plant species observed and the beautiful landscaping she and Kayo have established.
Following lunch, each member gave a brief summary of their UTIA career and an update of current happenings as they enjoy retirement. President Ruth Henderson McQueen updated the group on activities from across the state. In addition, she shared thoughts on collecting and archiving the history of the association and her goal for celebrating the association’s fiftieth anniversary. Vice President Bradley requested ideas from the group for a fall get together and offered closing comments. A day of food, fun, and fellowship was enjoyed by each of the twenty-one members attending!
Former Extension District 3 Retirees Meet
June A. Puett
On April 24, a group of more than twenty arrived in Milton, in Rutherford County, for the Central Area UTIA Retirees meeting. Pat Whitaker gave leadership to a delightful gathering. The group enjoyed good food and fellowship and learned more about the lunch venue, aptly named the Gathering. The Vaught family is a long time 4-H family and purchased this old country store building and has renovated it for numerous functions.
Ag Day 2019
Ruth Henderson McQueen, President
For several decades UTIA has held an Annual Ag Day in the fall on a football Saturday. The event last year was the day of the UT/Florida game and drew a very large crowd. It was an exciting day of excellent exhibits and activities and good food and bluegrass music. The best part was the opportunity to not only see and learn about UTIA programs and activities, but to also visit with fellow retirees, alumni, current staff, students and other friends and donors of the Institute. Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 5, 2019, for Ag Day this year. UT will play Georgia, but many folks come and enjoy the day whether or not they have tickets to the game.
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Information About Retirees
Keep Your Friends
Submitted by Roger Thackston
A newlywed young man was sitting on the porch on a humid day, sipping iced tea with his Father. As he talked about adult life, marriage, responsibilities, and obligations, the father thoughtfully stirred the ice cubes in his glass and cast a clear, sober look on his son.
“Never forget your friends,” he advised, “They will become more important as you get older. Regardless of how much you love your family and the children you happen to have, you will always need friends. Remember to go out with them occasionally, if possible, but keep in contact with them somehow.”
“What strange advice!” thought the young man. “I just entered the married world, I am an adult and surely my wife and the family that we will start will be everything I need to make sense of my life.”
Yet, he obeyed his father; kept in touch with his friends and annually increased their number.
Over the years, he became aware that his father knew what he was talking about. Inasmuch as time and nature carry out their designs and mysteries on a person, friends are the bulwarks of our life.
Time passes. Life goes on. Children grow up. Jobs/careers come and go. People can’t do what they did physically when they were young. Parents die but you move on. Colleagues forget the favors you did. The race to achieve slows.
But true friends are always there, no matter how long or how many miles away they are. A friend is never more distant than the reach of a need, intervening in your favor, waiting for you with open arms or in some way blessing your life.
When we started this adventure called LIFE, we did not know of the incredible joys or sorrows that were ahead. We did not know how much we would need from each other. Love your parents, take care of your children, but keep a group of good friends. Stay in touch with them but do not impose your criteria.
Herb Byrd III*
Last title at UTIA: Director, Human Resources Office
* Transferred to UT Institute for Public Service as vice president
Cathy C. Faust
Last title at UTIA: Extension Agent III, Shelby County
Steve Walker
Last title at UTIA: Extension agent and leader, Macon County
Dena Wise
Last title at UTIA: Professor and Consumer Economics Specialist, Family and Consumer Sciences
The UT Human Resources Office reports the following persons retired or departed recently from UTIA.
Retirements
- James Richard Buntin, Extension Agent III and County Director, Crockett County
- Sara Crabb Clatterbuck, IT Analyst III, Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
- Samuel Chester Danehower, Extension Area Specialist III, Lauderdale County
- Cathy C. Faust, Extension Agent III, Shelby County
- Steven Wayne Gibson, Senior Maintenance Specialist II, West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center
- Avis A. Smith, Accounting Specialist I, Animal Science
- Lisa Michele Thomas, Administrative Support Assistant II, UT Extension Sullivan County
- Sheri R. Burnette, Coordinator III, Sponsored Projects, AgResearch
- Susan Dawn Cherry, Student Services Assistant III, UTCVM
- Artia Jane Deakins, Accounting Assistant III, Soil, Plant, Pest Center, UT Extension
- Diane F. Dyer, Administrative Support Assistant II, UT Extension
- Deborah B. Fowlkes, Medical Administrative Specialist I, UTCVM
- Kim David Frady, Extension Agent III and County Director, Bradley County
- Steven Wayne Gibson, Senior Maintenance Specialist II, West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center
- Margie Kirby Hudson, Extension Agent III, Lawrence County
- Tressie Diane Nuchols, Administrative Support Assistant III, Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, UTCVM
- Brenda Carolyn Shadden, Extension Agent III and County Director, Cocke County
- Richard J. Strange, Professor, Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
- Dena K. Wise, Professor, Family and Consumer Sciences, UT Extension
- Virginia R. Yeary, Administrative Support Assistant II, UT Extension
Departures
- Shawn Alan Butler, Research Associate II, Plant Sciences
- Benjamin Edward Cordes, Research Associate I, Plant Sciences
- Brandi Alisha Hawks, Administrative Support Assistant II, UT Extension
- Ann Marie Moore, Research Specialist II, Plateau AgResearch and Education Center
- Heather D. Toler, Research Associate I, Plant Sciences
- Kokouvi Mawuko Akato, Research Associate II, AgResearch
- Ann Marie Moore, Research Specialist II, Plateau AgResearch and Education Center
- William Daniel Strunk, Research Associate I, Plant Sciences
- Dan Ray Trentham, Accounting Specialist I, Plant Sciences
- Lindsey Ann Tritt, Extension Assistant I, 4-H/ALEC, UT Extension
- Kimberly Whitlock Abdulla, Extension Agent I, Roane County
- Shahrina Alam, Postdoctoral Research Associate, AgResearch
- Luis Angel Almeida, Extension Program Assistant II, Montgomery County
- Victoria A. Brooks, Administrative Support Assistant II, Plant Sciences
- Janet Lynn Bunch, Administrative Support Assistant II, Bradley County, UT Extension
- Allen B. Cain, Program Administrator, Lone Oaks Farm, UT Extension
- Virginia Grace Carter, Clinical Assistant I, Large Animal Clinical Sciences, UTCVM
- Bradley Kenneth Clark, Research Associate I, Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center
- Richard Warner Clark, Professor, 4-H/ALEC, UT Extension
- Bobby Joe Cook, Agricultural Service Aide II, UT Gardens
- John Allen Hamrick, Extension Agent I, Washington County
- Mary Paige Hose, Administrative Support Assistant I, Lincoln County, UT Extension
- Kimberly Lynn Ison, Medical Administrative Assistant II, UTCVM
- Erik Wayne Johnson, Maintenance Specialist II, UTCVM
- Jennifer Ward Jordan, Extension Specialist I, 4-H/ALEC
- Laura Ann Kwasnicki, Senior Clinical Specialist I, Small Animal Clinical Sciences, UTCVM
- Elizabeth More Lennon, Assistant Professor, Small Animal Clinical Sciences, UTCVM
- Degao Liu, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Plant Sciences
- Tabitha Katrina Mason, Medical Administrative Assistant II, UTCVM
- Jake Liles Massingill, Research Technician III, Plant Sciences
- Lucas Joe Mercker, Extension Agent I, Carroll County
- William Jonathan Miller, Vehicle Operator III, Plateau AgResearch and Education Center
- John Joseph Noto, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Plant Sciences
- Francisco J. Palacios, Research Technician II, Plant Sciences
- Regina Dawn Sensing, Administrative Support Assistant II, Hickman County, UT Extension
- Stephanie Lynn Sherfield, Extension Agent I, Wilson County
- Nathan Leslie Sivley, Laboratory Assistant I, Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, UTCVM
- Kathleen Michelle Skovran, Administrative Specialist I, Family and Consumer Sciences
- Lindsey Morgan Turner, Extension Program Assistant II, Lauderdale County
- Trevor Dean Weller, Agricultural Service Assistant I, AgResearch and Education Center at Milan
Name links to obituary.
William F. “Bill” Crafton died March 1, 2019, at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Crafton was a graduate of the University of Tennessee. He served as 4-H agent with the UT Extension in Franklin and Coffee Counties.
Arthur Leal, age 36 of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, April 4, 2019, at his home. Leal joined UTIA in 2016 as assistant professor of agricultural leadership, education and communications, and spearheaded the development of the communications program. Memorials may be made to the Arthur Leal Memorial Study Abroad Scholarship. Contributions for the scholarship may be sent to National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, c/o Dr. Jefferson Miller, Treasurer, University of Arkansas, AFLS D-06, Fayetteville, AR 72701, with Arthur’s name in the memo.
Sympathy is expressed to the family and friends of UTIA retiree Jimmy Clark “Jim” Castellaw, 65, in his death on April 20, 2019. Castellaw was employed as a farm management specialist with UT Extension.
Shirley Phillips Hensley, age 82 of Knoxville, formerly of the Bradbury Community, Kingston, passed away Sunday, April 28, 2019. She retired from the UTIA after 38 years as a senior secretary. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cedar Lane United Methodist Church, 714 Cedar Lane, Knoxville, TN 37912.
Terry Lynn Irwin, age 67 of Knoxville, passed away on March 19, 2019. Terry retired from the UTIA Print Shop. Expressions of sympathy may be offered online. Terry’s wife, Shirley Irwin, passed away on January 31, 2019, at age 69. Shirley retired in June 2011.
We express sincere comfort and/or speedy healing to the following UTIA employees or retirees:
Sympathy is expressed to Laura Stephenson, assistant dean of Extension, in the passing of her father-in-law, the Reverend Joseph Stephenson Sr. Our deepest sympathies go out to the Stephenson family during this difficult time. Reverend Stephenson’s obituary is available here.
Sympathy is expressed to the Mote family the passing of Willa Dean Mote of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Mote was the mother of Professor Emeritus Roland Mote and Mitchell Mote, Extension agent in Rutherford County. She was the grandmother of Emily Mote, Extension agent in Warren County, and Catherine Deist, wife of Matthew Deist, Extension agent in Marion County. Willa Dean Mote’s obituary is available here.
Mark Your Calendar for UTIA Field Days
Farmers, gardeners and anyone interested in Tennessee agriculture can still mark their calendars; UT AgResearch has plenty of field days to visit this year.
UT AgResearch Welcomes New Dean
A new era has begun for University of Tennessee AgResearch and the UT Institute of Agriculture. Hongwei Xin, formerly assistant dean for research in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University, has arrived on campus to begin his new role as dean for UT AgResearch.
Tullahoma Farmer Named Tennessee Farmer of the Year
Honor Bestowed Annually by UT Extension
Jerry Ray of Tullahoma, Tennessee, started farming forty-five years ago on just 45 acres that once belonged to his grandfather. Over the years he added 75 acres to his holdings, and the veteran of an occupation that is more calling than profession rented additional property and became steward to some 1,900 acres in Moore County. Today he raises corn, wheat, soybeans, hay, and lots of cattle—more than 1,400 head of stocker cattle. Ray has been named Tennessee Farmer of the Year by UT Extension.
Prather Wins Award
Congratulations to Tim Prather, TN AgrAbility, for being recognized with the Breaking New Ground Achievement Award from the National AgrAbility for his twenty-five years of “Cultivating Independence for Persons with Disabilties in Agriculture.”
Tennessee Family Life Specialist Recognized with National Achievement Award
Heather Sedges Wallace Receives Early Career Achievement Award from NIFA
Heather Sedges Wallace, an assistant professor, human development specialist and certified family life educator in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, has received one of two national 2018 Early Career Achievement awards from the Institute of Youth, Family and Community, a division of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The award was presented by the National Awards Committee for Family Life Extension Specialists.
Membership in the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Retirees Association is for anyone who has worked five or more years for The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. The organization’s membership includes former employees from the Herbert College of Agriculture, the College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension.
It doesn’t matter if you were one of the support staff, a teacher, research scientist, Extension educator, a farm worker, custodian, laboratory technician or an administrator. If you worked at UTIA, we welcome you to join.
A major objective of UTIA Retirees Association is to unite all former University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture workers and to provide channels for communication and friendship after employees leave the Institute. Our newsletter and web pages are communication links with the Institute and current and retired employees.
When employees retire or terminate employment at UTIA, their names are added to our mailing list to receive a complimentary issue of the quarterly newsletter and an invitation to the next area meeting scheduled in the area where they reside. During this period, retirees have the opportunity to decide whether or not they want to continue their contact with former co-workers by joining the UTIA Retirees Association. The cost is $30 for a lifetime membership.
The UTIA Retirees Association newsletter is published quarterly by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.
UTIA Retirees Association
2621 Morgan Circle Drive || Knoxville, TN 37996
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