UTIA Retirees Association Newsletter

May 2024

Warren Gill

I enjoy hearing stories about the things that retired UTIA employees are doing. Since they accomplished so much during their careers, it’s no surprise that retirees are still busy doing helpful, constructive activities in their communities, clubs, and families.

The common refrain that I hear over and over: “I’m busier than I’ve ever been—and I don’t plan to stop anytime soon!”

Many of you know that I bought my old high school. It was built in 1919 as the Morgan Preparatory School for Boys in Petersburg. It had a rich history as an educational institution for both boys and girls and boasted a disciplined classical learning environment plus a remarkable athletic program. It served as a public high school from 1950 until 1970.

The old building served many purposes in subsequent years, from a religious college to a shelter for women. Attempts were made at converting it into a residence, which is what it was when I purchased the building in 2022.

So why am I revealing my unusual (crazy?) retirement project? I like talking about it and I am proud that it now houses the impressive Petersburg Community Library and serves as a place for cultural activities with emphasis on youth development.

The building has been renamed the Petersburg Community Cultural Center. My years with UT gave me the skillset I’ve needed to turn an old building into a place of community pride. In the process I’ve made new friends and rediscovered old friends who are helping me restore the old building as part of an effort to reinvigorate an old town into a vibrant and relevant place for people to live in and visit.

Undeliverables: Area officers were recently provided a list of undeliverable email addresses. We need to get as many accurate emails as possible, so please let your area officers know if you or anyone you know has a preferred email for us to use.

Website reminder: UTIA Retirees Association has a website that has already been important in bringing yours truly up to date with what is going on. Check it out at retirees.tennessee.edu.

Come one, come all!

The UTIA Cumberland Area Retirees are invited to a brunch/meeting on May 30 at 10:00 a.m. It will be held at the One Bank Main Office at 100 W. Commercial Avenue, in beautiful Monterey, Tennessee 38574.

One Bank is hosting the event for us at no charge. They will also be sharing with us some of Monterey's history!

Reservations for you and your spouse can be made by emailing Drucilla Ray—raydrucilla@gmail.com or Jenny Yeary—jyeary@frontiernet.net

If you have any questions, please contact Drucilla Ray at 931-510-1349 or Jenny Yeary at 931-337-2618.

Share this info with your Cumberland Area retired friends.

We look forward to visiting with everyone!

Middle Tennessee area retired/former UT Extension agents and friends met in Pulaski at Junction 64 Restaurant on May 9. David Qualls served as host. Attendees included Larry Moorehead, Steve Harris, John Campbell,  David and Kay Burnett Qualls, Janet Hale, Camille Jessee, Ed Burns, Richard Groce, and Catherine Millsaps.

Next month’s get together is June 13.  Tour of Midway Mushrooms in Sewanee, meet at 10:00 a.m. CDT at Shenanigans (Sewanee) to travel. Lunch back at Shenanigans around noon. Contact Ed Burns or Steve Harris for information.

A group of UTIA Retirees recently met at the University of Memphis. There was a lot of reminiscing, catching up on family and friends, and an election of new officers. The new Western Area vice president is Booker Leigh and the new secretary is Deborah Seward. Those attending included Warren Gill, Christene Anderson, Martha Thomas, Jai Templeton, Michael (Mike) Dennison, Deborah Seward, L V Jackson, and Booker Leigh, and John Bradley.

The Eastern Area/State retiree annual spring meeting was held on April 11, 2024, 9:00 a.m. at the UT Extension Eastern Region Office with over thirty members present. The meeting was conducted by Ken Goddard, Eastern Area Vice President; and Warren Gill, State President. Speakers included:

· Mason Valentine, a member of the 4-H Performing Arts Troupe from Jefferson County

· Kaden Reed, winner of the 4-H Essay Contest from Knox County

· Charley Deal, UTIA Vice Chancellor for Advancement, gave highlights and accomplishments of all the administrative units of the Institute

· David White, Interim Dean of the Herbert College of Agriculture, reported on the enrollment numbers and goals of the College

Annual meeting business was conducted, and John Jared presented the memorials for the retiree members who passed away during the last year. The meeting concluded with a delicious barbecue chicken lunch prepared by the Knox County 4-H.

The UTIA Central Area Retirees held their spring meeting and luncheon on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at the home of Todd Jennings, outside of Lynchburg, Tennessee. Todd and retired Moore County Extension agent, Larry Moorehead, began by sharing some history of Moore County, including information about family ties to the Jennings farm.

Todd also shared a bit about his experience as a member of the Agriculture and Natural Resources and Community Economic Development subcommittee of the State Extension Advisory Council. The subcommittee encouraged Extension efforts to increase the awareness of 1)The Land Trust of Tennessee and other land trust opportunities for farm families and 2) the need for action to preserve farm land across the state.

Business conducted included the election of officers for the coming year. Stephen Harris will lead as Central Area vice president and Larry Moorehead will be secretary/treasurer. Discussion continued on issues related to maintaining communication with UTIA retiree members. The meeting closed with remembering retirees who have passed in the last year and a sharing of health updates if current members.

Nineteen members and guests attended. A fall gathering will be planned by the new officers.

Ken Goddard, Eastern Area Vice President

Based on Elma Malone’s “Remarkable Remembrance” letter from her Hancock County administrative assistant’s desk, she inspired me to reminisce a bit. My memory from being a “rookie county agent” is vivid on most days. I think, however, referencing a personal journal would reflect more past experiences. How wonderful a reference would be! I encourage any Extension agent to begin a journal and save the unique experiences you and your colleagues deem important or unique.

One memory I have is how welcoming veteran agents and others were to me as I began my UT Extension career in 1970. They would explain what works for them and give examples of what did not work. As a rookie I listened closely and appreciated their counsel. Colleagues would summarize their thoughts, even provide thoughts others had shared when they were hired.

Clark Garland offered thoughts from Frank DeFriese, Department of Agricultural Economics:

And from Clark Garland, former head of UT Extension Agricultural Economics, himself:

Gilbert Rhodes Sr. had thoughts, too, as former head of the Extension Plant Sciences Department:

A Maryville College retired football coach’s remarks during a team meeting:

Impromptu comments from a colleague are important. Ben Powell, former 4-H department head, mentioned the following during my first trip to 4-H Congress. I asked for topics advice for a Hardeman County senator nominee: “It’s important for your 4-H’er to get up there and not just say something, but he/she should have something to say.”

Bettye W. Sloan, retired Extension agent in Monroe County, and husband Bruce are now living in Huntsville, Alabama. New address is 2815 Carl T. Jones Drive SE, Apt. 207, Huntsville, Alabama 35802. Phone is 423-836-0142. Interestingly, their new next-door neighbor grew up in Cleveland, where his dad was an agriculture agent in Bradley County from 1919-1942.

The Spring 2023 issue of Our Tennessee features an article by Amy Blakely that highlighted Dave Lockwood’s work and its impacts. We have included an excerpt here. To read the full story, visit our.tennessee.edu/2023/a-fruitful-career.

From sitting at a kitchen table discussing rootstocks to trekking through an orchard to monitor pesticide efficacy, David Lockwood has toiled alongside Tennessee fruit growers for nearly 50 years.

It’s work he was, quite literally, born to do.

UT Institute of Agriculture’s fruit and nut crops extension specialist, Lockwood was raised in upstate New York on a family farm that grew apples, tart cherries, pears and high-sugar-content plums used for prunes. Most of the fruit was sold to processing companies; the plums went to Gerber Products for baby food.

“My dad was one of the best fruit growers I’ve ever known,” Lockwood says, adding that his father believed a successful farmer had to know his trees. “He used to say the best thing a person could see in their orchard was their own shadow.”

Lockwood joined the faculty of UTIA’s Plant and Soil Science Department in 1973 after earning his bachelor’s degree in horticulture and his master’s degree and doctorate in plant sciences from the University of Georgia.

“During my early years at UT, I got to know and work with many of the legends in fruit production from various southeastern universities,” he says.

Just like Lockwood’s dad, those experts stressed the importance of learning about the crops—and the farmers.

So that’s been Lockwood’s mission while advising Tennessee’s 400-plus hobby and commercial fruit growers, who produce an ever growing list of crops, including apples, peaches, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, elderberries, pawpaws and persimmons.

Keith Carver, UTIA Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President

Spring will be arriving soon across Tennessee, and with it comes the promise of longer days and new growth. It is a season of celebrations and milestones.

March marked one year since I joined the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) as senior vice chancellor and senior vice president. It is a remarkable organization. UTIA has a presence in all ninety-five counties in Tennessee and provides Real. Life. Solutions. through its land-grant mission of research, teaching and outreach, including UT Extension. UTIA is one of only a handful of agricultural institutes across the U.S. This distinction demonstrates the importance of agriculture and its partnering industries in Tennessee.

Here at UTIA, we have so much to celebrate.

These are just a few of the ways UTIA is making a difference. On behalf of the more than 2,200 faculty and staff spread across our great state of Tennessee, I invite you to visit our website utia.tennessee.edu to learn more about how we provide Real. Life. Solutions. every day. That is a brand promise we take to heart. Our researchers, UT Extension agents, faculty, staff, and students believe in what we do, and we see the impact. I hope you will take time to visit your local UT Extension office, attend our field days and events, and visit our offices, classrooms, and laboratories.
The future of Tennessee agriculture is bright, and I am excited to see what the next year holds.

We are saddened to report the death of these former UTIA Retirees

Deepest Sympathy is extended for the death of these UTIA Retirees’ family members: