It's all about you! Our graduates, alumni and friends alike are the greatest ambassadors of East Tennessee State University. As you continue to display your never tiring PRIDE, remember the vital role you play as a member of the ETSU family. We seek your input, guidance and participation to Raise the Margin of Excellence for future students and alumni. Your success is our success; your contributions are our example. Our staff and volunteers will continuously work to promote and recognize this university's greatest asset...you! Welcome home to ETSU. '

ETSU Alumni Association honors 2008 Alumni Award winners

The East Tennessee State University Alumni Association recently announced the 2008 recipients of the annual Alumni Awards. The annual Night of Distinction of Pride is presented as part of the university's spring commencement weekend festivities during the association's Awards Banquet and Annual Meeting.

Outstanding Alumni

Elizabeth W. (Beth) Bass was named Outstanding Alumna. Bass became the second chief executive officer of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) in 2001, succeeding founding CEO Betty F. Jaynes. She administers all operational and external affairs for the WBCA, which boasts more than 5,000 members, including coaches and leaders in women's and girls' basketball nationally and internationally. Bass joined the 27-year-old, Atlanta-based organization in 1997 as executive director after several years in the sports and fitness industry, including experience as a women's basketball and women's sports marketing executive at Converse Inc and NIKE Inc.

The Hartsville, S.C., native was a four-year women's basketball letter winner at ETSU and graduated with honors in 1984 with a B.S. in political science and communication with a concentration in public relations/advertising. Bass says her time in athletics at ETSU has truly helped her in her professional life. "It was an amazing experience for me to be on a scholarship and be involved in women's athletics. Part of my job duties now is to go out and create opportunities like the one I had to play a sport. Athletics taught me so much and I received a template for life to go to work in the corporate world. I am deeply, deeply blessed." She completed her master's degree in recreation administration in 1986 at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where she served as a graduate assistant for marketing and promotions in the Lady Volunteers Athletic Department.

Bass received the 2004 President's Award from the National Association of Girls and Women in Sport for her efforts in promoting the State Farm Wade Trophy, "the oldest and most prestigious award" presented in Division I women's basketball. She was presented with ETSU's Alumni Award of Honor in 1998, and she was recently honored with the inaugural Spherion PathMaker Award given by the ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Buccaneer Athletic Scholarship Association (BASA) for her "significant contributions to the development and success of young women," and to the advancement of opportunities for all women.

The Outstanding Alumnus is Gerald D. Thomas, who graduated from ETSU in 1971 with his bachelor's degree and 1972 with his master's after serving four years in the U.S. Navy, working several years with the Central Intelligence Agency, and living and traveling extensively throughout Africa. After graduation, he taught sociology and was assistant director of the Appalachian Semester Program at Union College, Barbourville, Ky., and completed his education with post-graduate work at Virginia Tech. Today, he is president and owner of Thomas Construction Co. Inc., a Johnson City-based infrastructure contractor that builds roadways and municipal utilities and does site work for commercial, industrial and residential developers throughout Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina. He has been with the company since its beginning in 1973 and purchased full ownership from his brother in 1999. A past member and chair of the Johnson City Regional Planning Commission, he is currently a member of the JC Power Board, JC Economic Development Board, Bank of Tennessee Washington County Advisory Board, and Mountain States Health Alliance's (MSHA) Blue Ridge Physicians Group Board, which he chairs. Thomas is a member of the ETSU Foundation Board of Directors and Distinguished President's Trust, and is a financial supporter of many other organizations in the Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia region.

"I would certainly like to thank the ETSU Alumni Association and all those on the Alumni board for having the confidence in me to bestow this honor. It truly is an honor. I'd like to give a special thanks to Dr. Paul Stanton and his wife Nancy. Words cannot express the feelings I have for these two people. Paul is truly an inspiration to me and just look what he done for the community and the university."

Thomas and his wife, Cassandra, have three adult children and six grandchildren and are long-time members of Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church. Their sons and daughters-in-law are all graduates of the ETSU College of Business and Technology and work in the family business, while their daughter is a graduate of Wolford College, Naples, Fla., and resides in Atlanta with her husband and their one-year-old triplets.

Awards of Honor

 Awards of Honor were presented to Jim A. Wells, Robert L. White and Judith R. Woodruff.

Wells, who graduated in 1967, was president and owner of Wells Camera and Video in Kingsport for 27 years before selling his business in 1996. He is active in the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce, and is a past vice president and past chair of the Chamber's Small Business Council. Currently, he is a member of the Jerusalem House and Holston Valley Medical Center boards, Lynn Garden Community Caring, and the Wellmont Foundation board of governors.

He has held leadership roles in other organizations, including the Downtown Kingsport Association, Kingsport Tomorrow, Fresh Start Surgical Gifts, Small Miracles, West Kingsport Optimist Club and the Alzheimer's Center of East Tennessee, the founding organization for Wellmont's Madison House. His honors include the Health Care Heroes Award from The Business Journal of the Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia and the JCPenney Golden Rule Award for community service.

Wells stated during the ceremony, "East Tennessee State, I want to thank you for allowing me to give back. I could give a lifetime, which is my intention, but I am not sure I could ever repay for all the memories, experiences and opportunities this university has given me." Wells is a member of the ETSU Foundation and BASA and a past co-chair of the ETSU PRIDE celebration. He and his wife, Janet, also an ETSU graduate, enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren.

White earned a B.B.A. in operations management from ETSU in 1996 and later received his M.B.A. from Milligan College. He is co-founder of Brotherly Love Ministries, a contemporary gospel music ministry based in Johnson City, and is in his 24th year with the JC Power Board, where he is currently chief public relations officer.

He has been appointed by Gov. Phil Bredesen to serve on both the Tennessee Higher Education Commission - the coordinating body for the state's 51 public colleges, universities and technology centers within the Tennessee Board of Regents and University of Tennessee systems - and the Tennessee Commission on National and Community Service.

Currently chair of the JC Regional Planning Commission, White is also active in the JC/Jonesborough/Washington County Economic Development Board and Chamber of Commerce, JC/Washington County Area United Way, JC Development Authority, Boys and Girls Club of JC/Washington County, SunTrust Bank and the ETSU Foundation. He is a recipient of the "Forty Under Forty" Award from The Business Journal and the ETSU College of Business and Technology's Horizon Award. An active member of Friendship Baptist Church, he has been married to the former Karen Cunningham for 21 years and has one son, Joel Ryan, a Johnson & Wales University and UT-Knoxville graduate. During his acceptance speech, White said, “when I think of a reason why I contribute to my community, I think of a quote from Dr. Cornell West that says, ‘you can't lead people if you don't love people; you can't save people if you don't serve people; so what is the depth of your love and what is the quality of your service?''

Woodruff graduated from ETSU with her M.A. in physical education in 1983 and holds a B.A. in art history from the University of Michigan. She has taught dance since 1980 at ETSU, where she co-founded the Mountain Movers Dance Company, and also taught at the then-Kingsport Guild of Ballet (now Kingsport Ballet), Johnson City's Holloway Dancing School and Middlebury (Vt.) College. "ETSU has given me many, many opportunities to follow my passion...which is dance. This has allowed me to create my own pathway in many ways. The best honor ETSU has given is to move dance out of the Physical Education concept into the Division of Theatre, which happened a little over a year ago. I especially appreciate the warm welcome that dance has received from the Division of Theatre. It is really exciting."

A guest artist for many studios, companies and institutions, her choreography has been commissioned by a variety of schools and dance companies. Woodruff was executive director of the Tennessee Association of Dance (TAD) from 1988-2007, providing management and leadership to the organization that significantly increased its membership, tripled its budget, and led to the establishment of Tennessee Board of Education-approved K-12 curriculum guidelines in dance for public schools.

She has served TAD as a board member and held leadership positions in other organizations, including the Tennessee Alliance for Arts Education, Tennesseans for the Arts, State of Franklin Dance Alliance, JC Area Arts Council (JCAAC) and Kingsport Ballet. Woodruff's honors include the 2005 Governor's Award for Arts Leadership in Tennessee, the JCAAC's Outstanding Arts Contribution Award, TAD's Margaret Martin Award for Distinguished Service to the field of Dance, and ETSU's first Recognition Award for Non-Regular Faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Honorary Alumni

 Roy T. Campbell Jr. and Kathy M. Linebarger were named Honorary Alumni

Campbell, whose father was a 1917 graduate of East Tennessee State Normal School...which later became ETSU, served in the U.S. armed forces before earning his law degree at UT in 1950. In 1951, he opened Campbell & Hooper in his hometown of Newport, where he continues to practice law today and which he served as a part-time city attorney from 1963-92. He has also practiced in the Supreme Court of Tennessee, U.S. District Court Eastern Division of Tennessee, and Court of Appeals. Campbell was elected to the Tennessee Senate in 1983, and has also held leadership positions with various entities, including Merchants & Planters Bank, Federal Defender Services for East Tennessee, Newport Utilities Board, First United Methodist Church, Cocke County Republican Executive Committee and the Lions Club. He is also a member of the ETSU Foundation and its President's Trust and Legacy Circle and has established a scholarship endowment in memory of his father, Roy T. Campbell Sr., and his brother, Albert, who was an ETSU student, but who gave his life in service as a member of the U.S. Air Force. He has one daughter, Sherry Campbell. Campbell said during the award ceremony, "it is distinct honor and privilege to be a part of this university and I wish it well."

Before moving to Johnson City in 1984, Linebarger worked as a dental assistant in both Memphis and Chapel Hill, N.C., while helping her husband, Dr. William G. Linebarger, set up his dental office and train his staff. She served as president of the First District Dental Auxiliary and a member of the Alliance to the American Association of Endodontists. She is a past president of the Junior League of JC; an active member of First Christian Church; and a volunteer coordinator of the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate Golf Tournament at The Ridges Golf and Country Club. An avid supporter of ETSU athletics, she is a board member and president of the Buccaneer Athletics Scholarship Association (BASA), and has helped with the BASA Auction Committee, preparing decorations for events, and with the Hospitality Committee for the Atlantic Sun Conference men's basketball tournament when ETSU hosted the event for two years. When receiving this award, Linebarger stated, "I don't think anyone gives of their time or resources with the idea of receiving an award or recognition. You do it because there is a need that needs to be fulfilled. What you receive in return is the satisfaction to have helped someone along the way."

The Linebargers' son, Stephen Miller Linebarger, is a student in ETSU's prestigious Roan Scholars Leadership Program and is scheduled to graduate in December.

Distinguished Alumnus in the Armed Forces

Brig. Gen. Isaac G. Osborne Jr. was named Distinguished Alumnus in the Armed Forces after 33 years of service in which he has been a vital part of the National Guard's evolution from a strategic reserve to an operational force. He is now director of the Joint Staff of the Tennessee Army National Guard (TANG) when the Guard is being used for more missions than at any other time in history. Upon his graduation from ETSU in 1974 with a degree in industrial technology, Osborne was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), in which he might never have participated had Military Science not been required. Although military service was not popular in the early 1970s, he has witnessed a change in professionalism, commitment and the public perception of America's armed forces over the years.

Osborne spent most of his active duty time at Fort Hood, Texas, and came to Johnson City after his discharge in 1978, entering the TANG while employed by Central Transport in Kingsport. In 1982, he became a full-time Guard employee as a training officer, then served until 1989 as the 176th Maintenance Battalion operations officer in Johnson City. He transferred to TANG headquarters in Nashville, where he held numerous command and staff roles before becoming chief of the Joint Staff. His numerous honors include two Meritorious Service and three Army Commendation medals.

Osborne noted, "I am so grateful I came to ETSU and for the quality education I received here. Looking back over my life, one of the smartest things I ever did was sign up for Advanced ROTC. That opened opportunities and experiences to me I would never have had and opened doors that never would have been possible." Osborne earned a master's degree in industrial education at UT in 1989 and a master of strategic studies degree at the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa. He and his wife, Ilse, reside in Murfreesboro and have two daughters.

George L. Carter Award

 Local automobile dealer C.M. "Bill" Gatton received the George L. Carter Award, which is bestowed upon graduates or friends of ETSU who have made the university a more dynamic and viable force in the world of higher education. Named for the industrialist and philanthropist who provided land, enlisted support and organized local government agreements in the campaign to place the state "normal school" in Johnson City, the award is given only on occasion when an individual has "gone above and beyond the call" to support ETSU and exhibited the commitment fitting the example of George L. Carter.

Gatton, an outstanding businessman and champion of higher education, began his career at age 8, selling his acre of watermelons on the side of the road in his native Western Kentucky, and progressed up the ladder from there. After graduating as valedictorian of his high school class, he enrolled at the University of Kentucky (UK) to study business administration and economics, working part-time in automobile sales, where his perseverance quickly resulted in success. Following a stint as an officer in the U.S. Army, Gatton pursued an M.B.A. in finance and banking at the Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania. From there, he renewed his interest in automobile dealerships and in the banking industry, broadening his business interests along the way. Today, in addition to Tennessee, his business endeavors span several states, including Alabama, Kentucky and Texas.

Gatton is a recognized philanthropist in higher education. The UK Carol Martin Gatton College of Business and Economics bears his name, and the Tennessee Board of Regents recently approved naming ETSU's new College of Pharmacy in his honor. Gatton is responsible for bringing $2.4 million to the successful effort to establish the college since 2005, when he made his first gift of $400,000, which helped the university reach the initial $5 million objective set by Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen to seek final authorization for the pharmacy school through the TBR and THEC. A member of the ETSU Foundation and its Distinguished President's Trust, he received the special Margin of Excellence Award and was named an honorary alumnus in 2007 for his support of the university. "This is one honor I greatly appreciate. This fine university has already given me more honors than I deserve. But I want everyone to know how much I appreciate it. This university has contributed so much to East Tennessee and has made it a better place to live," said Gatton. He is also known for his numerous community and regional affiliations, including the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, Bristol Rotary Club, Salvation Army, Humane Society, Bristol Boys and Girls Clubs and others, along with many automobile-related organizations.