JOHNSON CITY – A gift made in memory of a former East Tennessee State University student will help the ETSU Marching Bucs achieve a monumental dream of any high school or college band member: marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The ETSU Marching Bucs have been invited to participate in the upcoming Macy’s
parade this November and is currently raising funds to offset the costs of the trip.
The $10,000 gift was made by Maryville residents William R. Phillips and his
wife, Gwen, in memory of their daughter, Susan Phillips Knoll. She died in December
2010 following a battle with brain cancer.
While a student at ETSU, Susan was active with Kappa Delta sorority. Her daughter,
Dr. Olivia Knoll, graduated earlier this month from the Quillen College of Medicine
and will soon begin residency training in OB/GYN. Susan’s niece, Sophie Shepherd,
is currently a Marching Bucs band member at ETSU.
Both William and Gwen Phillips are 1960 graduates of ETSU and were active members
of Lambda Chi Alpha and Alpha Omicron Pi.
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