Class Notes

After completing her Ph.D., Norehan has been named Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Northern Malaysia.

Michael Harry Crawford, age 53, of South Knoxville, died Sunday, May 4, 2019 at the family home. Survivors include his brother, William (Karen) Crawford; sister, Heidi Wells.

Peggy Sackett Goss went to her Heavenly home January 20th, 2018. Preceded in death by mother Millicent Sackett. Survived by daughter Moriah; sons Mario and Micah Goss; friend and children’s father Marvin Goss; granddaughter Milani Rae Niles; devoted brother Eric (Teresa) Sackett; biological mother Phyllis Manuel and family; devoted caregiver and friend Valerie McGhee. Special thanks to Rule High Class of 83, Honey Rock Victorious Church, extended family and friends too numerous to mention. Family will receive friends Friday January 26, 2018 5:00-6:00 p.m. at Honey Rock Victorious Church, 4004 Holston Dr. Rev. Jerry Upton officiating.

David Austin Kirkland, age 57, of Vonore, Fla., passed away Monday, November 25, 2019 in Hialeah, Fla. Member. He was Deacon & Treasurer of Vonore Baptist Church, where he was a strong supporter of the Church's Car Show. Survivors, daughter, Kathryn Kirkland, Son, Austin Kirkland, Father, Austin Kirkland, all of Vonore, Sister, Kelly Teague, Sister-in-law & brother-in-law, Janet & Chris Borden, Brother -in-law & sister-in-law, David & Lana Samples, all of Maryville. Niece, Tasha Cornine, Nephew, Ethan Teague, Preceded in death by wife, Rebecca Ann (Becky) Kirkland, mother, Beulah Dean Kirkland. Funeral 5 P.M. Sunday, December 1, Vonore Baptist Church, Rev. Andrew Osakue & Rev. Tony Collins officiating. Interment 11 A.M. Monday, Vonore Baptist Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Vonore Baptist Church Car Show fund. Family will receive friends 3-5 P.M. Sunday at Vonore Baptist Church. Arrangements by Biereley-Hale Funeral Home, Madisonville.

David Marcum, PE, Class of 1987, is the Senior Civil Engineer for the City of Alcoa. Additionally, David has expanded his lifelong interest in mysteries by authoring nearly 120 Sherlock Holmes mysteries, some with Publishers Weekly starred reviews, and editing over 1,000 Holmes short stories in over 80 volumes. Additionally, the funds from some of these edited books have raised over $100,000 for a school for special needs children.

Polly Ruth May, age 80, was born November 3, 1939 in Jellico, TN. She passed away Sunday morning, October 25, 2020. She lived in Kingston, TN with her husband Charles May. Polly was preceded in death by her parents, Clinton and Millie McGill of Morristown, sisters, Ollie Holston, Joanne Meek, and Margret Jenks, and her brother, Billy Joe McGill. She is survived by her husband of 55 years Charles May, her son and daughter-in-law, Jacob and Angela May, grandchildren, Eli and Thomas May of Kingston, her brother, Jim McGill of Knoxville, and several very special nieces and nephews. Polly May was a loving Wife, Mother, and Grandmother, and a wonderful friend to many. From her nurses and caretakers to her hairdresser she was loved and admired by everyone that knew her. She graduated from Morristown High School in 1959 and attended nursing school at Fort Sanders Presbyterian School of Nursing, graduating in 1962 as an RN. Later she attended Maryville College to obtain her B.A. Degree in 1987. She worked at various hospitals: Morristown Hamblen Hospital, Oak Ridge Hospital, Harriman Hospital and Thomas Hospital in Fairhope, AL. In the spring of 1988, she suffered a stroke which left her partially paralyzed, but she continued to work as a Nursing Instructor at the Tennessee Technology Center in Harriman, TN until her retirement in 2003. It wasn’t uncommon to find several of her students at her house studying during the week as she was as devoted to them as they were to her. In 2011 she became wheelchair-bound, but she was a woman of deep Faith, reading her Bible every day and sharing her faith with everyone she encountered. It was a very common occurrence to find her studying the Bible with family and friends daily in her own home. When able, she attended the Kingston Church of Christ. The Graveside service was held at Roane Memorial Gardens in Rockwood, TN on Saturday, October 31, 2020. Kyker Funeral Home of Kingston oversaw all the arrangements and asked everyone to practice social distancing and wear a mask because of concerns due to Covid-19.

age 50 of Maryville, passed away Tuesday, November 26, 2013, at UT Medical Center. He was a member of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church and sang in the worship choir. Tony was a graduate of Maryville College where he played baseball. He was employed with Knoxville Utilities Board. Tony was a loving father and husband. In May of 2013 he was named as the Heritage High School Girls Softball Coach. He loved coaching and was very active in the community with softball and baseball. In 1999, he helped create the county’s middle school softball program. He led the program for 12 years at Eagleton Middle and was a former Heritage High School booster club president. Tony was a travel softball coach for many years and helped with fundraisers for sports, schools, and families, and had a big impact on the community. Preceded in death by father, Ralph C. Murr. Survivors include wife, Misty Murr; son, Ryan Murr; daughter, Kara Murr; mother, Florence Murr; brother, J.D. Murr; aunt, Barbara McVay; uncle, David Debuty; nieces, Heather Armstrong, Misty Davis and husband Marshall; great nephew, Sawyer; sister-in-law, Dedee Armstrong and husband Danny; mother-in-law, Susie Key and husband Jack; many special friends.

Risa has created a mental health support website, www.GenuineU.com where college students who feel alone in their suffering, can view personal videos from peers with live mental health experiences. Risa's partner in this endeavor is Matthew Barksdale, a Kansas City serial entrepreneur. She is also backed by the Rockhurst University Chapter of the Year, Active Minds student organization, for which she serves as faculty sponsor. You are invited to check out the site and send a note of support.

Risa Stein, PhD has earned a Master's degree in Organizational Leadership from the Rockhurst University's Helzberg School of Management in Kansas City, MO. Risa has also published a self-guided therapy workbook entitled the Best Damn Life Workbook. It is available on Amazon.

SALISBURY, MD—A few months before he was assassinated, President John F. Kennedy made a historic trip to Europe, which included his ancestors’ homeland in Ireland. The event left an indelible impression on the Gaelic country, which recently hosted the nationwide anniversary celebration “JFK 50: The Homecoming.” Invited guests included the Kennedy family, singer-songwriger Judy Collins, Riverdance choreographer Michael Flatley … and Salisbury University voice instructor John Wesley Wright. A singer with the American Spiritual Ensemble, Wright joined three other hand-selected members of the group during four days of performances for the high-profile celebration. His one-of-a-kind experience was made possible by Dr. Pearse Lyons, owner and president of international company Alltech. Born in Ireland and now living in Kentucky, Lyons is a supporter of the American Spiritual Ensemble. When he learned of plans for the 50th anniversary celebration, he recommended the group because of its musical excellence and symbolic representation of Kennedy’s support for civil rights. They sang songs that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others used to punctuate meetings and demonstrations in the 1960s, including “Walk Together, Children” and “I Know I’ve Been Changed.” Wright and his colleagues began their whirlwind tour shortly after landing in Ireland, joining a community chorus outside Dublin for a cultural exchange concert that evening. The next morning brought a performance on an Irish radio show featuring a panel of Kennedy experts. They then were guests at a 280-person dinner held in the Kennedys’ honor. Afterward, once all the clinking of glasses and silverware had stopped, they performed for what, by the standards set the next day, was an intimate crowd. “All the Kennedys were sitting three feet from me,” Wright recalled, adding that the ensemble representatives received accolades from Kennedy’s daughter, Caroline. On Saturday, June 22, some 15,000 gathered before a stage at the Kennedy Monument in New Hope, Ireland, where the president had spoken five decades prior, for the main event of this once-in-a-lifetime celebration. “The magnitude felt like that of our presidential inauguration,” said Wright. Millions watched the nationally televised ceremony as representatives from the Peace Corps, Special Olympics and others carried a fire that originated with a torch lit from the Eternal Flame at Kennedy’s graveside at Arlington National Cemetery. Irish Prime Minister Edna Kenny joined the president’s sister, Jean Kennedy Smith, and Caroline Kennedy in lighting Ireland’s own version of the Eternal Flame, the Emigrant Flame, inside an iron globe. Ireland, Wright noted, is “a singing nation.” The crowd sang along with Collins during her performances and, following the lead of former Maryland Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, all 15,000 in attendance stood and joined the American Spiritual Ensemble in a powerful post-slavery song used heavily during the civil rights era, “Oh, Freedom.” Most Irish may not have experienced the slave conditions that gave birth to American spirituals, but the historical hardships their country has suffered helped them understand, Wright said. The ceremony culminated as Wright and others joined Collins in a heartfelt rendition of “Amazing Grace.” As Collins clutched Wright’s hand, a squadron of Irish Air Corps jets flew in formation, with one breaking off from the group to symbolize the loss of Kennedy. “It was one of the most touching things I’ve ever experienced,” said Wright. He was not the only one who thought so. Afterward, he and other members of the ensemble were recognized by Irish citizens who had attended the ceremony or watched it on television. From the cab driver who drove them back to their hotel to men gathered in a nearby pub, nearly everyone had the same reaction. “They would say, ‘Irish men don’t share their pain … but you moved me,'” said Wright. (PLEASE SEE PICTURES IN MEDIA SECTION)

John Wesley Wright ’87 was a featured performer with the National Chorale, New York’s premier professional choral company, during the 50th presentation of “Handel’s Messiah Sing-In” on Dec. 15 at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. The presentation included an audience-chorus of almost 3,000 voices under the batons of 17 eminent conductors from around the country who each conducted a movement. Wright, a tenor, is coordinator of the voice and opera programs at Salisbury University in Maryland. A member of the internationally acclaimed American Spiritual Ensemble, Wright is also an active clinician, consultant and leader of workshops on voice production, song interpretation and African-American song tradition.