Rosemary Berkel Crisp, noted business leader, women’s health-care activist, philanthropist and mother, died Dec. 1, 2007, after a 12-year battle with ovarian cancer. She was married to Harry L. Crisp. Rosemary chaired the UT Alliance of Women Philanthropists. She and her husband were members of the UT Founders Society and served on the UT Development Council. The UT Martin Chancellor’s Box in the football stadium is named for the couple because of their generous corporate and personal support. In October she was honored by Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC) with its prestigious Inspiring Women of Achievement Award for her lifelong devotion to improving the quality of health-care services. She was also “Citizen of the Year” for the Greater Marion Area Chamber of Commerce.
Craig Allen Long, 36, of Salinas, Calif., died Feb. 10, 2007. He grew up in Laurens, Iowa, and graduated in 1993 from UT Martin with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Craig moved to California in 1997 and began his dream job with the Oakland Raiders as the assistant public relations director for the team until 2004. (Courtesy Struve and LaPorte Mortuary.)
William Frank “Bill” Nelson, of Paris, UT Martin professor emeritus of biology, died Oct. 27, 2007, at Henry County Medical Center in Paris. He earned his bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Minnesota. He was a professor in the UT Martin Department of Biological Sciences from 1964-1995.
Jason Qualls, 28, of Knoxville, died Sept. 17, 2007. He received a bachelor’s degree in 2001 from UT Martin and was employed by The Pipe Doctor in Knoxville.
Aaltje VanDenburg, UT Martin professor emeritus of fine arts, died Sept. 11, 2007, at Van Ayer Manor Nursing Home. She was 87. During her 32-year teaching career at the university, VanDenburg distinguished herself as a teacher, artist and businesswoman. VanDenburg came to the Martin campus in 1952 after serving as director of the crafts center at Syracuse University in New York. She had previously worked for the Norcross Greeting Card Co., the Arthur Kudner Advertising Agency and Tower Artists, all in New York City. She held a bachelor of fine arts degree from Syracuse University and a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee.
Besides teaching various art courses, VanDenburg released seven folk-song albums, the best-known of which was titled “Folk Songs for Children - Young and Old.” She was self-taught on the autoharp and both sang and played on all of the albums. She also owned and operated The Green Tree art supply and craft store from 1964 to 1985 in Martin. She was honored for her community service contributions by receiving the Jefferson Award, a humanitarian award given by WPSD-TV in Paducah, Ky.
John Virgil Yates, of South Fulton, died Nov. 10, 2007. He was 78. Born in Graves County, Ky., he was a member of First United Methodist Church in Fulton and was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in the Korean War. Yates played basketball for three years at UT Martin and was in-ducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984. He was a Mason (Shriner) and a member of the Lion’s Club for nearly 40 years, serving as the district governor for the State of Kentucky in 1974-75. He played 25 years of semi-pro baseball and softball as a baseman/pitcher and batting champion on numerous championship teams. He was a teacher and coach, as well as principal for many schools in the area, including Wingo, Cayce, Fulton and South Fulton.
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