1950
Herbert Grodemange Jr., (’50) lives in Albany, Ga. He is a retired Proctor and Gamble engineer. He has been named volunteer of the year for community service and is on the board of directors for YMCA and Girl’s Inc. He has two children: Ron, 51; and Bob, 49.
1974
Teresa Cuogh Edens (‘74) is vice president and owner of Montano Acura in Albuquerque, N.M. She and her husband, Jim, have two children: Cuoghi, 27; and Sara, 25. Email: tree.edens@comcast.net
1975
Margie Nichols (‘75) has been named interim vice chancellor for communications for UT Knoxville, where she will oversee the media relations, creative communications and video and photo services teams. She previously served as the UT System’s chief of staff.
1976
Arthur L. Sparks Jr., CPA, (‘76) a partner with Alexander Thompson Arnold CPAs, was recognized as one of Tennessee’s 25 top accountants by Business Tennessee Magazine. The announcement was made in the magazine’s March 2008 issue. The list was compiled with the input of Tennessee businesses and lawyers who utilize accounting services and accountants. Sparks is the past president of Rotary Club and is a Paul Harris Fellow. He is a Community Foundation of Obion County board member and serves on the University of Tennessee Development Council. He has received the UT Martin Distinguished Service Award and serves on the UT Martin Alumni Council. He is also UT Martin’s Skyhawk Club president. An active member of the Obion County Chamber of Commerce, he serves as the chamber’s board president.
1978
Johnny Barry Joyner (’78) was named the 2007 physician of the year at Dyersburg Regional Medical Center and is the former chief of staff there. He and his wife, Brenda, live in Dyersburg and have two children: Ryan, 16; and Rebecca, 19. Email: joyn7@bellsouth.net
1982
Maree Howell (‘82) lives in Memphis with her husband, Doyle, and their two daughters, Rebecca, 17, and Victoria, 15. Maree works with Hilton Hotels Corp. as manager of planning and administration. She coaches a competitive youth soccer team and is a licensed Tennessee soccer coach. Email: mnauman@rocketmail.com
1990
Mitch Verdell (’90) lives with his wife, Debbie Tucker Verdell, in Gleason. He is an executive director at Liberty Retreat and Conference Center and is minister of music at First Baptist Church in Gleason. He worked full-time in student ministry from 1994-2007. They have three children: Conner, 14; Cole, 14; and Addison, 10. Email: libertyretreat@bellsouth.net
1992
Trina Rae Weaks (’92) lives in Hohenwald and teaches third grade in the Lewis County School System. She received her master’s degree in elementary reading and literacy from Walden University in 2005 and her doctorate in educational administration and supervision from Middle Tennessee State University in 2008. She has one child: RoyeAnn, 15. Email: trinaweaks@hotmail.com
1994
Sandra Morgan Tarkington (‘94) accepted a marketing position at Edward Jones Investments in Dyersburg. She had been employed at White & Associates Insurance in marketing and training. “I gained a lot from 14 years with White & Associates. A great opportunity presented itself, and I’m excited to take this new challenge.”
1996
Roger Allen Cagle (’96) lives in Crossett, Ark., where he works as a Crossett school teacher. He received the All-American Scholar Award in 1996 and was chosen as employee of the month in June of 2004. He has two children: Amanda, 21; and Joshua, 19. Email: rac38229@aim.com
Russell Gilliam (‘96) is a regional sales manager for Alltech, great lakes region. He and his wife, Casi, have one son, Lucas, who is 8. Email: russell_gilliam@hotmail.com
1998
Elizabeth Brasher (’98, MBA ‘03) has been named to the Memphis Business Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40” list.
Veneda Graves Ing (’98) lives in Milan with her husband, Jerry Bruce Ing. She is owner of Jewel Box Jewelers and president of the Downtown Association. She is also on the Chamber of Commerce board, the improvements committee, retail committee and economic development committee. Jerry is a conversion/welder at CeCo Door. Email: jewelboxofmilan@gmail.com
Josh Sykes, (‘98), is co-owner of Blue August agency in Jackson. Blue August produced the current UT Martin admissions recruiting video, which won a Silver Award from the University and College Designers Association (UCDA). The video can be viewed in segments at www.utm.edu/welcome.php
1999
Jill Hazlewood Reeves (’99) lives in Springfield with her husband, Mark William Reeves (’97). She teaches pre-K in Robertson County, and Mark is an assistant executive director of the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association in Hermitage. They have two children: Garrett, 3; and Connor, 1. Email: jill.reeves@rcstn.net or mreeves@tssaa.org
2000
Amanda “Rachel” (Pardue) Erwin (’00) lives in Dyersburg with her husband, Joe David Erwin. She is a family and consumer science extension agent for the University of Tennessee and is working toward her master’s degree. Joe is the owner of Great River Road Supercross in Dyersburg. They have two children: Caleigh Jo, 7; and Ryleigh “Claire,” 1. Email: rerwin@utk.edu
Dareth Cooper Davis (’00) lives in Huntingdon, where she works as an attorney at King Law Office. She is married to Bradley A. Davis, and they have two children: Brady, 6; and Matthew, 4. Email: darethann@excite.com
Charles A. Rice (’00) lives in Franklin with his wife, Ann Shepherd Rice (’00). He is an accountant at AIM, and Ann is a stay-at-home mom. They have quadruplets: Shepherd; Elizabeth; Laura Frances; and Mary Carter, who are 2. Email: quad-dad@comcast.net or asrdesign@yahoo.com
2001
Kara Jacobs (’01) was promoted to manager within the Assurance and Enterprise Risk Services practice of Deloite & Touche LLP.
Laura Knipp (‘01) accepted a position at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in West Palm Beach, Fla., as a regional wildlife biologist. She will work in the Habitat and Species Conservation Service. Email: laknipp@gmail.com
Dustin Seratt (’01) lives in Dyersburg with his wife, Shelley Smith Seratt (’99). He is an administrator at Regional Home Care in Jackson, and Shelley is an occupational therapist at Therapy and Learning Center in Jackson. They have one child: Ava Lauren, 1. Email: d_seratt@hotmail.com or shelleyseratt@bellsouth.net
Expect a message at a Daniel Doss Band concert. And, expect that message to reach more people as Daniel Doss (’01) and his Christian rock band play to a wider audience following a major record deal and tour in 2008. The year came full circle in September as the band performed before a home crowd as part of Martin’s 15th Tennessee Soybean Festival.
Doss, who was raised in Martin, began performing at the age of 5 at church homecomings.  His dad, Elwood (’70), a longtime minister of music and UT Martin faculty member, and his mother, Carolyn, a well-known piano teacher, would literally take Daniel and their other two children, Chuck (’97) and Deborah (’98, ’04), on mini-tours. “And I remember we’d leave after the final prayer, and we’d go head out to a church an hour away, and we’d sing some songs, mom would play, and Chuck, Deborah and I and dad would sing.”
For Doss, music was always part of the family. He began playing cello in the 7th grade at the insistence of his parents who wanted him to learn a string instrument. He later began to experiment with songwriting. He remembers wanting to write a song to sing at high school graduation, and his mother would write the music, and he would sing the melody. The problem was that the verses varied in length, and she said, “Daniel, you need to understand something. The verses need to match.” He carried this valuable lesson to college, where he began songwriting in earnest and also learned to play the piano and guitar.
Daniel’s music is only part of the story. Called to the ministry in high school, he first served a small community church near Martin and continued to progress to larger churches and greater responsibilities. As he served churches, Daniel questioned whether he was called to pursue a Christian music career. He remembered talking with a friend about music, and his friend said, “Man, I just think you were made for the church.” Eventually, Daniel knew where his musical career was headed.
“God gave a distinct green light on when to go pursue the music industry, and six months later we were signing with Sparrow Records,” he said. “And when he gave that green light, I really wanted to put a band together that would be the same band everywhere.”
His search for band members brought together Bryan Wolski on bass (a college friend), Derek Williams, a classical guitar player, and Joe Stephens on drums. Each brought professional-level music talent to the band, “And all these guys have influenced their churches where they’re volunteers at, so that was big to me. … They’re not out here to make a buck. They’re out here to make a difference,” Doss said.
Things happened quickly for the band after signing with a label, including release of their first Sparrow Records recording (titled “Greater Than Us All”) last February, followed by the band’s first major tour March-May with top Christian music performers, Michael English and Avalon. “They took care of us very well,” Doss said. “It was a top-level tour.”
Even with Doss’s newfound success, he and his wife, Emily (’01), acknowledge that Christian music is a business, and they’ve had to make adjustments to touring and being on the road. Emily quit her job as a schoolteacher to travel and help manage the business side of the band. His staff position with Grace Community Church in Clarksville, Tenn., provides the couple needed stability.
The band’s Tennessee Soybean Festival concert was truly a homecoming. The crowd was treated to original music from the band’s current CD, an acoustic set of gospel standards, a band member testimonial and an appeal for concertgoers to make donations to support World Vision, an international organization that fights child poverty. Backing their plea for support, Daniel and Emily made the first pledge.
So, with Daniel Doss, the music is the message, and the message really is in the music.
2002
Kevin Barron (‘02) has been promoted to vice president, physician services, at West Tennessee Healthcare located in Jackson. Email: kevinbarron@wth.org
Adam Hicks (’02) has been promoted by Skanska USA Building Inc. to senior project manager at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis. He has worked for Skanska for eight years.
Kristine Jones Tilley (‘02) opened Tilley Kitchen & Bath Design Consultants, LLC in 2007, in Nashville. The company designs kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, wet bars, downstairs kitchenettes, powder rooms, foyers and much more. Email; tilleydesigns@bellsouth.net
Timothy James Williams (’02) lives in Hollow Rock and teaches government/economics and world history at Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central High School. He has one child: Hunter, 10.
2004
Lindsey Reid Anderson (’04) lives with her husband, Dane Anderson, in Huntingdon. She works as an accounting assistant for Tosh Farms in Henry. They have a baby named Greyson Dane, six months.
Michael B. Baggett (‘04), was hired as an assistant state’s attorney with the Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office located in Decatur, Ill. He received a J.D. from Southern Illinois University in May. Email: michael.b.baggett@gmail.com
Antonio Davis (‘04) received an MBA in business management from Union University. Email: antonio.davis@utalum.org
Haley Robinson (‘04), received a master’s of divinity from Boston University on May 18, 2008. Email: halarobi@utalum.org
Antonio Gardner’s ('04), life took an unexpected detour in January 2002, when a wreck left the junior nursing major no choice but a medical withdrawal from UT Martin. Just as he wasted no time resuming his studies and becoming the first African-American male to complete the program, Gardner plunged headlong into a nursing career.
“It would be an understatement to say God has blessed me in so many ways‚“ said Gardner, a Memphis native. “After graduation from UT Martin’s nursing program in 2004, I passed the NCLEX (National Council Licensure EXamination-Registered Nurse) and successfully made a transition to adult emergency room care at the Regional Medical Center of Memphis (The Med – a widely known regional level I trauma center).”
He added, “The Med holds a special place in my heart for several reasons. My grandmother, Rubystine Yancey, the inspiration for my choice of a career in nursing, has served the facility and her community for over 35 years. The Med also happens to have been the site at which I received medical care and reached my full recovery after my motor vehicle accident.”
Following four years at The Med, Gardner recently contracted with several traveling nurse agencies. Travel nursing is a career choice that allows nurses to take short-term positions across the country. As a licensed nurse in a time with a nursing shortage, there has been a surge in demand by hospitals and clinics for nurses to fill in for short periods. These nursing positions usually span three months to a year. Depending on the duration and distance from home, the employer will often supply housing, or alternatively, a housing subsidy.
“The length of stay for each assignment depends on the contract agreement,” said Gardner. “Thus far, traveling has been a great experience. I have met many people, done all sorts of networking and have built my knowledge base tremendously. There are many advantages to traveling.”
Gardner has a five-year-old daughter, Aloni. “She traveled on assignment with me to California this summer, and we had the best time of both of our lives,” he said.
“Choosing UT Martin to pursue my undergraduate studies was one of the best decisions of my life,” said Gardner. “The nursing faculty laid an extremely firm educational foundation for what is now a very successful nursing career.” He added, “I have gained expertise in various areas, such as emergency room, ICU and interventional radiology. The nursing faculty as a whole shapes the care I provide for my patients on a daily basis.” He said, “Dr. Esther Christian, my nursing faculty adviser, is a positive source of reinforcement each time we speak.”
Gardner also has fond memories of his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, which recently drew him back to UT Martin during homecoming weekend. Fraternity adviser, Lt. Darrell Simmons, UT Martin Department of Public Safety, asked him to assist with a fund-raising project for the youth of McCabe Church in Martin, one of the fraternity’s philanthropic focuses.
“I have a great deal of respect for him. When he presented me with the opportunity, I did not hesitate. I feel that it is so important for children to get the best possible start at reaching their full potential.
“When I think of UT Martin, I smile. My experience was priceless. Choosing the University of Tennessee at Martin was one of the best decisions of my life, and it keeps getting better.”
2005
Elly Shearman (‘05) is an assistant athletic trainer with Elon University Athletic Training Services. Shearman is the primary certified athletic trainer for the Phoenix volleyball and tennis squads and assists with other teams.
2006
Christopher Whitworth (‘06) was selected as the 2008-09 Barrow County Schools Teacher of the Year. The Barrow County Web site includes pictures and a biography. http://www.barrow.k12.ga.us/. Email: cwhitworth@barrow.k12.ga.us
2008
Rachel Coleman Bearden (’08) lives in Martin with her husband, Travis Bearden. She is a teacher at Martin Elementary School. Email: beardenr@k12tn.net
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