By DOUGLAS WATSON
Greeneville Sun Managing Editor
Source: The Greeneville Sun
03-30-2001
Republished by permission
Former Gov. Lamar Alexander spoke here Thursday evening to about 150 invited guests attending a dinner at the General Morgan Inn honoring Dr. Dolphus Henry.
Henry will be inaugurated this afternoon as Tusculum College’s 26th president. The public is invited to the 2 p.m. event at the college’s Alpine Arena.
Alexander said meeting the challenge of building character and community gives Tusculum College and its new president “an opportunity to make the college’s future as distinguished as its past.”
Tusculum College is the oldest college in Tennessee and the 28th oldest in the nation. Henry began serving as its president last June.
Alexander focused in his talk on the wise, six-word advice of his friend, the late novelist, Alex Haley: “Find the good and praise it.”
Haley was a Tennessean whose novel, “Roots,” told the story of members of a black family, from their origins in Africa before being enslaved, through slavery, and their eventual freedom in this country.
Alexander recalled Haley, who died nine years ago, as a man with whom he had developed a close friendship and for whom he had had great admiration.
Of Haley, Alexander said, “He would always find the good (in a person) and praise it,” doing so without being unduly sugar-coated or superficial.
“I never heard him say an angry word or bad word about anyone,” Alexander said.
In his non-political tribute to Haley, Alexander recalled how the novelist once had been accosted in Los Angeles by two armed men who were intent on robbing him.
However, Alexander said, when the would-be robbers looked at Haley and recognized him as the famed writer whose novel had been reproduced as a highly popular television series, instead of taking Haley’s money, they asked for his autograph.
The former governor said that it is appropriate that on Haley’s tombstone are the words, “Find the Good and Praise It.”
Such a positive approach is needed, Alexander said, because of what are stressful, lonely, and often dysfunctional times for many Americans.
He cited material from a best-selling book, “Bowling Alone,” by Robert Putnam, a Harvard University sociologist, in which Putnam relates how “Americans became increasingly disconnected from family, friends, neighbors and social structure.”
“Membership in the PTA, church, recreation clubs, political parties and bowling leagues dropped,” the former governor said.
“Because our communities were weaker, we saw a rise in teen pregnancy, prenatal mortality and crime, and a drop in educational performance.
“There is a renewed interest in small colleges, like Tusculum College, and Maryville College in my hometown,” Alexander said, because of what they contribute to building students’ character and the schools’ communities.
Alexander told Dr. Henry and his wife, Judy, “You have a remarkable opportunity.”
When he began his address, Alexander said that one reason why he accepted the invitation to speak was that it came from former state Sen. Tom Garland, of Greeneville, who had served as majority leader of the Tennessee Senate while Alexander was governor.
“If Tom asked me to do it, I have to do it,” Alexander said, calling Garland “a leader of character.”
Alexander also said it was “a treat” for him to be able to return to Greeneville because many of his family’s roots are in Greene, Washington and Jefferson counties.
He said that he is a descendant of John Alexander, a Scots-Irish Presbyterian who in 1779 settled near Limestone Creek’s juncture with the Nolichucky River. Fondly recalling some of his ancestors, Alexander said, “They were independent, and they were ornery.”
At the close of Alexander’s speech, those present stood and applauded.
Niswonger Makes Introduction
Alexander was introduced by Scott M. Niswonger, Greeneville business leader and philanthropist who is a member of Tusculum College’s board of trustees and of the board of the Tusculum Institute for Public Leadership and Policy, which sponsored the dinner.
Niswonger is chairman and CEO of the Greeneville-based trucking companies, Forward Air Corporation and Landair Corporation. Niswonger, a pilot, had flown Alexander to Greeneville for his speech.
Niswonger said, “Lamar Alexander was Tennessee’s first governor to serve two four-year terms. As governor, he helped Tennessee become the third-largest automobile producer (in the nation), the fastest growing state in family incomes, and the first state to pay teachers more for teaching well.
“As U.S. Secretary of Education, Lamar helped President Bush push for higher academic standards, ‘break the mold’ schools, and a ‘GI Bill for kids’ to give poor families more choices of good schools.”
Niswonger’s introduction continued, “Lamar made numerous other contributions to education through his service as president of the University of Tennessee. At present, he is visiting professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
“In 1987, he co-founded Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc., which has become the nation’s largest provider of work site day care. Gov. Alexander is the author of seven books.
In 1996 and 2000, Gov. Alexander was a candidate for the Republican nomination for president of the United States. He is a seventh-generation Tennessean, who makes his home in Nashville with his wife, Honey. They have four children.
Garland And The Institute
Garland, chairman of the Tusculum Institute for Public Leadership and Policy, was master of ceremonies for the evening.
The Institute awards full scholarships to outstanding students who are selected as either Quillen Scholars or Niswonger Scholars.
At present, there are three such students on full scholarships for their years at Tusculum College. Two of those students — Sarah Flanigan and Levin Sudderth — were introduced at the dinner. The third scholarship student, Sierra Harlacher, is in Nashville working as an intern on the staff of Gov. Don Sundquist.
Also introduced at the dinner was Carmen Brown, president of Tusculum College’s Student Government Association.
The Tusculum Institute for Public Leadership and Policy has said that its purpose is to prepare students for leadership roles in their communities. While serving as fellows, the students become involved in many work activities which expose them to leadership in business, politics, education and civic endeavors.
At present, for example, two of the students are helping to organize a 14-county Virginia-Tennessee visioning forum, which will be held at Tusculum College on Friday, April 6.
The Institute has said that “through such work activities, plus substantial mentoring provided by Institute staff, the fellows learn more about community service, thereby supplementing their academic endeavors.”
Students majoring in any field are eligible for fellowships, but must minor in political science as a minimum. Two of the three present fellows are majoring in political science.
The Rev. Dr. J. Wiley Prugh, a member of the college’s board of trustees, delivered the invocation for the 7:15 p.m. dinner, which followed a reception.
Greeneville Sun Photo by Pat Cagney
Former Gov. Lamar Alexander speaks to invited guests at a dinner Thursday evening at the General Morgan Inn honoring Dr. Dolphus Henry, who will be inaugurated this afternoon as Tusculum College’s 26th president.