Shown above are, from left, Herb McAmis of Greeneville and his uncle, Judge Luke M. McAmis of Kingsport, along with Tusculum College President Dr. Dolphus Henry, during a recent tour of the Tusculum campus. They are shown in front of the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts building. (Tusculum College photo)

Tusculum's oldest alumnus makes major gift to endowed fund

Tusculum College's oldest living alumnus has made a $100,000 gift to an endowed scholarship fund established in his honor in 1983 by several of his friends and associates, and has renamed the fund so it can also honor his late brother.

Luke Moser McAmis, who will reach age 101 this December, announced his commitment recently before visiting Tusculum College for a tour to see the many changes that have come to the campus over the years. He was a student on the campus nearly 80 years ago. McAmis also instructed the college to expand the name of the endowed fund to include the name of his late brother, H.C. McAmis. The fund is now titled the Judge Luke M. McAmis and H.C. McAmis Endowed Scholarship Fund. H.C. McAmis was a member of the Tusculum College class of 1913 and also held several professional posts at the college.

According to H.C. McAmis's son, Herb C. McAmis of Sevier Avenue in Greeneville, H.C. McAmis was bursar and assistant treasurer from 1918 to 1943. After an absence from the college, he became administrative assistant to the president and head of alumni relations, serving from 1957 through 1959, and director of alumni relations from 1960 through 1963, after which he left the college for a career in private business. During his time at Tusculum, H.C. McAmis also ran the college's farm.

From 1925 through 1934, Luke McAmis practiced law with the firm of Worley & Wilson in Kingsport. In 1934 he became the youngest person ever elected to the Tennessee Court of Appeals. In 1954, McAmis was elected as the presiding judge of the Tennessee Court of Appeals, and served in that post until his retirement in 1969.

The endowed scholarship fund now named for both the McAmis brothers was established in 1983 by Dr. Robert H. Bailey, Tusculum College class of 1948, of Baileyton, and other friends and associates of Judge McAmis. The scholarship fund gives preference to able and deserving students from Sullivan and Greene counties based on academic achievement, leadership ability, and financial need.

At a century of life, Judge McAmis is a man who dresses dapperly and looks much younger than his age. He still maintains correspondence and oversees his personal affairs, and with the aid of a walker, still moves about independently.

While on campus, Judge McAmis stopped by the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Building and was met there for a brief visit by Tusculum College President Dr. Dolph Henry.

Judge McAmis, who lives in Kingsport, attended Tusculum College in 1923 after graduating that year from Greeneville High School. After a year at Tusculum College, he went on to the University of Tennessee in 1924. He earned his law degree, however, from Cumberland University in 1925.

"Judge McAmis is an inspiring man who after all his long years of life is still concerned about the young people of East Tennessee and the importance of good higher education," said Dr. Henry. "His gift to the endowed scholarship fund created in his name will have a helpful impact on the lives of students for years to come. We are deeply grateful for his support of Tusculum College and will be glad to have him visit our campus again at any time he should choose."