City of Tusculum Vice Mayor Robert K. Bird, at right, shows the plaque presented to him by Tusculum College on Saturday during halftime at the Tusculum College game against Morehouse College. At left, Tusculum College President Dolph Henry holds a jacket also presented to Bird. A similar one was given to his wife, Eva, who is not shown. (Tusculum College photo)

Tusculum College honors Robert K. Bird

City of Tusculum Vice Mayor Robert K. Bird, who for more than a decade was Tusculum's mayor, was honored Saturday by Tusculum College at the halftime of its game against visiting Morehouse College.

Bird, accompanied by his wife, Eva, was presented a plaque by Tusculum College President Dr. Dolphus E. Henry. Both the Birds were given Tusculum College jackets as well, those being presented by President Henry and his wife, Judy.

The plaque given to Robert Bird reads: "Presented to Robert K. Bird in grateful appreciation for years of support & service to the City of Tusculum and Tusculum College. Presented on the occasion of 'Robert K. Bird Day,' at Tusculum College, Sept. 13, 2003."

The large crowd applauded the Birds as the presentations were made.

Tusculum College chose to honor Bird because of his long history, both individually and as a governmental leader, of working closely and cooperatively with Tusculum College. It was under Bird's administration as mayor that the city of Tusculum adopted its official slogan, "First in Education," because it is home to Tennessee's oldest institution of higher learning.

Bird is a native of the Middle Creek area of Greene County. He attended Tusculum College in the 1946-'47 academic year on athletic scholarship, but finished his higher education at then-East Tennessee State College. He went on to coach and teach at what was then McDonald High School in Greene County, then enlisted in the army in the Counter-Intelligence Corps, or CIC. After his military career, he became a special agent for the FBI. He ended his FBI career in 1980 and then held key state governmental posts in the State of Kentucky for eight years.

In 1988, the Birds moved to Greene County, where they have remained ever since, living most of the years since then in the City of Tusculum.