6/03/98
Phinney honored on 103rd birthday
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| Phinney is shown with a certificate announcing the scholarship named for him. |
Mr. Ralph Phinney, honorary chair of the President Andrew Johnson Memorial Association, was treated to a celebration by the group at the President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library on Monday, June 1, 1998, his 103rd birthday. Phinney, a longtime scholar of President Johnson, was the owner and operator of an electrical equipment company in Greeneville for 61 years. He acquired many artifacts for the museum's collections, and is also the oldest living alumnus of Virginia Tech.
In honor of the occasion the Ralph M. Phinney Scholarship was announced by the Memorial Association. Scholarship preference will be given to juniors and seniors majoring in either history or museum studies, and will be awarded on the basis of academic achievement and leadership ability.
Also honoring Phinney was Betsy Carrier, associated with the Johnson family through the Bachman line. Ms. Carrier donated to the museum a bible originally owned by Johnson's son. "It's almost as old as I am," Phinney commented on seeing the 1866 inscription inside the bible's cover.
"Thank you again and again," Phinney said. On reaching age 103, Phinney said, "it's pleasing and rewarding that through the Andrew Johnson Memorial Association and Andrew Johnson Museum and Library we have seen the growth and establishment of the Andrew Johnson legend and name."
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Phinney concluded by predicting "a new day, a new birth, and a new image" for the association and the museum. "We have gained momentum," he said, "and there's much more to follow."