BEARDEN
Lamar Alexander looks back on his political life in new memoir
John Shearer, Shopper News
Lamar Alexander has represented the state like few others – as a governor, U.S. senator and president of the University of Tennessee System. He even walked across more than 1,000 miles of the state during his 1978 gubernatorial campaign.
Although the Maryville native has written several books, he recently put all his different jobs and experiences into a single one for the first time with his memoir, “The Education of a Senator: From JFK to Trump.”
In it, he references Knoxville in several places, while of course discussing his growing up on High Street in Blount County as the son of a determined nursery school operator and graduating from Maryville High in 1958.
He wrote that he had become interested in politics
at a young age and was a Boys State leader in high school. After attending Vanderbilt University, becoming aware of the civil rights movement and attending New York University School of Law, where his roommate for two years was future NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, he began his political journey.
He clerked for New Orleans Judge John Minor Wisdom and worked for Richard Nixon’s staff in Washington, D.C. – where he met his future wife, Honey, who was from Texas – before his failed campaign for governor in 1974.
Walking across the state: 'Most people thought I had lost my mind'
That set the stage for one of the most unusual campaign efforts in modern Tennessee or even American history – walking across the state to introduce himself to voters in 1978. That came about, he wrote, when Honey told him and campaign helpers Doug Bailey and Tom Ingram that if he were to run again, he needed to have a much better strategy than he did in his failed 1974 campaign against Ray Blanton. He needed to be more natural, she said.
Since he liked hiking in a plaid shirt, she suggested campaigning across the state by walking. As a result, they bought some red and black plaid shirts at Friedman’s Army Navy surplus store in Nashville and started the campaign in early 1978 from Maryville with minimal advance public notice. As he quipped in the book, “Most people thought I had lost my mind.”
He first stayed at the home of Garland and Tommie DeLozier in Blount County and would stay with different people all the way to Memphis. He was even hit by a truck in Newport and injured his foot, but his determination was not bruised.
Although he does not mention stopping in Knoxville on the walk, he does say that several unidentified members of the UT Pride of the Southland Band were recruited to go with him and take advantage of his musical gifts as the keyboardist he's been since the age of 3.
Ingram had interviewed the band members, and then-band director J. Julian had told him the ones he selected were not the best musicians. But Ingram reportedly replied, “I’m not hiring them for their musical ability. I’m hiring personalities.” The campaign strategy was able to resonate with the voters in Tennessee, and Alexander was elected.
Pride and improvements
He writes about the improvements he tried to make in Tennessee as governor through such initiatives as getting Nissan and Saturn to locate here, building better highways and improving education through teaching incentives. He said he also tried to make Tennesseans prouder to be from their state through such projects as the Homecoming ’86 celebration.
Regarding that celebration as it relates to the region, he wrote that instead of being proud of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and UT, “Knoxvillians persisted in thinking that their city added up to less than the sum of its considerable parts, and instead kept reminding themselves that the Wall Street Journal had once referred to it as ‘a scruffy little city.’ ”
Alexander offers other Knoxville-area memories, including those of friend and late-in-life Knoxville-area resident Alex Haley, whom Georgiana Vines recently chronicled in her Knox News column, In Politics. He also talks about traveling to Knoxville and Farragut High with then-president Ronald Reagan in June 1983 to highlight an education initiative while governor.
Alexander also goes into some detail about serving as president of the UT System from 1988-91 before becoming secretary of the U.S. Department of Education and a U.S. senator. He hinted that the UT job was perhaps the hardest he held, jokingly saying that watching a lot of baseball does not make someone a Major League player.
He said that when he arrived at UT, some faculty were unhappy that he did not have a Ph.D., that he had a degree from rival Vanderbilt (despite admittedly being a Vol sports fan growing up) and concerned that he might be more focused on results than the process.
He said that while the university prospered during his tenure with more National Merit Scholars enrolling, faculty salaries improving, more Black administrators being appointed as vice presidents, and research dollars and endowments increasing, some people were still not happy. “There must have been several faculty members who breathed a sigh of relief when word spread that President (George) Bush had asked me to be U.S. Secretary of Education, and that I had said yes,” he wrote.
Readers also learn such little-known facts among casual observers that Alexander smoked cigarettes for years and that he was an early investor in friend Sandy Beall’s Ruby Tuesday restaurants and Blackberry Farm resort.
He also writes about his sometimes-positive dealings with President Donald Trump and discusses his encounters with the apparently loquacious Democrat Joe Biden in perspectives that obviously come from a Republican.
Overall, though, any reader who has simply observed Alexander from a distance is left with a warmer portrait of him through his detailed sharing of his life.
And much of that life has no doubt been shaped by his experiences in Maryville and the Knoxville region.
POWELL
Mother honors her daughter through free self-defense classes for women
Al Lesar, Shopper News
Part of Amanda Copeland’s healing process is going to the gym and getting in a kickboxing workout.
It’s a place where she feels a kinship with the daughter she lost almost two years ago.
“I think Savannah’s goal was to be a ninja cheerleader,” Amanda said with a laugh. “I wanted all my kids to be able to defend themselves. I wanted my kids to have the confidence to stand up for someone who couldn’t.”
Besides her love for cheerleading, Savannah Grace Copeland had been a regular for a year at The Wheeler Academy in Powell before she was stabbed to death on Oct. 22, 2024.
“Savannah had been very introverted,” her mother said. “She found her place and her voice in athletics. Whenever she was working out at the gym, there was nothing but smiles and laughter. She grew in confidence so much.”
That’s a big reason why The Wheeler Academy (3553 W. Emory Road) was chosen as a location for the first Grit & Grace free women’s self-defense class July 18.
It featured only women and girls, age 12 and older.
More free self-defense upcoming
Sponsored by the Savannah Grace Foundation, a nonprofit founded by Amanda and her husband, Michael, the event was an opportunity to empower women and make a positive impact on the community.
It was something Amanda, who used to work in victim advocacy, felt passionate about.
“We reached out to different groups of women who had been victims of domestic violence and other groups where this might be helpful,” Amanda said. “We made sure it was free. We never want money to be an obstacle to helping people.”
The July event was the first of four that are planned for this year. The Wheeler Academy and EverMore Athletics Fitness Center (7631 Clinton Highway) in Powell will host two each. The next free event will be in October.
“Something like this fits into Savannah’s spirit; what her legacy looks like,” Amanda said. “We always taught her to be strong, to keep getting up. She was tough as nails, so this seemed to be a perfect fit.”
Being Savannah's mom
There are seven board members with the Savannah Grace Foundation: Amanda’s husband Michael and six women. The women were part of the self-defense seminar.
“We wanted to be able to walk the walk, so we all (took) it,” Amanda said. “We had to get one under our belts.”
The next activity for the Savannah Grace Foundation is a fundraising cheer competition at John Tarleton Park on Sept. 19. Go to the foundation’s website, savannahgracefoundation.org, for more information.
The board members have come up with ideas to serve the community.
“Everything is so positive with the foundation,” Amanda said. “Our board members are so invested.
“We’re trying to turn this absolute tragedy that could easily destroy a family into something positive. We wouldn’t allow this to destroy our family, not us. Instead we wanted to shed Savannah’s light.
“With this, I get to roll up my sleeves and do the hands-on work of being her mom.”
KARNS
New energy brings fresh life to Karns Community Club
Nancy Anderson, Shopper News
“This is Karns and we love it here!” is the new motto of the ever-evolving Karns Community Club.
The club, established in 1954, meets at 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the Community Club Building at 7708 Oak Ridge Highway.
It is a well-attended meeting often including commissioners and other political figures, affording a great opportunity to voice concerns and recommendations about the community.
There’s a new energy stirring within the community with Brent Howell stepping in as president this year. Howell is bringing fresh ideas and a renewed passion for getting more people involved.
If you live in Karns, you are a member of the Karns Community Club. Howell wants to see more new community members show up and volunteer their talents.
“I came up with the new motto and I knew I had hit on something when I heard two new community members say they moved to Karns last year and just love it here,” said Howell.
Howell takes over for Don Gordon, who served as president of the club for about 17 years. Gordon leaves the club in great financial condition and has chosen a visionary in Howell to take over the club. Gordon isn’t gone, though; he’s now a trustee.
Howell hit the ground running with a new social media manager, Jessica Arnold, who designed and built a website for the club. She works daily on social media posts to let all the newcomers know there’s a place for them to get involved in the community.
The new president happened to be in the club's backyard one day and began to wonder how the space could be used. The cedar tree-lined grove gave a rustle in the wind, and Music in the Grove was born. The first concert was a great success with a sizeable crowd and great bluegrass music by the Timberwinds. Howell plans to continue Music in the Grove through November. Keep an eye out for announcements on Facebook and Instagram.
The club also owns the Youth Center, which was built in 1971, but never actually used as a youth center. Howell has renamed the building the Event Center at 6618 Beaver Ridge Road.
“The club owns the two buildings and when I saw the events that take place in both buildings, I understood how important they are for people having events like birthday parties or baby showers. I want the appearance to match how special those events are. That’s what made me want to improve the appearance of the inside of the Event Center and the outside of the club building. We’ve taken down the trees in front of the club building to make it more visible and soon we’ll begin renovating the inside of the Event Center.”
The club is a financial sponsor of many events in Karns, from scholarships to Karns High School students attending Governor’s State in Nashville every June to partnering with the Fair Board to put on the longest-running fair in Tennessee. The club also helps sponsor the Beaver Creek Kayak Club Flotilla, the Fall Festival and the Christmas Parade, providing fun for Karns community members both new and established.
Info: www.karnscommunityclub.org
HALLS
Knoxville baker turns childhood struggle into birthday cakes
Al Lesar, Shopper News
While Cheyenne Rumgay was growing up in North Knoxville, there were years when she didn’t get a cake for her birthday.
She wasn’t happy about it, but she and her three siblings understood. Money was tight. Her father was in law enforcement, but was on disability. Her mother was the sole provider.
Several years later, the feeling stuck with the 2015 Fulton High School graduate. But she didn’t want that to happen to anyone else.
Fast forward to early 2024. Rumgay, who lives near Fountain City, discovered she had a knack for baking, and loved even more the creativity that went along with decorating the cakes.
“It was like being in high school art class all over again, and I’m getting paid to do it,” Rumgay said of making the cakes look beautiful. “I take pride in the way my cakes taste, but decorating is the part I really love.”
Rumgay, who had been a stay-at-home mom with her husband’s daughter, found her calling as a cottage baker. She started with breads for friends and family. Her focus evolved to cakes and Love Grown Bakehouse was born.
One of the first things she’s done with her new business was to offer a free birthday cake each month to families who couldn’t afford one.
Baking gives a purpose
After a while, Love Grown Bakehouse outgrew her home’s kitchen. Her father-in-law got her a shed tricked out with electricity, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, a large oven and a large refrigerator.
“Having a detached kitchen feels great,” Rumgay said. “Work feels like an escape. I look forward to heading out there.”
While the enclosure is normally “cooler than my house” in the summer, Rumgay cranks up a playlist to fit the mood she has - country, her Disney artists or Christian.
“I’m all over the place,” Rumgay said.
The operation can handle between six and 10 cakes a week. There are times she has had to put a cap on orders.
“Baking made me feel like I have a purpose,” she said. “Before, I just had my house. Now, I have a sense of self. I’m proud of it, but I don’t know how I achieved it.”
Variety of products available
The reality of her baking business hits home every day. Besides cakes, she offers cake pops, chocolate-dipped treats, cheesecake shooters and cupcakes.
Most of her sales come from pre-ordered custom-made cakes.
Rumgay’s favorite flavor is vanilla. She will usually add a fruit filling. Customers and family members have a thing for fun-fetti or red velvet; both are good sellers.
She likes to offer seasonal flavors. If there’s one ingredient that’s difficult to deal with, it’s lavender. Rumgay said she will use lavender flour, but getting the flavor into the frosting isn’t easy.
Wedding cakes took a while before she became comfortable with them.
“It took about a year before I got used to the integrity of the cake,” Rumgay said. “This was a big part of someone’s wedding day. There’s a lot of pressure.”
Cakes start at $30 and go all the way to $300 for a wedding cake, which is still cheaper than most. Orders can be taken by email, lovegrownharvest@gmail.com, or on the Love Grown Bakehouse Facebook page.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Shopper Blog: Lamar Alexander looks back on his political life in new memoir
