Alma Bacon, Millington, Tennessee

Alma H. Bacon received her B.S. degree in home economics from TSU in 1944.  She created and developed a one-of-a-kind program for males and females in interior decorating.  Mrs. Bacon received many awards during her teaching career including the “Shelby County Education Association Appreciation Award for Outstanding Service to Shelby County Schools.”  Her quiet dignity, grace, genuine love and concern for students, and her unusual ability to motivate, exemplifies her as one who made a difference.  Mrs. Bacon retired from Shelby County Schools after 37 years in education.

Hannah Hughes Hall, Baxter, Tennessee

Hannah H. Hall was educated at Baxter Grammar School, Baxter Seminary, University of Tennessee, Middle Tennessee State, and Tennessee Polytechnic Institute.  During here 44 year teaching career, she served in the Putnam County School System as a teacher and the Upper Cumberland District as a WPA supervisor.  Ms. Hall has participated in civic clubs such as: Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Delta Kappa, Kappa Delta Phi, International Thespian Society, Polyhumanian Literary Society, AAUW, Community Theater Group, PTA/PTO,DAR, Retired Teachers Association , and many Senior Citizens groups.  She has received many honors and certificates in recognition of her good works.

Ola G. Hudson, Nashville, Tennessee

Ola G. Hudson was born in Nashville, Tennessee.  She received her B.S. and M.S. degrees from Tennessee State University.  She has 40 years in the Metro Nashville Schools as a Home Economics teacher, Program Assistant in Human Relations, Coordinator of Home Economics/Tech Prep and Interim Director of Vocational, Adult and Community Education.  She chaired local, state and national committees in the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences and the American Vocational Association.  Her many recognitions include “Educator of the Year,” “Administrator of the Year” and “Outstanding Contribution to Home Economics Award”.

Virginia Reed Leedy, Bean Station, Tennessee

Virginia Reed Leedy retired from Grainger County Schools with 44 years of service.  In addition to classroom instruction, she was always available to work with students in school activities outside the classroom.  During World War II when male faculty were scarce, she even agreed to coach men’s basketball at Rutledge High.  Among her many accomplishments, Mrs. Leedy was selected to represent Grainger County in the White House Middle School Bicentennial Project in 1996.  She passed away in 1999, but a scholarship fund in her name continues her legacy in Grainger County.

Albertine Marston, Leoma, Tennessee

Albertine Marston was educated at Indiana University and San Diego State College.  In 1975, she graduated from Athens State College and received her Master’s Degree from TSU in 1985.  She retired in 1988 after 40 years in education.  She taught at Leoma Elementary School until she retired.  Since retirement, she has done tutoring and school volunteer work.  She believes that all students, in order to be well-oriented, must learn to read, write, solve arithmetic problems, know and use correct grammar, think for themselves, understand environmental issues and how these are related and interrelated.  She sought to match”academic learning” with “practical application in life.

Adrian McClaren, Memphis, Tennessee

Adrian McClaren taught in Memphis City Schools for 37 years.  For 22 of those years, he was the trusted mentor to teachers who, in turn, molded young people to appreciate language and become thinkers.  He was educated at George Peabody College for Teachers, Lambuth, Scarrit, Memphis State University and Vanderbilt.  He was listed in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, Who’s Who 1972 Personalities of the South, Who’s Who 1974 International Biography, Cambridge University, England and Who’s Who in American Education 1989-90.

Adrian lost his fight with cancer in 1997.  Shelby-Memphis Council of Teachers of English printed a booklet with teaching ideas from Adrian’s files.

Eleanor Barnes Murray, Belvedere, Tennessee

Eleanor Barnes Murray was educated in Marshall County Public Schools, Martin College and Middle Tennessee State University.  She received her B.S. and M.A. Degrees from Peabody College.  She retired in 1976 after teaching 45 years in Belfast, Petersburg, Fayetteville, and Frnaklin County High School in Winchester.  She is included in Personalities of the South, and Outstanding Secondary Educators.  She was named “Franklin County Retired Teacher of the Year” in 1984.  She wrote the Bicentennial Poem for County in 1996 and has published other poems and articles  She also taught Sunday School for 50 years.