Bits of Stone for Sunday Sept. 9, 2012
Wilhoit-Morton Labor Day Weekend in Townsend reaches its 20th year
Beginning in 1992, Charles V. Wilhoit Jr., retired Navy captain who resides in Townsend, his four Morton nephews, Glenn, Andy, Tim and Phil, and Jimmy Moroney III of Dallas, Texas, have met here for a get-together. They were all here this past weekend.
For newer residents, C.V. Wilhoit Sr. was well known as a local manager in ALCOA’s Tennessee Operations; his wife Grace worked in management offices at ALCOA and was well known as a Bible scholar and Sunday school teacher at Maryville First Baptist Church.
In addition to Charles, they had two daughters:
Alice was a long time secretary at Everett High, who with her husband Charles Morton, an ALCOA employee, were parents of the four Morton brothers.
Helen, who performed professionally under the name of Lynn Hoyt was a vocalist in the Teddy Phillips orchestra which travelled nationally, married James M. Moroney Jr. of Dallas. Jim Moroney III is their son.
Moroney grandson is publisher, CEO of Dallas, Texas, Morning News
All four of the parents are deceased but the five Wilhoit grandsons recalled many happy days as young boys when C.V. Wilhoit Sr. would take them camping for two weeks at a time in Cades Cove. Thus originated the Labor Day weekend reunion.
Readers will know most of the five grandsons:
• Glenn Morton, long known as the voice of the once-prominent Maryville radio station WGAP, is employed at Clayton.
• Andy, an architect, is busy with the outstanding new home Johnny and Jodie Johnson are building in Townsend.
• Tim is employed by First Tennessee Bank.
• Phil is assistant district attorney in Knoxville.
All four of the Morton brothers are talented musicians and frequently sing, play instruments or direct church-related music.
• Jim Moroney III is publisher and chief executive officer of the Dallas Morning News, the 16th largest newspaper in the nation with a circulation of 265,000. The News has won numerous Pulitzer Prizes.
Jeanne Ezell of Blount Memorial Hospital is honored as an area health care hero
Pharmacy Director Jeanne Ezell of Blount Memorial Hospital is honored in of the current issue of the Greater Knoxville Business Journal as a 2012 Health Care Hero. The Journal annually selects individuals in the area for outstanding performance in various areas of health care.
In addition to her photograph on the cover, an extended interview tells of her work on making education and safety top priorities. During her 22 years at Blount Memorial Hospital she has introduced computer-controlled drug storage cabinets and a point-of-care barcode medication administration system. She spearheaded a Medication Process Improvement Team which has worked to eliminate errors through training, frequent process reviews and the introduction of innovative technology. She established a pharmacy residency program and has authored numerous professional articles. Hospital Chief Executive Officer Don Heinemann commended her continuing enthusiasm for education and quality improvements.
She has received numerous honors including Tennessee Hospital Pharmacist of the Year and is a fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Jeanne is the second person from Blount Memorial Hospital so honored. Retired Administrator Joe Dawson was recognized in 2009 as a Health Care Hero for his administrative excellence.
Cades Cove Preservation Association volunteers, park service paint churches
All three of the churches in Cades Cove received a fresh coat of paint in recent weeks. It was a cooperative effort of the National Park Service, Cades Cove Preservation Association (CCPA), and donation of 15 gallons of Glidden paint by Blevins Paint Center needed to complete the job. This may be the first time all three churches were painted in the same summer.
CCPA President Richard Anderson commended member David Ledbetter, project manager, for his leadership and coordination of the project. He worked closely with Randy Hatten and the Cades Cove maintenance crew of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
In order to keep volunteers off the less-safe higher portions of the structures, park crews painted down to about the six foot level, easily reached by volunteers on the ground. Blevins mixed the paint to a National Park Service-analyzed shade of the original paint.
The three churches are Missionary Baptist, Primitive Baptist and Methodist, which were in heavy use before Cades Cove became a part of the national park in the mid-1930s. After the Missionary Baptist Church painting was completed, Johnnie and Leon Sparks were honored for their long service to the church.
Anderson reported an increased visitation at the CCPA Museum in the Thompson-Brown House, a log structure across East Lamar Alexander Parkway from Blount Memorial Hospital. School field trips are more numerous and there is increased interest in history due to the opportunity to view old photographs on the new computer terminal.
Dean Stone is editor of The Daily Times
