The 16th annual Febb Burn Banquet sold out as over 400 leaders gathered to hear keynote speaker Rachel Sussman, two-time Tony Award-winning producer of the Broadway musical Suffs, a play that celebrates the 72-year campaign waged by suffragists to earn the right to vote for women.
Tennessee was the final necessary state to ratify the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920, and the state’s vote came down to one young man, Harry T. Burn from Niota, Tennessee. Pressure in Nashville was intense because the stakes were so high. Burn had planned to vote no, but a letter from his mother, Febb Burn, asked him to “be a good boy” and support the Amendment. He did and the rest is history.
Robin Wilhoit served as master of ceremonies, guiding guests through an evening filled with music, poetry and performances honoring the women whose determination helped forever change American democracy.
Retired attorney Wanda Sobieski has led an almost 72-year crusade to bring recognition to East Tennessee’s role in the struggle. Her latest project is the Women’s Suffrage Museum – Events & Cultural Center on Gay Street in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Sobieski reflected on the connection between Sussman’s determination to bring Suffs to the stage and the perseverance demonstrated by the suffragists themselves.
“Rachel is a true modern-day suffragist,” said Sobieski. “She refused to take ‘no’ for an answer, and through Suffs, she has helped bring the courage, determination and sacrifice of these extraordinary women to audiences in a powerful new way. … Rachel pushed forward against the odds to ensure their voices would be heard by a new generation.”
Then Sobieski segued into why preserving these stories in a permanent museum is so important. “Through this museum, we have the opportunity to give these stories a permanent home and ensure this history is not simply a lesson from the past, but a living spark for the future.”
For an update on the status of work on the museum read Erin Freeman’s excellent summary here.
Wishart to serve on state education panel
Zach Wishart
Zach Wishart, an administrator at River’s Edge Christian Academy, has been appointed by Gov. Bill Lee to serve on the Advisory Council for the Education of Students with Disabilities.
Wishart will represent the state’s private schools. He carries the endorsement of state Rep. Michele Carringer, District 16 in north Knox County. “Zach has been bold and unwavering in his commitment to ensuring that every student, including students with disabilities, has access to a high-quality education, regardless of their family’s income or zip code,” Carringer said. “He understands that students with disabilities have unique needs and deserve an education system that puts their success first. I know he will be a strong advocate for students with disabilities and their families on the council.”
Wishart holds a special education teacher license and currently serves as the middle and high school principal at River’s Edge. His term began on July 1, 2026, and runs through June 5, 2029.
He was the campaign manager for Betsy Henderson’s successful race to become Knox County mayor.
In memoriam – leaders
Charles Foriska
Charles E. “Chuck” Foriska of Sweetwater, Tennessee, died on August 9, 2026, at age 86. The only child of two Depression-era parents, Charles started earning money at age 12, by hunting and selling pelts. And by age 15 he was earning taxable income working for a local dairy from 4 a.m. until school started.
He graduated from high school at age 17 and earned a football scholarship to the University of Maryland. He continued his education at Memphis State in the 1970s. His business knack was in team-building, industrial drafting and design, organic chemistry and his specialty – sales and marketing. Most of his career was with Halstead Industries, a business that expanded with new plants in several states. His final startup was in 2003 with Aeroflex in Sweetwater. It was the final move for his family as well.
Charles kept working until age 76. He and his wife of 66 years, Norma, raised two sons. He said he woke up every morning with the goal to make Norma smile and glow with love and happiness. Sometimes one connects with a total stranger by reading their obituary. That’s the case with Charles Foriska – hard worker, husband, dad, Presbyterian, athlete and cook. Obituary is here.
Donald Fowler
Donald P. Fowler of Loudon, Tennessee, passed on August 17, 2026, at age 82. He worked in law enforcement in Georgia and Tennessee, and over his lifetime Don owned and operated Fowlers Furniture and J D Kinders Furniture, Unclaimed Freight, Universal Music and WLIL radio station.
He was active in First Baptist Church Lenoir City; also, with Juvenile Diabetes and Muscular Dystrophy associations. He was a big man physically and in terms of contributions to the communities he served. His surviving family is large too. Obituary is here.
Notes and quotes
Masters Masonic Fish Fry is Saturday, August 29, 2026, from 4 p.m. until all the fish is gone. Meal includes fried fish, baked beans, hush puppies and more. Cost is $12; children 12 and younger eat for free. University of Tennessee basketball legend Tony White will be on hand for photos and autographs. Powell Lodge #244 is at 7700 Fersner Road, Powell.
Knox Asian Festival is Sunday, August 30, 2026, 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. at World’s Fair Park. Tickets and details here.
Outdoor Knoxville lists hundreds of activities, many free, all outdoors.
Quote: “Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” – Dolly Parton
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Sandra Clark compiles obituary links and writes daily at KnoxTNToday – the Let’s Talk series includes topics of law, neighbors, schools, leaders and outdoors. Enjoyed this article? Read more Let’s Talk – Leaders by Sandra Clark.
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