Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of features on the 2018 Central High School Wall of Fame inductees. Find the first article on Suzanne Matheny here, and the second article on Sandra Martin here.
Jack Lee Thurman is one of the four Central High School graduates who will be inducted into the school’s Wall of Fame on November 8.
Jack was born in Meridian, Mississippi, on March 3, 1934, the only child of A.L. and Mildred (Berney) Thurman, but the family moved to Fountain City when he was young. He graduated from Central High School in 1952, where he was very active in O’dell Willis Band, and where he became drum major in his senior year. He had studied photography and earned his licensed professional photography credentials, so he was chosen to take the photographs for the annual, the Centralite, including photos of many extracurricular activities.
After he graduated from Central, he entered the University of Tennessee and earned his bachelor of science in industrial management in 1956. While at UT, he was a member and later an officer in the Society for the Advancement of Management and belonged to the Delta Sigma Phi Honor Society. It is significant that Jack managed to expand his photography business and to finance 80 percent of his college expenses while conducting his academic pursuits.
Jack and the former Eleanor Burnette were married on July 10, 1956, and would become the parents of three children: Lisa (Compton), Dr. Alan and David. Having been in the Army Reserve, he became an active-duty member of the armed services in 1956 and was sent to Cryptography Specialty School, where he graduated second in his class. After receiving security clearance, he was stationed at Arlington Hall, Virginia. While there, he received commendations for his improvement of the procedures that were used.
Upon discharge from the service, Thurman was employed on the administrative staff of the Biology Research Division of Union Carbide Nuclear Corporation in Oak Ridge. His management skills resulted in innovative purchasing procedures which vastly increased budgetary efficiency.
In 1968, Thurman transferred to the administration of Levi Strauss and Co. He enjoyed a long career as Personnel Manager and Technical Training Manager and, utilizing the skills he had developed in his photography and videography business, he developed an interactive video training program for the company’s mechanics. He received the Daniel E. Koshland Award for Outstanding Achievement in 1985. He was able to take early retirement in 1993.
Thurman was always active in his community. He became active in the Fountain City Jaycees in 1962 and became the second president of the club (1965-66). He co-chaired “Operation Greensweep,” which was a successful project to combat election fraud in Knox County (1965). He and Tom Jensen, his co-chair, won the Government Affairs State Award. Thurman later served as Jaycees’ State Chairman for Public Education.
He was an early member of Fountain City Town Hall and served as its chairman in 1974. In 1984, Jack and his wife Eleanor were chosen Man and Woman of the Year in Fountain City, the first time a couple had been so honored.
The YMCA awarded him its service award in 1978, 1981 and 1982. When he co-chaired the campaign to build the new Northside YMCA in 1985, he also received the service award. He was able to obtain a grant from Levis Strauss and Co. during the campaign.
Jack Thurman was elected to the Knox County Court in 1966 before the body became the Knox County Commission. During his time on the court, he was assigned the task of finding a new site for the Mail Library. His choice of the church at Walnut St. corner must have been excellent, as the library is still on that corner.
After his retirement from the court, Jack remained active in local elections and worked at the polls as a judge, registrar and officer of elections.
Thurman was a long-time active member of Fountain City United Methodist Church and served on the Official Board and as Adult Division Sunday School Superintendent. He was a founding member of the Christian Homebuilders class.
Jack Thurman’s loyalty to his alma mater never wavered and it was a source of pride to him that his three children all graduated from Central and that his youngest son, David, also became Drum Major of the band as his father had been.
He passed away on January 26, 2000, and a Celebration of Life was held at his church conducted by the Rev. P.L. Rowlett before his interment in Lynnhurst Cemetary.
The Central High School Foundation and the Alumni Association are pleased to declare Jack Lee Thurman an honoree on the CHS Wall of Fame.
The 17th Annual Central High School Wall of Fame Dinner will be held at the Gresham Middle School, 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8. Tickets are $25 each and are available at the C.H.S office and from C.H.S. Alumni and Foundation representatives. For reservations or tickets call R. Larry Smith at 865-922-5433, or Jean Payne at 865-688-4165.