The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley got a $246,000 boost from the 27th annual Phillip Fulmer Golf Classic, held this year at Avalon Golf and Country Club in Lenoir City on Friday, May 8, 2026.

The winning team was Cellular Sales which included players Jeff Bowers, Christian Tarman, Cecil Scarbrough and John Mills. Graphic Creations was the presenting sponsor, and Dorothy Smith handled the marketing.

The tournament had 38 four-player teams with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. All golfers had a commemorative photo made with Phillip Fulmer, former University of Tennessee athletic director and football coach.

Six former UT football players were Coach Fulmer’s guests at the tourney: Legendary defensive linebacker Al Wilson (1995-1998) was captain of the 1998 BCS National Championship team, played 8 seasons with the Denver Broncos, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Deon Grant (1997-1999) was an All-American defensive back on the 1998 BCS National Championship team and a Super Bowl XLVI champion with the New York Giants. Carl Pickens (1989-1991) played wide receiver, won All-SEC honors, and had a successful career with the Cincinnati Bengals. Kelly Ziegler (1984-1987) played linebacker, Chris White (1981-1985) was a safety, and Jani Trupovnieks (1978-1981) played offensive tackle at UT.

Over the 27-year association with Coach Fulmer, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley has raised over $3 million, said Bart McFadden, organization president and CEO. All proceeds benefit 27 Boys & Girls Clubs in Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Knox and Loudon counties which serve over 8,400 members in grades pre-K through 12.

Learn more about the clubs and get on the mailing list for announcements about next year’s tournament. Info here.

Susan Hutton named principal of Bearden MS

Susan Hutton

Susan Hutton Ed.D. has been appointed principal of Bearden Middle School effective July 2026. Dr. Hutton will replace Michael Toth, who has been principal of Bearden Middle since 2017. Toth has been appointed principal of Halls High School.

Hutton spent nine years as an elementary teacher and middle school AVID tutor in Newport News, Virginia. She began her career in administration in 2006 as an assistant principal at Math, Science and Technology Magnet School in Yorktown, Virginia. She has also worked as an assistant principal and principal in Gastonia, North Carolina, and later as principal of Yorktown Middle School in Yorktown, Virginia, where she led an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, as well as Dare Elementary School.

In 2022, she was appointed principal of Brickey-McCloud Elementary, where she currently serves.

Hutton holds a bachelor’s degree from University of New Mexico, a master’s from Christopher Newport University, and a doctorate in educational policy, planning and leadership from the College of William and Mary.

In Memoriam

Patsy Watkins

Patsy “Pat” Greer Watkins passed away on May 14, 2026, at age 93. In 1967 she began a 41-year teaching position at St. Joseph School in Knoxville. She enjoyed working with middle school students, planning trips to the zoo, organizing “Reading Buddies” among upper and lower grades, and is best known for “Kite Day” which she arranged for the whole school each spring. Her bachelor’s degree was from ETSU with teaching certificates in English, health & PE, and history. A Mass and Memorial service will be held at St. Joseph School on Friday, May 22, at 10 a.m., with a gathering of family and friends to follow in the school cafeteria. Full obituary here.

Lillie Kay Reed

Lillie Kay Reed, 74, of Clinton, passed away on May 11, 2026. For more than three decades, Lillie Kay was a teacher with Anderson County Schools and Clinton City Schools. She volunteered with the food pantry at Memorial UMC in Clinton. A graduate of Clinton High School’s Class of 1969, she went on to earn her master’s degree in education from the University of Tennessee. Receiving of friends will be from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Holley Gamble Funeral Home with a memorial following at 7. Full obituary here.

Frank Draper

Frank Neal Draper passed away on May 7, 2026, at age 66. Frank worked for over 24 years with Knox County Schools. He began as a CTE teacher at Gibbs High before transitioning into a CTE supervisor role. Most recently, Frank was working as an IT asset specialist in the IT department. Frank was an active member of Chilhowee Hills Baptist Church where he worked with the high school youth ministry; the kids ministry including Reframed; the young adult ministry; and worshipping Jesus in the bass section of the choir. Services were held on May 11, 2026. Full obituary is here.

Mickey McCurry

Michael “Mickey” McCurry, 83, of Concord, passed away on May 5, 2026. After graduating from Farragut High School and Carson-Newman College in 1964, Mickey began his teaching career at Pond Gap Elementary. He then devoted the rest of his teaching career at Bearden Middle School. He was also a proud member of the Knox County Education Association. The family received friends on May 11, 2026, at Rose – Mann Chapel. Full obituary is here.

Notes & Quotes

Lakeshore Park Picnic: Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 6-9 p.m. with dinner baskets from area restaurants and live music from Local Lore. Visit LakeshoreParkKnoxville.org/Picnic to purchase tickets and baskets.

Beaver Creek Flotilla is Saturday, May 30, at Powell High Landing (behind Powell High School adjacent to the baseball field). Dozens of volunteers will assist kayaks into and out of the water. Suttles provided for people and their watercraft from Roy Arthur Stormwater Park. Learn more and register here.

Quote: “Learn all you can about everything and pass it on, and do it with a smile. And, in the words of Red Skelton, ‘May God Bless’” – Pat Watkins, advice from obituary

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