In a perfect world, litterbugs wouldn’t exist. No one would have difficulty locating the eight solid waste facilities across Knox County and organizing community clean-ups wouldn’t be necessary. As that is, unfortunately, not the case, Hardin Valley is lucky to have residents like Mike and Chrys Huston.
The Hustons have helped keep Hardin Valley ship-shape for over 20 years now, most recently with a clean-up in coordination with Keep Knoxville Beautiful on Nov. 6. They have lived in the area for over 30 years, and have watched the community transform from a predominantly rural, farmland setting to, arguably, the fastest developing section of the county.
“This is such a wonderful community, with so many things to offer,” Chrys said. “God gave us this beautiful gift of where we live, and we need to take care of it.”
That thought is what spurred her to action back in 1999. She had noticed that Hickory Creek Road was full of trash and tried calling the county to direct some attention to it. After being told there was no money nor manpower for the job, she was offered the provision of supplies, but she’d have to find her own crew. So, a date was set, people were called, flyers were distributed, and 400 bags of trash later a community tradition was begun.
A few years later she raised money for a “Welcome to Hardin Valley” sign that also serves as a community message board to promote the clean-up and other community events.
The Hustons moved to Knox County from St. Louis in 1974 when civil engineer Mike took a job with TVA, inspecting dams throughout the system. They first lived in Farragut for 12 years before eventually buying land in Hardin Valley on Melton Hill Lake in 1987.
Chrys had several jobs, including training American Saddlebred horses. She eventually settled into tax preparation as a career. It helped that she had overcome her fear of public speaking because she eventually trained other employees in tax preparation.
Mike, a Navy veteran and a big fan of the Dilbert cartoon, has the affable tendency of cracking himself up and looks at his wife with great admiration.
“I always said her business card should include tractor repair,” he said, referencing a valuable skill for working with livestock and farmland. “She’s very active, and I can’t wait to see what she’s going to do next.”
Mike, 76, and Chrys, 73, are both retired now, but there is no slowing down in either of them. Their daughter lives nearby, and both their grandsons are pitchers for their college baseball teams in East Tennessee. They enjoy watching them play every chance they get and are looking forward to traveling again soon.
While they may have been the instigators behind these community clean-up efforts, they are both quick to deflect accolades and praise the volunteers who join in to help.
“We have such strong support from the schools, churches, businesses and individuals. The youth have come out,” Chrys said, noting that the Hardin Valley Academy football team helps out in the spring clean-up and the baseball team helps out in the fall. The school’s cheer ream participated in the Nov. 6 clean-up. She added that students participating can use that participation toward their community service hours in the Tennessee Promise program.
“They key thing here is the volunteers,” Mike said. “Our success has been in the people here stepping up to help.”
In September, the Hardin Valley Community Team Up to Clean Up received an excellence award from the Tennessee Department of Transportation in community volunteering.
Beth Kinnane is the community news editor for KnoxTNToday.com