Family creates foundation to help kids with serious health concerns
Landon Nickerson
Landon Nickerson made friends easily and loved to play outdoors in his Blount County neighborhood. In late 2025, he was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, diffuse midline glioma. He passed away on May 26, 2026, just 13 days after his twelfth birthday.
His mother, Casie Nickerson, said throughout his treatment, LEGO bricks became so much more than a toy. “They gave him something to look forward to, a creative outlet, a sense of accomplishment and a way to escape the reality of hospital rooms, treatments and difficult days.”
Landon left extensive family members and friends including parents Dylan and Casie Nicherson and his sister, Emma. After his death, the family created a nonprofit foundation – Landon’s Lego Cart – dedicated to providing LEGO sets to children facing serious illnesses and long hospital stays. The foundation will work with Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital initially.
In this way, Landon’s legacy of hope, creativity and kindness will continue to impact countless children and families for years to come. Here are links to learn more:
Obituary for Landon Evans Nickerson
Chessica Cave named dean as LMU merges two academic schools
Chessica Cave
Lincoln Memorial University has appointed Dr. Chessica Cave as dean of its newly formed LMU-College of Arts, Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, effective July 1, 2026.
Cave, previously the interim dean of the Carter & Moyers School of Education, will lead the new college following the consolidation of the Paul V. Hamilton School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and the Carter & Moyers School of Education.
The consolidation is designed to help the university address shared challenges, including balancing undergraduate and graduate programs and responding to national enrollment trends.
Cave has been recognized for her collaborative leadership style, emphasis on transparency and ability to anticipate and address challenges. During her tenure, she has advanced data-driven approaches to academic sustainability, including models that assess program viability based on revenue and expenses rather than enrollment alone.
Nikki Lockhart of LMU provided information for this report.
Five inducted into TN Sports Hall of Fame
Five former Vols were inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in Nashville on July 11, 2026. Also, Karlyn Pickens was named the Hall’s female amateur athlete of the year. Established in 1966, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Tennessee Lottery, enshrines and honors athletes, teams, coaches, sports writers and sports administrators who have made an impact on the history of Tennessee sports. Honorees were:
Karlyn Pickens has established herself among the greats in Tennessee softball history, helping lead Tennessee to Women’s College World Series appearances in 2023, 2025 and 2026 while capturing three SEC championships. She concluded her career as one of the nation’s premier pitchers, recording 824 strikeouts and a 1.53 career ERA while ranking among the program’s all-time leaders in multiple pitching categories. Off the field, Pickens also excelled in the classroom as a two-time Academic All-American.
Monica Abbott is widely regarded as the most dominant pitcher in Tennessee softball history. A four-time All-American, Abbott concluded her Tennessee career as the NCAA Division I career wins leader with 189 victories while earning three SEC Pitcher of the Year honors. She was a three-time finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, winning the honor in 2007. Following her collegiate career, Abbott represented Team USA at the 2008 Beijing and 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, earning silver medals in both competitions.
Reggie Cobb is one of the premier running backs in program history. He starred for the Volunteers from 1987-89, rushing for more than 2,300 career yards while ranking among Tennessee’s all-time leaders in rushing touchdowns. A key contributor on Tennessee’s 1989 SEC Championship team, Cobb was selected in the second round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and went on to rush for more than 3,700 yards during his professional career.
Antone Davis anchored Tennessee’s offensive line during one of the most successful stretches in program history, helping lead the Volunteers to consecutive SEC championships in 1989 and 1990. A unanimous All-American in 1990, Davis earned the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the SEC’s top blocker and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy. He was selected eighth overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1991 NFL Draft and played seven seasons in the NFL.
Charles McRae was a cornerstone of Tennessee’s offensive line from 1987-90, helping pave the way for back-to-back SEC Championship teams in 1989 and 1990. Selected seventh overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1991 NFL Draft, McRae and teammate Antone Davis became the first offensive tackles selected in the top 10 of the same NFL Draft. McRae went on to play six seasons in the NFL with the Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders.
Jason Witten developed into one of the nation’s premier tight ends during his Tennessee career before being selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Witten enjoyed a 17-year NFL career, totaling more than 1,200 receptions and over 13,000 receiving yards while earning 11 Pro Bowl selections. In 2012, he received the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in recognition of his excellence on the field and his impact in the community.
Thanks to UT sports information for this recap.
In Memoriam
Charles Bolus
Charles “Chuck” Bolus passed away on July 3, 2026, at age 63. He is best known as the assistant principal at Gresham Middle School in Fountain City. He taught social studies before entering administration and in 1998 he was named “Tennessee Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year.” Mr. Bolus obtained two degrees from Lincoln Memorial University. He was suited to teach and work with middle school kids, often a difficult age. He officiated ballgames from youth sports to small college athletics. And after he retired, he continued to work with young adults with disabilities. The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 25, 2026, from 10 a.m. until noon at Fountain City United Methodist Church. A Celebration of Life service will follow at noon. His obituary is here.
Johnny Bruce Gann passed away on July 13, 2026, at age 72. The youngest of eight children, he served as a teacher and coach at Jefferson Middle School for over 30 years. The family will receive friends from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, July 16, 2026, at Farrar Funeral Home in Jefferson City with a funeral to follow. The obituary is here.
Susan Owen
Susan Rising Owen of Knoxville passed away on July 3, 2026, at age 81. She devoted 36 years to teaching English in Knox County Schools, and she also taught adults to read. She earned an associate degree in music from Brevard College and later received both a bachelor’s and master’s in education from the University of Tennessee. Outside the classroom, she found joy in gardening, reading, playing bridge, appreciating art, listening to classical music, decorating her home and cheering on the Tennessee Volunteers. The family will receive friends from noon to 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at Rose Funeral & Cremation – Mann Heritage Chapel. Funeral services will follow. Her obituary is here.
Notes & Quotes
Back-to-school is sooner than you think: Monday, August 3, is the first day for teachers; Friday, August 7, is orientation for sixth and ninth graders; Monday, August 10, is first day for students (half day). School calendar is here.
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Sandra Clark writes daily at KnoxTNToday – the Let’s Talk series, including Let’s Talk – Law, Let’s Talk – Neighbors, Let’s Talk – Schools, Let’s Talk – Leaders and Let’s Talk – Outdoors.
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