Sam Whitwell - MountPleasantTN.org

Jennifer Graham Named November’s Mount Pleasant Citizen of the Month
“It’s Time to Leave the Past Behind Us and Work Together to Make Our City Better”
Jennifer Graham has been a consistently dedicated force of community service since she arrived in
Maury County in 1987 with the Saturn Corporation.
Now an award-winning realtor with Crye-Leike Realtors, Jennifer began her career at Saturn as
Community Relations Director and Senior Communications Coordinator. Prior to that, she was a Governor’s
Press Aide for Lamar Alexander.
In the course of her career at
Saturn, she was expected to uphold many
community service obligations, and her
volunteer accomplishments are extensive.
As a long-time resident of Mount
Pleasant, however, Jennifer’s community
service to her own town has a special
meaning to her.
“I would like to see Mount
Pleasant succeed, grow and prosper,” she
notes. “The only way this can happen is if
everyone works together for the good of
Mount Pleasant. Too often we take sides
over an issue and we never come back
together as one community. It's time to leave the past behind us and work together to make our city better.”
One way Jennifer is currently serving Mount Pleasant as Chairman of the Tennessee Downtowns. The
primary goal of the organization is to assist in the downtown revitalization of communities. Mount Pleasant was
one of the first ten towns selected three years ago. Through this program, the board can access the technical
assistance and expert advice needed to fully understand the comprehensive nature of downtown revitalization.
Jennifer has served Mount Pleasant in numerous other ways. She was a charter member of the town’s
benefit ball board of directors, and was its board president and event chairperson for several years. Other
organizations of which she was a charter member are the Mount Pleasant CDC (board member) and the Mount
Pleasant Community Education Foundation. Additionally, she served on Mount Pleasant Parks and Recreation
Board as the secretary; is a past member of the Maury Phosphate Museum board; is a past member of the
Mount Pleasant Chamber’s board; and served as president of the Association Concerned over Resources and
Nature.
Jennifer currently is a member of the Southern Middle Tennessee Association of Realtors and was that
organization’s Realtor of the year in 2012. She is a member of Destiny Church, where she is leader of guest
services and outreach events. She is a member of, and on the board of directors of, Fellowship of Christian
Athletes (FCA, and is an FCA Character Coach for the CSCC softball team.
Before joining Saturn, Jennifer had a distinguished career with the administration of Governor Lamar
Alexander. She served on Alexander’s Governor’s campaign and served on his Inaugural Committee. Prior to
that, she was appointed by NAR as the Federal Political Coordinator for Senator Lamar Alexander.
When she came to Maury County, she served such diverse organizations as the Maury Alliance (board
member from 1995 to 2006 and 2009 to present), and as a board member/graduate of Leadership Maury for six
years. She was on the Columbia State Foundation Board from 2001 to 2007, and is currently on the board of
advisors. Other organizations she has served include The Family Center, Rotary Club, Boys and Girls Club,
YMCA, and the United Way.
While she is certainly always busy with a multitude of community projects, Jennifer’s most beloved
hobby remains basketball.
“I love to attend Summertown basketball games where my youngest daughter Sarah played for 5 years,”
she says. “We lost Sarah in a car accident June 29, 2011.”
Jennifer’s daughter Grace and her husband Ryan Richards live in Nashville. Grace is a key account
executive with Boxercraft, an apparel company out of Atlanta, and Ryan is a tax attorney with the Nashville
Law Firm H3GM.
Jennifer attended Dyersburg State Community College on a basketball scholarship, and she studied
political science at MTSU. She earned a certificate in Corporate Community Relations from Boston College
Carroll School of Management. Born and raised in Jackson, TN, Jennifer graduated from the Old Hickory
Academy in 1979.
“I Feel So Blessed”
Mount Pleasant Citizen of the Month Mazie King
Recognized for
Her Dedicated Service to Foster Children and to
Jones AME Church
Maize King says that at age 94, she is
grateful to look back on a long, blessed life of
helping foster children and she was humbled
“someone thought enough of me to appoint me for
this award.”
King is being honored as the Mount Pleasant Citizen of the Month because of the more than 80 foster
children she and her late husband Monroe have helped raised, starting 40 years ago. Additionally, King has
been very supportive of her church, Jones Chapel AME.
She says that when she and her husband were going through the process of adopting three kids, they took
classes through DCS. A worker there saw how good the Kings were as parents, and talked Mazie into giving
foster parenting a try. The Kings usually had their maximum number of five foster kids in their care at all times.
She said Mr. King, a construction worker, was helpful with the raising of the children.
The ages of the kids ranged from three days old to 13 years, Mazie says. In addition to raising her three
adopted children, Benton, Gaynelle, and Larry, and tending to up to five foster kids, she was also a beautician
from a shop connected to her home for more than 50 years.
Mazie says her years of helping others have come full circle, and many of the children still stay in touch,
visiting her and helping her as needed. Two of them, siblings, still live with her and help her, and she sees
Gaynelle and Larry often (Benton is deceased.)
Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Mazie was one of six siblings and is the only surviving child. She and
Monroe moved here in the 40’s, and they were married for 59 years before he passed away in his 80’s. She
joined Jones Chapel Church here in Mount Pleasant under Rev. Z.A. Brown and has been a very faithful
member. She served as a steward, usher, choir member, and earned title as a Deaconess in 2011 at the Methodist
Annual Conference. She has helped with the summer feeding program at Jones Chapel, Vacation Bible School,
remodeling the basement and donating cabinets, a microwave, and putting up curtains without asking for
anything in return.
When asked if she misses Charleston, she is quick to reply that no, her home is in Mount Pleasant. “I
like it here because I have met so many nice people. I enjoy my church family and so many children that call
me ‘mama.’ I’m still mama for those that keep in touch. Many of them still have keys to my house.”
Mazie notes proudly that most of the children went on to do well in life, with just about three who “I don’t
approve of the life they chose.” She and Mr. King talked to their own kids and the foster children about good
values, and about planning for whatever field they wanted to go into. If the Kings did not know how to guide a
child in the right way or find the right resources, they found answers for them.
The Kings gave the kids their rules right away and they were firm. “We told them they had to keep up their
school lessons, and they had to go to Sunday school.” Additionally, the kids had to display good morals, have
manners, and do chores. The King home was the site of many fun celebrations, and many neighborhood kids
came over to play there because of all the treats Ms. Mazie provided.
There was just one child who ran away from their foster care, but the rest did not cause the Kings many
problems. “One girl was very disobedient, wanted to do like she pleased, but I haven’t met a child that I had to
say ‘leave.’ If I had a problem I’d call the department and they’d counsel.”
Just like she was the kids’ mama in her heart (“the only difference was I didn’t have the pain of having
them,” she laughs), the children called Mr. King “daddy.” The Kings’ philosophy of having so many children in
their home was “the more the merrier.” Mr. King enjoyed taking the kids fishing, and the two of them often
went on road trips with the children. “We went to Washington, DC with nine kids once,” Mazie remembers.
“I just enjoy doing for people that need something,” concludes a true treasure of the town. “And I think if I
hadn’t done that, where would I be? Most of my biological folks are gone, so the kids I helped are now helping
me. I feel blessed.” ###
Robin Church is the September Mount Pleasant Citizen of the Month
MOUNT PLEASANT, TN-- The September 2013 Mount Pleasant Citizen of the Month says the honor is not hers
alone, but belongs to a team of people who pulled together for the good of the town….specifically, for the good of the
town’s children.
Robin Church is being
recognized for her volunteer
efforts leading to a successful
backpack and school supply
program for needy children in the
community. “I am very honored
and thrilled to be named Citizen
of the Month. It was truly a
surprise and I would like to thank
the City of Mount Pleasant for
giving me this special award,” she
says.
The backpack project was
an offshoot of Church’s service to
Family-2-Family, of which she is
president.
“Family-2-Family is a
non-profit organization that was
formed in 2008 by area
businessmen and women and
individuals in the community that
wanted to help the residents of
Mount Pleasant with basic living
and utility needs,” she says. “Our main service that we offer is that we help residents who have Mount Pleasant utilities
(water, gas and electric) and need assistance in paying their bills. We have also helped the community with several food
distributions in connection with Second Harvest Food Bank.”
Church says the board members of Family-2-Family decided to do a project for the children of Mount Pleasant,
and they came up with the idea of doing the Back to School Backpack program.
“We understood that starting school is an expensive endeavor with school supplies, uniforms, etc., so we decided
to do backpacks for the Mount Pleasant Elementary school children filled with their school supplies,” she says.
“Family-2-Family partnered with Arrow Lake Foundation and we purchased backpacks and school supplies that would be
needed. We had so much support from the community. Several businesses and area churches took a portion of the
backpacks and purchased the school supplies for them, and we had several individuals who made donations.”
Church says Family-2-Family got the list of school supplies needed for each grade and what each child would
need to start school, such as crayons, pencils, notebook paper, notebook binders, glue sticks, etc. With the funds donated,
they filled the remaining backpacks.
“We were able to give out approximately 300 backpacks to the students enrolled at Mount Pleasant Elementary
School,” she says. “It was truly amazing to see how this wonderful community came together and made this project a
huge success.”
Church says one example of a family that benefitted from this project was a single mother who was going back to
school to further her education and who had two children attending the elementary school. “The mother was able to get a
backpack for each child and that burden was somewhat lightened for her.”
Church gives praise to the many people who helped with the project.
“I would like to share this award with everyone who helped with this project. It was definitely a team effort,” she
notes. “I would like to thank my fellow board members who worked so hard on this project, and everyone who took the
time and money to purchase school supplies, to fill a backpack, to make a monetary donation to the cause, or to fill the
backpacks.”
Church gives special thanks for help on the project to Mount Pleasant Elementary School principal Larry Brown and
staff, who supported a Back to School Bash, as well as the City of Mount Pleasant for the use of the community center for
backpack assembly and distribution. “I also thank my husband Derek, who always is supportive of me and helps me
achieve my goals.”
The Churches moved to Mount Pleasant in 1998 when Derek Church went to work at Mount Pleasant Power System.
Robin, formerly a law office assistant and a bank employee, now manages the couple’s rental properties. The couple has
been married for 29 years. Robin is the daughter of Norma Vandiver and the late Sam Vandiver. She is the youngest of
six girls.
Robin and Derek’s main hobby is taking care of three horses. She loves to cook “when I can find the time.”
After helping start Family-2-Family in 2008, Robin became a board member in 2009 and has served as vice
president; she is currently president. Other current board members are Denise Thomason, Vice-President; Donna Morency
– Secretary/Treasurer; Tom Colvert, Chris Frierson, Lesa Dawson, Marvel Hudspeth, Gloria Lovell, and Sara Williams.
“If someone needs assistance with their utility bill, they can go by City Hall or Mt. Pleasant Power System and pick up an
application for assistance and then a board member will contact that customer and let them know if we can help them with
their bill,” Church notes.
The support of the community for both the backpack project and Family-2-Family gave Church an even greater sense
of pride in the city.
“Mount Pleasant is a wonderful community to live in, and we have so many individuals dedicated to making this town
the best place to live and work,” Church says. “It is amazing to see how this town pulls together, especially with a project
such as this, and that makes such a difference. I am very proud to be part of this community. These children are our future
and it is so important to provide them with the necessary supplies to make the beginning of school a positive experience.”
###
Keith Odom Named August 2013 Citizen of the Month for Mount Pleasant
Keith Odom has been named Mount
Pleasant’s Citizen of the Month for August.
“I was shocked when I was told I was
selected,” Keith laughs. “I was like, you sure
you have the right person?”
Odom may be surprised at being chosen
as a dedicated community servant, but he is
probably the only one. A full-time lagoon
operator with the City of Mount Pleasant’s wastewater division, Odom has just one hobby…one outside interest
with which he fills his free time: helping others in some of the most difficult circumstances of life…and death.
Odom has served as a reserve volunteer firefighter for Mount Pleasant for 13 years, and for Maury
County for 19 years. Additionally, he was in the first class of reserve police officers for Mount Pleasant in 2010
and has served in that capacity for the past three years.
Odom is reminiscent of a character in the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.” In that American classic, Miss
Maudie explains to the children that their father, Atticus Finch, is one of those men who does certain kinds of
specialized, hard work that others cannot or will not do. Keith Odom is another cut of that same fabric. He has
helped pull people from death’s door…and he’s helplessly watched them die before they could be rescued. He’s
been able to get people from burning buildings, and he’s had a burning building fall on him. If not for a fellow
firefighter, he says, he might have died that day.
Odom says his interest in being a fireman started when he was about 10 when he was able to be in a
junior firefighter program. In ’94, a friend with the Maury County Fire Department encouraged Odom to
become a volunteer firefighter, and he’s served every since. His friend, former Fire Chief Cotton Massey,
encouraged him to join on in Mount Pleasant in 2000.
Odom and other volunteers recently received a Star of Life Award for rescuing a man from a cave. The
man had experienced a stroke, and needed help to get out.
“We’ve saved a bunch of people…we’ve saved a bunch of kids,” Odom says in recalling the cave
incident, and those of many successful fire rescues. Unfortunately, not all outcomes are positive. He recalls one
of the worst scenes being when a teenager racing to work to avoid being late was pinned in his car. Nothing
could be done to get him out in time, and he died before Odom’s eyes. In another horrific situation, he went to
an accident scene where a mother died who was speeding home after her child’s birthday party. Odom said gifts
and pictures and balloons were scattered everywhere. “That was hard,” he says.
How can he deal with the diverse harshness of life and death? “It bothers me, but it just makes me work
harder.” He says it also makes him determined to share education about fire safety and automobile safety. “I
don’t get in a hurry to get anywhere. I tell my own kids to take their time. If they are late, explain it and take
their punishment. Mostly, just GET there.”
In addition to the wreck and fire scenes Odom has assisted with as a volunteer fireman, as a reserve
police officer he is able to fulfill any duties a traditional police officer can. This means he has seen quite an
array of colorful human activities: domestic violence is one of the most common.
Despite it all, though, Odom says it’s worth it to him. “I love doing it. I like helping people. A lot of
times, they can’t help themselves.”
People are often shocked at the pay reserve officers and volunteer firefighters receive. The word
“volunteer” is a clue, and it’s well-known on that front. But few realize that reserve officers are also volunteers,
as in ZERO pay. Odom did commend the City of Mount Pleasant for “taking good care of us.” The city
provides the reserve officers’ equipment, firearms, and training cots.
Odom and his wife Cynthia have two boys, 20 and 14. Odom is a graduate of Mount Pleasant High
School. He is the son of Richard and Georgia Odom.
Tim Davis Named July 2013 Citizen of the Month for Mount Pleasant
Tim Davis is the July 2013 Citizen of the Month in
recognition of his outstanding service to young people in
the community, as well as to the general public in his
career as a paramedic.
“It is such an honor to follow in the footsteps of my dad
and several others who have received this honor,” Davis
says. “My life has always been about helping others,
both in my work as a paramedic and in serving the youth
of Mount Pleasant.”
Davis, 46, is a lifelong resident of Mount Pleasant. He
has worked for Maury Regional Medical Center for 27 years as a paramedic, including several years as a
supervisor. Davis also owns a bush hogging service serving Maury and surrounding counties for more than 20
years.
Tim is a member of First Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant, and is a former Cubmaster with the Boy
Scouts of America. He is currently vice-president of Mount Pleasant Dixie Youth Baseball.
Davis is the son of John and Gay Nell Davis, and father to sons Wesley, 14, and Logan, 8. His father is a
former county commissioner, and has also been involved in numerous community service and church service
projects.
“I am so grateful for this award and would like to thank those involved in the selection process,” Davis
says.
Gloria Lovell Named June’s Mount Pleasant Citizen of the Month
Mount Pleasant native, Gloria Lovell, the June Citizen of the Month, says she just wants to have a
positive impact on her community.
“It is such an honor to be recognized as Citizen of the Month,” she says. “When I was notified I had
received this honor, I could only think about some of the past recipients and hope I can have such an impact on
our Community.”
Love has been utility clerk for
the City of Mount Pleasant for the past
eight years, with a wide array of
responsibilities: processing utility bills,
making deposits, collecting property
taxes, business license, and customer
service.
She has served as a board
member with the Family 2 Family
organization for about a year, and has
assisted with several fundraisers,
including the Big Hearts and Barbecue
Bash.
“It is an honor to work with each board member of Family 2 Family,” Lovell says. “Family 2 Family
was organized to help Mount Pleasant residents with utility bills. The Family 2 Family organization relies on
grants and donations for funds to distribute.”
A lifelong resident, Lovell graduated from Mount Pleasant High School and has been a long time
member of First Baptist Church. She worked for Rhone-Poulenc/Aventis for 23 years until the facility was
closed.
Gloria and her husband David have two children, Beth and Ryan. Her mother, Sarah Gibson, is a 50-year
member of Kings Daughters organization. Her Father, Dan Gibson was Manager of Mount Pleasant Power
System for many years and was active in various organizations in the community. Says Gloria about her father,
“He loved Mount Pleasant and had a passion to make this town a better place to live.I want to do the same”
Derick Moore Completes Eagle Project to Honor American Flag
MOUNT PLEASANT—Derick Moore almost allowed himself to “age out” of Boy Scouts of America, but
fortunate for the citizens of Mount Pleasant who benefitted from his project, he decided instead to “Eagle out.”
His hard worked earned Moore, a Columbia resident, honorary designation as “Citizen of the Month” of Mount
Pleasant for May.
Moore’s Eagle project was to correct the
previous placement of flag poles in front of the
Mount Pleasant Community Center in Veteran’s
Park. Originally, the flags were all of the same
height. The traditional placement is for the
American flag to be in the center, slightly
higher than the State and other flags on either
side. Moore removed the two center poles,
extended one and placed it in the center; the
extra pole was moved to replace the decrepit
pole at Barker Field. “I am honored to be the
citizen of the month for Mount Pleasant for
May,” Moore said. “I want to be a person who
focuses on helping others and leaving a positive
impact on society, instead of being a negative,
delinquent statistic.”
Another component of Moore’s project was to build and install two benches in front of the flags for use
by citizens as they traverse the walking trail, or by students on their way to and from school. Moore was
assisted in his project by his father Chuck and uncle Jim Marley, who works at Smelter Service Corporation.
Smelter donated several of the materials, as well as the welding labor involved.
“I appreciate those who helped me and the chance to do this project for the city of Mount Pleasant,”
Moore said. “I am just glad I can have a positive impact in someone’s community.”
Moore is the son of Chuck and Cynthia Moore of Columbia, and he has a twin brother David. Moore has
been homeschooled his whole life, and the 17-year-old is currently a senior considering studying bio technical
engineering. He has been in Scouts since age six. All that remains for his final Eagle Scout designation is the
Board of Reviews this week.
“I don’t know where I’d be without Scouts in my life,” Moore notes. “There are people who waste their
lives partying without considering what it’s doing to their futures. On the other hand, most Scouts really do live
the Scout Law, including being trustworthy, cheerful, reverent, thrifty and kind. When I have my own family
someday, I will have my own son involved in Scouts.”
Sam Whitwell Named Mount Pleasant Citizen of the Month
Mount Pleasant native Samantha “Sam”
Whitwell doubled as town Santa in December, earning
her the honor “Citizen of the Month” for March.
Whitwell had helped with a Santa Train in
Pulaski in 2011, and “after my boys and I left the
event, we thought it would be a good idea for Mount
Pleasant, since the main office for the railroad is here,”
she says.
Whitwell mentioned the idea to some friends at
the annual Mount Pleasant Easter egg hunt. She then
met with business and school officials through the
summer. Organizers incorporated the program the
elementary school had done the previous year with the
train idea. Her dedication launched Santa Train
program during Christmas 2012.
Whitwell is a nurse practitioner with Mount Pleasant’s Fast Pace Clinic, AKA during Christmas 2012 as
Santa’s Workshop.
“We served 97 families and helped 230 kids have a good Christmas,” she says.
“Every night the week before the Santa Train, we would shut down after the last patient and our clinic would
become Santa's Workshop. Fast Pace staff, as well as numerous volunteers from MPES and their families,
wrapped gifts and organized the event. Most nights we were there until 11-12. Several teachers and SRO
officers helped with the distribution of gifts at the event. We had such a huge need and response we had to
utilize two venues to accommodate it: WR Grace and the Mount Pleasant Community Center.”
Sam is an RN, who also obtained a BSN and MSN. In addition to working at Fast Pace, she also teaches
clinicals for the BSN program at Martin Methodist. She is licensed as FNP (family nurse practitioner). She is
the daughter of Ollie Mae and Olene Odom, and has two children, Will and Drew. A member of St. Phillip’s
Catholic Church, Whitwell enjoys traveling, camping, hiking, and running.
“I want to be sure that we mention those that helped so much,” Sam says. “My boys and I had the idea
after leaving Pulaski that night, but none of it would have happened without all these dedicated people! For
example, Elizabeth Cline spent countless hours making sure all info was organized and no child was left out.
Kendall Roberts, Anna Russ also put in long hours ....as well as their husbands Matthew Cline, Neyland
Roberts, and Nick Russ and their families. MPES teachers also showed up willing and ready to help, especially
Rebecca Hughes, Vickie Chatman, Judy Chapman.”
Whitwell says organizers were grateful for the number of people who stepped up with donations. “We
would especially like to thank Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church, Summertown Baptist Church, Kittrell's
Car,s and the ladies at Southeastern Shirt Corp for their generous donations, fundraisers, and gifts. Dr. Reams
and Carey Powers gave generous monetary donations, gifts, and help with wrapping. Mike Wade at Mt.
Pleasant Transfer donated the use of a truck and time for transport. The Mt. Pleasant Fire Department safely
transported the Clauses from Grace to the Community Center. We really appreciate Walt Robinson at Tennessee
Southern for his support and getting use of the train. Also, Kim, Dot, and Patrick at Grace. And of course many
thanks to Santa and Mrs.Claus!”
Whitwell proudly noted the role Face Pace Clinic was able to play in the tremendous success of Santa’s
Train. She adds that the expansion plans of Fast Pace to add five new clinics in the area “will allow us to be
more involved in many community events and be an active contributor to existing programs and the creation of
new ones!”
"If I Can Help Somebody as I Pass Along...."
RANDALL L. WEBSTER SELECTED
CITIZEN OF THE MONTH
MOUNT PLEASANT--Randall Webster's life vision,
the same as it has been since his early youth,
illustrates exactly why he was chosen Mount Pleasant
Citizen of the Month: “If I can help somebody as I
pass along; if I can cheer somebody, with a word or
song; if I can show somebody, how they’re traveling
wrong; then my living shall not be in vain.”
Webster is the chairman of the Planning Commission
and appointed member of the Community Advisory
Board. He is also a Licentiate in the ministry and
serves as Executive Assistant to the Pastor, minister of
music, and Bible study instructor at his home church
of Canaan AME Church.
Randall has a bachelor’s degree in Management
Studies and a Master’s Degree in Human Resource
Management. He will be graduating from Payne
Theological Seminary this year, May, 2013, with a
Master of Divinity degree.
Webster is also the developer of a pilot program now beginning in Mount Pleasant Middle School.
"This program was organized to assist six 5th grade students that were meeting reading standards but
borderline," Webster says. "Students were identified by the Middle School faculty and retired teachers in the
Mt. Pleasant community were sought to assist as reading mentors."
The student/teachers meet twice weekly for one hour in an effort to assist students in improving reading skills.
The program began in January and will end in May. Students were re-tested in February and showed
improvement. They will be retested again in April. Students who continue to show significant improvement
will receive Kindles at the end of the reading program in May.
Webster recruited the mentors and Donna Morency, and he met with the Middle School Principal and Assistant
Principal to share the idea, which was well-received.
A native and resident of Mount Pleasant, Webster is the eldest son of Mrs. Annie M. Webster and the late Rev.
Leland H. Webster. Randall is married to the former Betsey Piper of Melbourne, Florida. He retired from the
United States Air Force in 2007 after 26 years of honorable service as Chief Master Sergeant (the highest
enlisted rank of a Noncommissioned Officer).
Paul Named Citizen of the Month for Mount Pleasant
Donald Paul says his hobby is “meeting people,” and it has served him well as owner of WXRQ in
Mount Pleasant. His dedicated service to the town has earned him recognition as Citizen of the Month for
February.
“I am honored to be selected the Mt. Pleasant Citizen of the month,” Paul says, his characteristic radio
voice booming with laughter as he adds, “I
wondered when they would get to the
P’s!”
Paul has been in radio all his life,
but his livelihood was in furniture retail
for many years. He is also the owner of the
Franks Building in Mount Pleasant.
“I started singing with my two
brothers and cousin in 1948,” Paul says.
“We traveled for a long time as the Paul
Quartet. Some of the highlights of our
quartet career were singing several times
on Channel 5 on a popular T.V. program
called “The Noel Ball Show” back in the
late 50’s.”
He says they also performed for
several years on the “Kiwanis Capers”
held at the old Central High Auditorium
located on West 8th Street in Columbia.
“Our quartet also entered many
contests for as far back as when the fairgrounds were located where the present day Northway Shopping Center
is,” he remembers. “My brothers Ronald and Marion have since passed away, but my cousin and I continue to
do what we can to share the Good News!”
When the Paul Quartet stopped traveling, his twin brother, Ronald, and he started a radio program each
Sunday morning on WKRM. Donald then moved on by himself to WMCP with a four-hour program each
Sunday afternoon.
“In Sept of 1988, I was able to purchase the radio station, WXRQ. It was changed from country to
gospel,” Paul says. “Some people said that it would not last. God continues to bless us 24 years later at
WXRQ!”
WXRQ has a regular program of which Paul is proud called “That’s What’s Happening in Mount
Pleasant.” In his years with the radio station, Paul’s hobby of meeting people has led to some fascinating
interviews, including ones with Naomi Judd and Nick Boone, brother of Pat Boone. He also did a significant
interview with Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey several years ago.
“I love Mt. Pleasant since this is where I found my wonderful wife of 58 years and counting,” he says.
“My prayer is to continue playing southern gospel music at WXRQ for years to come unless God decides to
change His Plan. May God continue to bless the city of Mount Pleasant.”
Paul and his wife Carolyn have two children, son Tim and daughter Penny. They also have three
grandsons, Landon, Keaton, and Houston. Tim is the pastor of Acts Family Church that meets at the Mount
Pleasant Community Center, where Donald and Carolyn attend and serve.
John Irwin is the Mount Pleasant Citizen of the Month for January
John Michael Irwin says he is "honored" to be the Mount Pleasant Citizen of the Month for January.
A lifelong resident of the town, Irwin's auto repair business, Mac's Service Station, was owned by Hazel
Attkisson, his grandfather. Attkisson went to work for the station in 1953, and later became the owner.
Irwin says he grew up around
the station, and began
working there at around age
11. "I'd sit on the bench and I
started pumping gas...it was
full service," he says. He said
he learned a lot of the good
town gossip sitting with older
men in the community who
visited the station frequently.
His grandfather taught him to
fix flats, and then brakes, and
"it went from there," John
says.
After Irwin graduated from
high school, he went to
Hohenwald to a technical school for two years to become ASE certified. John was able to work with his
grandfather before his death in 2007.
When he first got started, Irwin says, people didn't trust someone so young to be able to repair their
vehicles.
"It was hard getting started because they would see how young I was and drive off, but you can't always
judge a book by its cover," he says. "I guess the quality of my work spoke for itself and we're busy
now."
Mac's Service Station does audio equipment and installation, detailing, and all types of mechanic work.
Irwin is a member of the Masonic Lodge. He and Lindsey are parents to two-year-old Cassidy. John is
the son of Mike and Nancy Irwin, and his sister is Heather.