Published: April 23, 2008 06:29 pm         

The “Dimpled Globe” awards for 2007

Bev Pitts (no photo available) - Straight Shooter Award;

Fred and Diane Mundt - Ablest Administrators;

Larry and June Frazier - Retiree(s) of the Year;

Carol Darling (posthumously) - Community Communicator;

Tonya Hinch - Community Spirit;

Pat Filsinger - Gumption Award; and

Earle Phillips - Gumption Award.



This is the third annual announcement of the coveted “Dimpled Globe Awards (DGA).” The dimpled globe of note is a golf ball, chosen as symbolic framing for award recipients in keeping with the significance of golf to Cumberland County, the Golf Capitol of Tennessee. The purpose of the awards is to recognize outstanding achievement by Cumberland County residents who benefit their community with their personal leadership and character. The awards are named after characteristics that coincide with the character and achievements of the award winners.

We have an exceptional group of recipients again this year and without further introduction we begin as always with “The Straight Shooter Award.” You may recall that the first award (2005) was garnered by Betty Bryan of Betty’s Bed & Breakfast. Betty is such a natural for the award that we declared her a lifetime recipient and retired the original award. Dr. Patricia Ragsdale, former Cumberland County School director won the award in 2006. Earlier this year, I wrote a column without revealing my source because I was concerned for her safety — Bev Pitts was aghast to hear she won this award. She would tell you she did nothing special. That anyone could have done what she did. I don’t think so. Bev speaks plainly and honestly, disdains political correctness, and even personal safety when angered. She has contributed significantly to her community. She is the lady that courageously alerted residents of Fairfield Glade via e-mail of a scam artist. Despite being arrested 58 times, the target of her anger continued to skirt the law while scamming residents out of thousands of dollars. Bev’s action resulted in alerting residents to a wide-spread form of crime that is difficult to stop and is endemic to retirement communities. Her campaign eventually resulted in an informational resident-sponsored town hall meeting that focused on this long-standing problem.

In 2005 there was a three-way tie for “Ablest Administrator” recognizing the leadership provided by Dr. David Prigg, Nancy Hamm, and Art Meharg. Last year, members of the Continuing Care Retirement Committee Task Force (CCRC) were named for their efforts to bring a continuing care retirement campus to Fairfield Glade. The committee’s work was chaired by Kyle Morrison from inception until 2007 when the initial goal of the committee met with success. Many residents have, and will continue the work on this committee now chaired by Bob Sharp and each of them deserves the thanks of Cumberland County residents.

Administering a community, a committee, or an art guild takes leadership ability, commitment, and perseverance. Our 2007 winners, Fred and Diane Mundt, were featured in a special Glade Sun article in April. The administration of their family is merely the beginning of their credentials for the 2007 award as Ablest Administrators. They have administered a family of nine children, of which seven are adopted, building this family through difficult hurdles with love and commitment. It is a very special achievement. The Mundt family has blossomed into a close-knit 39 members including 21 grandchildren at last count. How would you like to keep track of birthdays, graduations and special occasions for this family? There is much more to their story, such as Fred serving many years on the National World Mission Board of the Lutheran Church. Fred and Diane are a couple that understands the power of prayer and love in our world and how to administer and spread that love.

“Retiree of the Year” is an appropriate award for a community that has its share of retirees. John Mast, builder, farmer, pastor, and church bishop, was the first honoree of this award in 2005. John’s selection foretold that being “retired” could describe a very active life style. Last year’s winners, Jan Baas, Brenda Hinch, and Carol Radtke, continued the active retiree criteria. This year we honor a couple that has been recognized by many organizations for their volunteer efforts, their young at heart vitality, and their unceasing willingness to lead or to pitch-in and help their neighbors and community. Larry and June Frazier are our retirees of the year for 2007. It is impossible to name another couple as active in their community, and they have been contributing at this high level of citizenship longer than any couple I know. As a couple or individually they are founders of Cumberland County Habitat for Humanity, board members of the Fairfield Glade Cancer Advisory Board, long-time active Lion’s member, officers in RHA, Women’s Club, Senior Golf, Senior Olympics, Business & Professional Women, Avalon, and a long list of church affiliated activities. In short, their photo belongs under any award that claims “Retiree of the Year.”

(Please note that this article and the following award nomination for 2007 were written in December of 2007. Despite the dreadful loss of Carol Darling, her great contributions to Cumberland County will be recognized when Mayor Brock Hill speaks on her behalf at the May 17, 2008 Dimpled Globe Award banquet.)

Last year we initiated the “Community Communicator” award and the first recipient defined the award with his weekly column, service on the Cumberland County and Tennessee Board of Education, and his many awards as an educator. No doubt Dan Schlafer is a tough act to follow. However, we believe Carol Darling, subject of a feature Glade Sun article last May, is a most worthy successor. Carol has done much of the heavy lifting (arm twisting) behind the multi-million dollar effort to make a new Cumberland County Art Circle Library a reality. County Mayor Brock Hill and Commissioner Harry Sabine were instrumental in nudging Carol toward acting as the catalyst needed to ignite the moribund library effort, a titanic challenge. Carol is a rare breed, a fifth generation native of Cumberland County whose great-grandparents, grandparents, and husband have been significant participants and leaders in the growth of the community. Carol thought her previous contributions to local and state education; Palace Theatre restoration; local, regional and state library boards; while raising two daughters and being a businesswoman and wife, would allow her to relax a bit. While driving home on a rainy/foggy evening from a library board meeting she had a revelation. “We need to do something; our citizens deserve a better library.” She envisioned her grandmother declaring, “This may be your responsibility.” The rest, as they say, is history because when it comes to achieving goals, Carol is a communicator of the highest order.

Last year we initiated the “Community Spirit” award with a musical flourish when Kathy Price Snow, director of the Cumberland County High School Advanced Choir, Emily Byrens and Jack Bittle, former directors of the Cumberland County Choir, were recognized for their spirited contributions to our community. This year, we recognize an individual that personifies the efforts and attitudes required to promote community spirit. Tonya Hinch, as a goal achiever, is a heavy hitter and a team player. Her combination of intellect, perseverance, and charm is only the surface of this powerhouse businesswoman who retired at 40 from a hugely successful business career in the corporate world. Her father, Don Hinch, founder of the family insurance brokerage and ardent supporter of the Crossville Rotary and Chamber of Commerce, had a vision that Tonya has embraced. That vision entails more than bricks and mortar. The following quotes from a Glade Sun feature article about Tonya in June 2006 remain relevant.

“You can’t stop growth, but you need to find a way to maintain the charm. A town’s Main Street should reflect how you treat your mom. We need to concentrate on ‘what we need to do’ rather than ‘we’ve come so far.'”

Community service is important to Tonya; she will speak to any group that wants to hear about the history of Crossville and Cumberland County or the plans and progress of Downtown Crossville, Inc (DCI). She extols the contribution that retirees and other newcomers have made to Cumberland County, and firmly believes that Crossville and Cumberland County have entered a Renaissance era. As a top level business executive, Tonya is typically impatient. “I’m working on that,” she said. However, her vision and effort for Cumberland County is irresistibly contagious to anyone with community spirit.

Last, but not least, is the “Gumption Award,” this favored award has been given to artist Katie Smith in both 2005 and 2006, while stone mason Billy Frazier was a co-winner with Katie in 2006. Both continue to demonstrate inspiring gumption in overcoming serious physical limitations with determination and personal faith while making great contributions to their community. Billy and Katie each received designation as Lifetime Gumption Award winners in 2006.

Our gumption award winners this year are representative of many residents who contribute to their community despite the loss of their marriage partner. There are many widows and widowers that have the gumption to continue serving their community despite the distressing loss of a beloved life partner. Pat Filsinger and Earle Phillips are excellent examples of this characteristic. Pat lost her husband, Richard, only a year ago after a long illness. Rich was a great guy, but the loss did not stop Pat from being an active supporter of her community, despite disabilities that would defeat a person of less gumption. Pat’s inspiring and supportive work with the Plateau Writers Association, RHA, the blood drives and her church are merely a few examples of her dedication to community. A life-long English teacher, it was a treat to watch Pat work with youngsters at the CACE Youth Expo last year. When Pat stepped up to be president of RHA in 2005, it bridged a gap and signaled a turning point for RHA and our community. Pat has a big heart and richly deserves our 2007 Gumption Award.



Earle Phillips, like Pat, is a native of Ohio, and I was surprised to learn they once worked together at Ohio University and met again years later when both retired to Fairfield Glade. While Pat moved to neighboring Indiana and Earle to Pennsylvania, they brought their work ethic and community spirit to every place they have lived. Earle is 86 and remains very active. He lost his partner, Mary Lou, three years ago after 48 years of marriage. Earle is an affable and articulate young-at-heart widower with a long history of community service. He retired after 35 years from Pittsburg Plate Glass, Inc. (PPG). In 1966, Earle received the PPG National Citizen of the Year Award after being selected from among 42,000 employees. Some of his community activities include many years of fundraising for various charities and community activities; 35 years as a high school football official, 10 years for basketball; National Alumni Board, Ohio University; VP, President, and Board of Directors, Torrance State Hospital, PA; VP, Board of Directors, Citizens General Hospital, PA; and VP, President (twice), and Board of Directors of Penn State, New Kensington, PA. Earle subs in a 9-hole golf league and has been an active member of his church, serving on several administrative boards, committees, and as a youth advisor. If all of this notable service doesn’t impress you, you should know that he was a friend of Arnold Palmer’s dad and served as board member of Hillcrest Country Club in New Kensington, PA.

Our current and past winners of the Dimpled Globe Award (DGA) will receive a framed certificate in recognition of their service to Cumberland County communities at the inaugural DGA banquet May 17 at the impressive new Fairfield Glade Community Center. If you would like to attend this inaugural DGA banquet and join in “Toasting or Roasting” of these worthy honorees, you are cordially invited to make reservations. Call 707-7168 for reservation inquiries. Reservations may be confirmed by mailing check or money order at $25 per person to: DGA, 17 Greenwood Circle, Crossville, TN 38558. Please include your phone number with your reservation.

The DGA is sponsored by the Crossville Chronicle, Glade Sun, Tansi Smoke Signals, and by the Community Club of Fairfield Glade.