Friday, May 25, 2007 - 2007 Verhine Scholarships to be Awarded

2007 Verhine Scholarships Awarded Today

      Today, the Union City Rotary Club will award $172,500 in Verhine Scholarships to 117 Union City High School graduates who have met certain academic and financial needs requirements.
     The Verhine Scholarship program is the second part of our annual Rotary Scholarship program.  Three weeks ago, more than 130 students from across Obion County shared in $146,500 in scholarships handed out at the 26th annual Rotary Scholarship Program.  Those scholarships, coupled with today’s Verhine Scholarships, means nearly 250 students will benefit from a total of $319,000 in scholarships administered by the Union City Rotary Club this year!
     Now in its fifth year, the Verhine Scholarship Program is funded by a $3.5 million endowment to the Rotary Club from the Vernon Verhine estate.  Mr. Verhine was a leading 20th Century businessman, property owner and investor in Union City until his death in 1972.  In addition to his contributions to the community in creating jobs for our citizens, he was a long-term director of two financial institutions and a member of numerous municipal boards and commissions.  During his lifetime, most of his philanthropic activities were done without fanfare and publicity.  Mr. Verhine’s wife of more than fifty years, Fern, died in 1976.  Since they didn’t have any children, they chose to dedicate one-fourth of their estate providing for two relatives, who were also childless, for their lifetimes and upon their deaths, this portion of their estate was to be distributed to tax exempt charities in Union City at the discretion of Mrs. Verhine’s testamentary trustees.  Following Mrs. Verhine’s death, Hardy M. Graham served as trustee of Mrs. Verhine’s charitable trust.  Under Graham’s stewardship, the fund grew significantly until the death of the last surviving life income beneficiary in 2001.  At that time, the charitable trust principal exceeded $5.5 million in value.  $3.5 million of the Verhine Charitable Trust was distributed to the Union City Rotary Foundation as a permanent endowment. 
     Congratulations to all of today’s Verhine Scholarship recipients!    

Don Hutson to Discuss Community Healthcare Focus

     Next week, Rotarians will hear from fellow Rotarian, Don Hutson, Administrator and CEO of Union City Baptist Memorial Hospital.
Don will talk about how our local hospital maintains its community focus through collaboration, commitment and continuous improvement.  The program will vividly depict the magnitude to which the hospital affects our personal lives and the economy of the area.
Don joined BMH-UC upon his retirement as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army in 2006.  He has served in healthcare administration roles in hospitals, regional health care contracting offices and field medical units for more than 20 years.  Most recently, he served as deputy commander for administration—a position equivalent to chief operating officer—of Winn Army Community Hospital in Fort Stewart, GA.  A native of Corinth, Miss, Hutson received a Bachelor of Business Administration in economics from Ole Miss in 1985.  Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a Medical Service Corps officer in the U.S.  He received a master’s degree in health care administration from Baylor University in 1995.  Hutson is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
 

Rotary Ladies Night Held

     Last week, the Union City Rotary Club held its annual Ladies Night activities here at the Hampton.  Following a delicious meal, Rotarians and their wives enjoyed a selection of Broadway tunes from vocalist Allison Butner and pianist Delana Easley.

Mark Brooks Visits Rotary

      Two weeks ago, former Union Citian Mark Brooks, now an advertising executive at WBBJ television in Jackson, spoke about some of the many changes that have hit the broadcast industry in recent years, including the mandate from Uncle Sam that all analog transmissions be replaced
with a digital format in February 2009. 
     WBBJ is currently in 246,000 households in its 43-county coverage area of West and Middle Tennessee. 
     “We’re one of the small markets in America,” Mark said.  “But we are committed to being the best television station we can be for our viewers.  In 1995, we had four people in our news department.  Today, that number is up to twenty-seven.”
     Mark said as much as 70%  of the tax dollars spent in Madison County come from outside areas.  He thanked Rotarians for supporting WBBJ through their viewing habits.

Coming Attractions

6/1      Don Hutson-UCBMH Healthcare is a Community Focus Effort
6/8       Jim Bradberry-Weakley County
            Juvenile Judge who has not let blindness sidetrack his passion for life.
6/15    Ashton and Andrew Jennings-Premier Racing Company
6/22     Bill Page—Youth Town Tennessee
6/29     Kris Moore—Behavioral Health Care Center
7/6       Rotary Installation Program

       Happy Birthdays

5/27      Grover Schleifer, III
5/28      Art Sparks

Happy Anniversaries

5/26      Bill and Lenora Stephenson
5/27      Rob and Stacy Jordan
5/28      Hadley and Tracey Malone
5/29      Bob and Jenny Kirkland

Thought for the Day

“Some days you’re the bug…some days you’re the windshield.”

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