Roy McDonald, George Connor Lead Central High Distinguished Alumni Class of ‘15

6 Inductees To Be Honored April 30 In The School Gym

  • Thursday, April 23, 2015
  • B.B. Branton

Roy McDonald, George Connor lead Central HS Distinguished Alumni Class of ‘15

Six inductees to be honored April 30 in the school gym

 

Led by newspaper publisher Roy McDonald and former UTC English teacher George Connor (’38), the Chattanooga Central High School Alumni Association will honor six new Distinguished Alumni recepients Thursday April 30 in the school gym at 9 a.m.

 

The other members of the 2015 class are UTC vice chancellor for alumni affairs Jayne Holder ('70), Coca Cola corporate officer Rick Hansard (’76), past president of the Junior League Tahnika Rodriquez (’95) who is also part of the TVA management team in telecommunications, Mary Alice Howell Bevilaqua (’69)

 

Roy Ketner McDonald (’19) … publisher and owner of the Chattanooga Free Press … began the Chattanooga Free Press in 1933 as a weekly shopper for his chain of grocery stores …by 1936 he converted it into a daily newspaper and bought the Chattanooga News in 1939 … Known as “Mr Roy”, he was publisher until his death in 1990 … served on numerous boards including Erlanger Medical Center and helped creat Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Tennessee.

 

George Connor (’38) … A.B.

Degree from the University of Chattanooga in 1947 … earned M.A. in literature from Middlebury College in 1955 … received Bronze Star in 1945 while with the U.S. Army … taught at UC/UTC 1959-1985 and was named the Guerry Professor of English (the most prestigious honor the University bestows upon a faculty member) and received the National UT Alumni Outstanding Teacher Award in 1983.


Mary Alice Howell Bevilaqua (’65) … A 1969 graduate of the University of Chattanooga where she was selected as Sweetheart of Sigma Chi, she spent 30 years in the philanthropic community with foudations, corporations and philanthropic individuals … had extensive working relationship with many Atlanta not-for-profit organizations … 28-year member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in various positions.

 

Rick Hansard (’76) … corporate officer for marketing at the Chattanooga Coca Cola plant ... as a senior at Central, was Mr. Central, president of his senior class and selected as Torch Bearer for leadership … lettered in football and track and field for the Purple Pounders … started with Coca Cola in 1976 loading trucks and driving fork lifts and now is a corporate officer with the company …one of the founders of the Environment al Summit where area high school students present their ideas for advancing Chattanooga’s natural beauty and the world’s ecological footprint while receiving guidance from a panel of experts.

 

Jayne Holder (’70) … is vice chancellor for alumni affairs at UTC … was Homecoming Queen and Miss Central as a senior at Central and the UTC Homecoming Queen as a junior … and head majorette at both schools as a senior … member of National Honor Society at Central and Mortar Board and ADPi at UTC. Her father, Steve, is also a Central HS Distinguished Alum.

 

Tahnika Rodriquez (’95) …. member of TVA management for telecommunications … First black to be selected as president of the Junior League of Chattanooga.

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