The Tennessee Health Care Association/Tennessee Center for Assisted Living has named several Chattanooga-area nursing home residents to its annual Who’s Who in Tennessee Long-term Care program.
• Martin Collins, a resident at Life Care Center of Rhea County, has always focused on the goal of overcoming the obstacles of being paralyzed at age 20. He attended college, and then worked as a teacher, auditor for the Internal Revenue Service, and business office manager for a school system. He was also active in the Jaycees and was once the organization's chaplain of the year.
• Carol Glenn, a resident at Life Care Center of Red Bank, graduated from the Cadek Conservatory of Music at the University of Chattanooga and then moved to New York to become a singer. She returned to Chattanooga and became the editor of The Shield, a publication for the city's fire and police departments. She is also an accomplished photographer and stained glass artist.
• John Rance Helton, a former resident at Life Care Center of East Ridge now at Life Care Center of Red Bank, is a member of the Chattanooga Songwriters Association and Broadcast Music Inc. He has written country, Southern rock and blues songs with many prominent artists and has a song on Skinny Molly's newest album, "Haywire Riot." He has also performed with many musical artists and had a brief professional wrestling career when he was in his 20s.
• Fred Matthews, a former resident at Life Care Center of East Ridge now at Life Care Center of
Collegedale, was working in a factory in Baltimore when World War II broke out. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 29th Infantry Division and was in the second wave of soldiers to land at Normandy. Mr. Matthews does not often talk of his wartime experiences, but uses his stories as an opportunity to educate younger generations.
• Charles McKenzie, a resident at Life Care Center of Hixson, retired from the Chattanooga City Schools after 30 years working as a special education teacher and administrator. Mr. McKenzie graduated from Tennessee State University with a degree in elementary education and is still active with the Hamilton County Retired Teachers Association.
• Herbert Harold Morgan, a resident at The Veranda Assisted Living, joined the military after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He served in the Army for 23 years and then continued working as a civilian for the government for 17 more years. During his time in the military, Mr. Morgan was stationed at bases all over the world; flew 40 different types of planes; and received several medals including a Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Force Longevity Service Award.
• James Phillips, a resident at St. Barnabas at Siskin Hospital, taught high school biology from 1952 to 1968, as well as coaching football and girls basketball. In 1968 he became assistant principal at Morristown-Hamblen High School East. He was the first person in his family to go to college, attending Millington College and East Tennessee State University after serving in the Army Air Force Corps during World War II.
The honorees will receive Who’s Who certificates of achievement during National Nursing Home Week, May 10-16, a weeklong celebration that brings together staff, volunteers, residents and their families. Their profiles will also be featured on THCA’s website, www.thca.org.
“This year’s theme is ‘This is your Life,’” THCA Executive Director Jesse Samples said. “Ninety-four nursing homes and assisted care living facilities shared their residents’ fascinating life stories, and it is a privilege to recognize these men and women for their achievements.”
Since 1983, the Who’s Who in Tennessee Long-term Care program has recognized more than 2,200 outstanding individuals living in THCA/TNCAL member facilities who have made noteworthy contributions to society and helped shape history through their actions.