Signal Mountain Genealogical Society Honors James L. Douthat (1939-2024)

  • Friday, July 11, 2025
On July 3, 2025, the Signal Mountain Genealogical Society honored James L. Douthat (Jim) by presenting a plaque in his memory to the Signal Mountain Library. Present at this event were members of Jim’s family and committee members of the society who were responsible for organizing this tribute.

James Douthat was a well-known author, publisher, genealogist and historian. He established The Mountain Press on Signal Mountain, and published over 600 books over the years on various historical and genealogical subjects.


He held many leadership positions and received numerous awards from genealogy and historical societies.

Officials said, "Jim was a minister in the United Methodist Church, and in his retirement, he remained an active member of the community he loved. He invested his time, talents and heart into the place and people around him. He will be remembered for his lifelong contributions to preserving the history and genealogy of Walden’s Ridge, Signal Mountain, the State of Tennessee and the Southeast."

The Signal Mountain Genealogical Society meets on the first Tuesday of each month at the Walden Town Hall at 1 p.m. Visitors are always welcome.
Pictured, seated, are Willela Douthat, Jim’s wife, and Marilee Cleland, his daughter; standing, left to right, are Margaret Smith, John Atkinson (librarian), Cynthia Guffey (committee chairman), Susan Gruber, Elaine Robinson (society president) and Thomas A. Douthat, his son.
Memories
John Shearer: Historic Preservation Town Hall Draws Good Crowd
  • 8/22/2025

The packed gathering in the medium-sized meeting room at Second Presbyterian Church downtown Thursday night could have resembled a typical crowd of recent years filling a government building ... more

Earl Freudenberg: Remembering Dr. Glenn Draper
Earl Freudenberg: Remembering Dr. Glenn Draper
  • 8/19/2025

Dr. Glenn Draper spent over 30 years conducting choral music at the First Presbyterian Church and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Dr. Draper led concert tours around the world that ... more

AUDIO: Earl Freudenberg Interviews Johnny Mann In 2007
AUDIO: Earl Freudenberg Interviews Johnny Mann In 2007
  • 8/11/2025

Johnny Mann would be at the top of the list of professional musicians of last century. Mann started singing in a boys choir at the age of five and played in the U.S. Army Field Band while serving ... more