The Webb Magazine Summer 2016

WEBB THE WEBB SCHOOL

MAGAZINE

Inside:

SUMMER 2016

Tradition holds key to staying relevant in the future

The Webb School Magazine

Webb dedicates $5.4 million Residential Village

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WEBB

THE WEBB SCHOOL

MAGAZINE

SUMMER 2016

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Webb graduates 58 in 146th commencement ceremony

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The Webb School’s 58 seniors graduated at the 146th commencement ceremony on May 28. Family and friends joined faculty and staff in honoring the class.

dedicates $5.4 million Residential 12 Webb Village The Webb School’s newly completed Residential Village, Phase I – a $5.4 million project that includes two dorms and a student center – was dedicated on April 29 during the school’s 2016 annual reunion. The ceremony officially opened Meadows Hall for boys, Wendel Haynes Hall for girls, and the 4,200 sq. ft. student center that serves both day and boarding students. It was also announced that fundraising is under way to name the student center in honor of Dorothy Elkins of Bell Buckle, who has been employed at Webb since 1957.

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Some traditions date to 1870 founding, hold key to staying relevant in future The Webb School holds a unique position as the oldest continuously operating boarding school in the Southeast. In a school that was founded nearly 150 years ago by William R. “Sawney” Webb, there are traditions that have endured from the first day.

Cmdr. Alan A. Patterson '96 Clay Target 38 Lt. Complex dedicated The Lt. Cmdr. Alan A. Patterson ’96 Clay Target Complex was dedicated in the memory of Alan by his family during reunion on April 30.

Summer 2016

Also inside:

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Spring Recap

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Reunion 2016

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Class Notes

On the cover:

A drone photo taken in May by Alston Zhang ’17 captures part of campus with the Residential Village in the center. Another drone photo by Alston is featured on pages 12-13.

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THE WEBB SCHOOL

WEBB

MAGAZINE

Raymond S. Broadhead Head of School Joe Iorio Assistant Head of School and Business Manager WEBB COMMUNICATIONS EDITOR: Rita Mitchell Director of Communications DESIGN & LAYOUT: Gayle K. McClanahan Graphic Designer CONTRIBUTORS Alyce Allen Database Coordinator Meredith Crockett Director of Special Events and Outreach Dorothy Elkins Alumni Research Assistant Carmen Greenberg Development Coordinator for Parent Giving Julie Harris ’95 Director of Admissions Meredith Hilleary Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations Matt Wilson Director of Alumni & Development The Webb School Magazine is published biannually in the summer and winter by The Webb School, 319 Webb Road East, Bell Buckle, Tenn. The Webb School is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization: 620401875.

319 Webb Road East Bell Buckle, Tenn. 37020 1-931-389-9322

Honoring Tradition and Staying Relevant One of the greatest challenges for schools as old as Webb is how to uphold and honor the great traditions of the past, while staying relevant and preparing our students for the future. When I first arrived at Webb, I saw a video piece of Jack Heffner, Headmaster in the late 70s and 80s. Mr. Heffner was addressing concerns about changes at Webb, and WWSD (What Would Sawney Do?).

He responded by saying, “Sawney’s over there in Hazel Cemetery, … and I’ve got to make decisions on what the conditions are at the moment.” To give credit where credit is due, what Sawney created in his lifetime is amazing! He put Bell Buckle on the map of great boarding schools in the country. His teaching methods, supported and enhanced by his brother John, were revolutionary, radical, and relevant for the time.

Times change.

The heart of Sawney’s school is still alive today. The honor code and the importance of character remain the cornerstones of a Webb education.

Sawney’s epigraphs are displayed on our buildings. “Don’t ever be a spectator; take a hand in the game.”

“Pedigree your ancestors.” Sawney’s legacy will never go away.

We honor the many great traditions of Webb, some very old, some more recent – honor code, declamations, senior survival, trapping, senior blazers, chapel, the ringing of the Culleoka Bell when a senior announces his or her college choice – just to name a few.

A few years ago, Rick Warren, the church pastor, gave an excellent Ted Talk on staying relevant. One concept he elaborated upon was the DNA of staying relevant in a rapidly changing world:

D: Develop a Lab Mentality: You have to try new things, new teaching methods, different approaches. Some will be discarded, some will lead to better student understanding.

N: Never Stop Learning: For a school to grow, its teachers, administrators and staff must grow.

The moment the faculty and staff stop learning, the school will stop growing. Lifelong learners are essential to the growth of Webb.

A: Acknowledge the Grief: To quote Pastor Warren: “There is no growth without change.

There is no change without loss.

There is no loss without pain.

There is no pain without grief.”

Leadership must help faculty and staff through change with specific plans. Teachers must also help students through change in the same way. Leadership and teachers must work hard to gain trust. Change is necessary.

If the school stands still, it will become irrelevant.

The world changes, and Webb changes with the world. Our teaching methods must change also. Today we impart skills that are relevant to the environment of the 21st century. We are not a school of rote learning. I often talk about the five C’s of 21st century skills at Webb. We want our students to have great Character, be effective Communicators, be Critical thinkers, be Creative, and Collaborate with others to be effective team members.

Mastering these skills will give our students the tools, and greater confidence, to meet the challenges ahead in a rapidly changing and unpredictable world.

The Webb School Magazine

The Webb School complies with all applicable anti-discrimination laws and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin in the administration of its educational policies and programs, admissions p r o c e s s e s , scholarship and financial aid programs, employment practices, athletic and other school administrative programs.

A note from the Head of School

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Webb graduates 58 in 146th commencement ceremony Dr. Seddon guest speaker

The Webb School’s 58 seniors received diplomas from John Sawyer ’88, Board of Trustees chair, at the 146th commencement ceremony on May 28. Family and friends joined faculty and staff in honoring the class. Graduation was preceded by Baccalaureate with the Rev. David Adams, Bell Buckle United Methodist Church minister, as the speaker.

Summer 2016

Head of School Ray Broadhead welcomed those attending commencement and congratulated the 58 graduates. “We are very proud of you, the class of 2016, for all of your accomplishments.

You have worked very hard to reach your academic goals, and you have been leaders on the playing fields, the courts, and on the stage. Your academic accomplishments include two National Merit Scholars, Andrew Cooper and Ulysses Yu, many winners of national academic awards, and very strong performances on the national Advanced Placement Exams.” He added, “Your class is filled with talented musicians, actors, artists, and singers. The two drama productions this year, “A Christmas Carol” and “Arsenic and Old Lace”, were outstanding. In particular, I will always remember the coordinated movements of M’Kenzy Cannon and Sarah Beth Menck in “Arsenic and Old Lace”, and Kai Krajeck’s wonderful performance as Scrooge. The String Orchestra continues to grow and to improve each year, and the choir had its best performance in years.

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“In athletics, many athletes have been named to All-District and All-Region teams while working with teammates to produce competitive sports teams, including a Boys’ Soccer Team that made it to the state quarterfinals. The group of senior boys on that team, Jared Moss, Jarrod Wilson, Robert Windham, Colin Paffrath, Temaz Ferguson, Key Lee, and Dapo Omitowoju, has played together at Webb for many years, and they will be sorely missed.

“The faculty and I congratulate the class of 2016 for all of their accomplishments and for having achieved this important milestone in their lives,” Broadhead said.

Dr. Rhea Seddon, physician, astronaut, healthcare executive, entrepreneur and author, was the guest speaker.

“First a word to the faculty: Many thanks to all of you who make The Webb School so great,” she said. “Two of my children are Webb graduates so this school and its teachers hold a special place in my heart. And to the parents: I’ve been in your seats looking at my own graduates … and wondering where the years had gone.

Thank you for getting them to this point in their lives. I know you are reluctant to let them go … . But you have given them roots, now you must give them wings.”

Turning her comments to the graduates, Seddon spoke of her days as an astronaut and said, “Picture this. I am lying on my back, looking at the sky. Perched atop four and a half million pounds of explosives, I know someone is about to light the fuse, and I will finally - finally - be launched. I’ll leave the safety of the familiar, soon to be in an alien, weightless world, prepared but scared, to succeed or to fail, with a world of people watching. I was just anxious to be on my way. No doubt that’s where you are today – anxious to be launched into a bigger world.”

As the graduates prepared to “launch” from Webb, she added, “You will carry from here your beliefs – your values, your ethical code – the ‘roots’ that your family and this school have given you. Will you be able to hear the other side yet hold fast to those beliefs?”

She noted that some graduates think that they know their career paths. “I was pretty sure I would be a doctor. Only just as I was finishing my residency training, a friend told me NASA was going to accept women in its next astronaut class – so I reinvented myself and became a space cadet – one of the first women in the Astronaut Corps. I know unexpected opportunities will come your way, too. … Will you take advantage of them?”

Seddon also said that with the opportunities, “there will be obstacles to overcome. If you fail, figure out how you can succeed. I don’t need to tell you that Webb is a tough school, and I’ll bet there were times when you felt you couldn’t do the work. But you didn’t give up. You made it. You developed ‘grit’, resilience, a fighting spirit.

That is a ‘super power’ you’ll take from here.”

She also reminded graduates that they’ve learned to appreciate the value of true friends – not the kind that can be easily “unfriended”.

“So remember this day. Hold fast to your ‘roots’ -- the values that make up your character. Use the ‘wings’ you will soon be given to explore the vast new world that awaits you in college. Gain confidence by facing new challenges and overcoming obstacles.

Remember your true friends.

“Here you are on the launch pad. We are ready to light the fuse and launch you. This whole world of people will be watching. Today is lift-off day – congratulations, good luck and Godspeed Class of 2016!”

Zoe Speer ’16 of Beechgrove gave the student address during the ceremony.

As part of the commencement ceremony, Andrew Cooper, Smithville, received the highest academic honor in the class, the Anna Landis Hightower Award, which honors the student with the highest grade-point average for four years at Webb, and the John Hardin Highest Scholastic Award for achieving the highest scholastic average in his senior year.

In introducing Sherwood, Broadhead said, “The first recipient is the embodiment of a gentleman scholar. Quiet, unassuming, and humble, he has an intellect beyond his years, and an amazing capacity to move beyond his comfort zone to try new things.

His participation at Webb has been wide-ranging. He is strong in academics: last year he was named an Advanced Placement Scholar with Honor, and since he took six Advanced Placement classes this year, he will likely be named a National Advanced Placement Scholar this summer. He has participated in many activities: Honor Council, Mock Trial, Webb Players, learned to play the piano, Dorm Prefect, and served as a middle school tutor.

Speaking about Fiala, Broadhead said, “He is a fast thinker, very well spoken, and his public demeanor exudes confidence. As Honor Council President, he has presided over a number of cases this year. He cares deeply about Webb … . He is one of our best admissions tour guides, another duty he does cheerfully.

Faculty members said, ‘he is the face of the School’, ‘he lives and breathes for the school…”. In addition to all these platitudes, his most audible contribution to Webb has been his role as “Voice of the Feet.” He has spent countless hours at athletic contests at Webb – basketball play-by-play, football, soccer, lacrosse, and introducing years of seniors on senior night. He has a voice that is the envy of many professional public address announcers.”

The Class of 2016 Senior Board

Also recognized was Kelly Dr. Rhea Seddon speaking during Wyatt, recipient of the studentCommencement selected David Newton McQuiddy Award. The award is given by the family of David Newton McQuiddy to honor a teacher who has integrity, is loyal to Webb and its ideals, is dedicated to the profession, and who encourages sound character development and academic excellence.

Broadhead said that Wyatt “has had an extraordinary impact on our students. Her teaching has been very strong, but her greater impact may be the bonds she has formed with the students, especially those of the boarding community. She has been a leader of student trips to foreign countries, was an assistant cross-country coach, helped with the French club, and her presence on campus has been supportive to many students. She will be sorely missed next year, as she moves to Latin School of Chicago.”

As part of the ceremony, Broadhead recognized the Webb faculty as a group. There was special recognition given to faculty and staff who will reach five-, 10-, and 30-year milestones when the 2016-2017 school year begins.

For complete coverage of the 2016 Graduation – videos, photos and full story, visit the website at www.thewebbschool.com

The Webb School Magazine

Austin Fiala, Tullahoma, and James Sherwood, Smithville, each received the John Lewis Morgan Award, which is presented annually to the student who has maintained a high standard of excellence in his or her academic work and who has demonstrated the highest qualities of good citizenship in the service of the school.

One faculty member remarked, ‘When we recite the mission of the school on Mondays, I think to myself, there’s the guy!’”

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SPRING RECAP...

Kudos & news

“Arsenic and Old Lace” Webb’s spring play The comedic classic, “Arsenic and Old Lace”, by Joseph Kesselring was presented by The Webb School Company Players as the spring production. Fifty-four students, faculty, staff and additional helpers were involved in the production.

2016 WSPA Belles and Buckles Gala a Success

Summer 2016

Webb School Parents’ Association exceeds goal by $16,000 in its largest fundraising gala!

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More than 200 guests attended the annual WSPA Belles and Buckles Gala on March 5, 2016, in support of The Webb School.

The gala is Webb’s second largest annual fundraising effort, and the main parent-sponsored event. The proceeds benefit faculty and staff with bonuses, provide teacher/classroom supplies and support campus improvement. The event, featuring an interactive ’50s murder mystery play, a big board/ live auction, and a drawing for one tuition remission, took place at Stones River Country Club. More than $50,000 was raised through sponsorships, ticket sales, and online and live auction sales, making it one of WSPA’s most successful events ever.

The online and live auctions incorporated trips and parties, a full set of dental braces, a custom piece of jewelry, front row graduation seats, original art, custom-made men’s suit, school experiences, and

two of Mrs. Dorothy Elkins’s pies. Auction items were donated by current and past parents, Webb alumni and board of trustee members, faculty and staff, Webb grandparents and local businesses.

The gala was chaired by Drs. Max and Mary Moss (Elizabeth ’09, Tripp ’11 and Jared ’16), whose vision for the event was executed with the help of many Webb parents, faculty, staff and volunteers including Webb’s WSPA officers past and present.

The WSPA officers, Alumni & Development staff and gala volunteers have already met to fine tune the process for next year. We encourage you to inquire about being a part of the planning process for the 2017 Belles and Buckles Gala. Please consider having a conversation with a WSPA officer, staff or faculty member to participate!

Sherwood earns Eagle Scout Award Jim Sherwood ’16, a member of Boy Scouts of America Troop 347, Smithville, Tenn., earned the Eagle Scout Award. Requirements for the award consisted of four recommendations, 12 required merit badges, nine elective merit badges, a number of service hours, service in troop leadership positions, an approved service project and finally, successfully passing an Eagle Scout board of review. For his service project, Sherwood improved the exterior of his former middle school, Dekalb West Elementary. Along with constructing four benches for students waiting for parents, he laid a brick path to the newly moved flagpole. Dekalb West had recently undergone an expansion thanks to a grant. In the process of this new construction, they removed several commemorative trees. As part of his

project, Sherwood planted a tree and placed two plaques. The first plaque commemorated those whose trees had been removed. The second commemorated the principal, Danny Parkerson, who held the position during Sherwood’s time at Dekalb West. Sherwood has been a Boy Scout since fifth grade and a Cub Scout before that since first grade. During his time in his troop, he has served as Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. He attended the national Boy Scout jamboree in 2012.

Overall, he has earned 32 merit badges and is a second generation Eagle Scout. He intends to continue to help with his troop as an adult and promote scouting.

Students inducted into National Honor Society The Webb School inducted members into the Sawney Chapter of the National Honor Society on May 18 during chapel. Sandy Truitt is NHS faculty advisor. The society was founded in 1921 “to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership, and to encourage the development of character.” The Webb chapter was founded in 1974. The new members inducted were: Jones Constantine Allison, Maya Astrid Krajeck, Lucas Cole Wiesemann, Amber Martha Jared, Alyss Butler Masundire, Madelyn J. McAndrew, Kennady Allese Peek, Christopher Rogers, Wesley David Watson, M'Kenzy Rayne Cannon, Magdalena Kai Krajeck, Yuhan (Sara) Ma, Ethan Michael McNabb, Courtney Elizabeth Sells and Zoe Madeline Speer.

Webb skeet team competes for first time since 2010

Webb participated in the skeet tournament. Six shooters have practiced all spring, and five were able to make the tournament. There were approximately 100 shooters across middle school, junior varsity and varsity. Webb had three students in the Junior Varsity division, and two in the “Intermediate/Entry Level” division.

Left to right, Justin Lowe ’11 (Coach), L.R. Smith (Coach), Johnathon Savage ’22, Dr. Phillip Patterson (Coach), Noah Johnson ’19, Andrew Wright ’16, Jared Fitzpatrick ’19, Miles Simons ’22, Matt Wilson (Business Manager), Buck Smith (Head Coach).

The Webb School Magazine

The Webb skeet team had its first competitive shoot at the Nashville Gun Club on June 5. Competing for the first time since 2010, the new Patterson Clay Target Complex on the Webb campus helped facilitate the return of the team. This was the TN Regional Division 2 competition, a three-day event involving sporting clays, trap and skeet.

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Bonner presents at Tennessee STEM Research Conference Jeff Bonner, chemistry and middle school science teacher, was among educators and researchers presenting at the 10th Annual Tennessee STEM Research Conference in February. Bonner presented “Comparing the Impact of Two Active Learning Strategies on Epistemological Beliefs of Postsecondary Microbiology Students”.

“Attending and presenting at the TN STEM conference is an experience I look forward to every year,” said Bonner. “It is a great venue to network with other educators and researchers from across the state.” Bonner graduated with a B.S. from the University of Georgia and M.A. from Cumberland University.

Bonner is a doctoral candidate who will graduate in 2016. He joined Webb in July of 2015.

Three students selected for Mid-State Orchestra Three students from the string orchestra program were accepted into the annual Mid-State Orchestra in Murfreesboro. Cellists, seventh grader Alex Schuler, junior Alston Zhang and senior Ulysses Yu, were selected through an audition process in December, and the performance was in January.

Left to right, Ulysses Yu, Alex Schuler and Alston Zhang

Pendergrast, Sherwood to attend Boys State

Summer 2016

Keaton Pendergrast of Shelbyville, Tenn., and Nate Sherwood of Smithville, Tenn., were selected as Webb’s participants at Tennessee American Legion Boys State in May at Tennessee Technological University at Cookeville. Rising seniors from across the state receive leadership and citizenship training at the event.

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Senior Survival Members of the Class of 2016 departed May 20 for Senior Survival, an annual Webb tradition led by Brian Wofford, Webb’s Outdoor Program director. The class had the highest attendance for senior survival in recent years.

Keaton Pendergrast

Nate Sherwood

Xie, Zhuo receive 2016 Piano Awards Nina Xie ’18 and Tommy Zhuo ’19, both from Beijing, China, received 2016 Piano Awards presented during the piano recital on May 17. It is the third year for the awards to be presented. Xie and Zhuo performed during the recital.

“Past winners of the award also performed. It is a testament to the students who have won, that they are continuing their study of piano. We appreciate the anonymous donor for recognizing the talent and dedication of these students,” said Janet Linton, Fine Arts Department chair and piano teacher.

Students inducted into Cum Laude Society; Wright '99 guest speaker Eleven students were inducted into the Cum Laude Society in a ceremony on April 26 in chapel. Erica Wright ’99 was guest speaker. A reception followed the ceremony. Students joining the Cum Laude Society included those elected in their junior year: Chelsea Ilarde, Ryan Xia, Mindy Li, Kennady Peek, and Caroline Beach, and those elected from the senior class: Jim Sherwood, M'Kenzy Cannon, Sara Ma, Anna Claire Tuma, Berk Mavi and Kai Krajeck. Math teacher Sandy Truitt is the organization’s advisor.

Ilarde, Peek attend Girls State; Tuma selected as counselor

Kennady Peek

Webb senior Anna Claire Tuma, who attended Girls’ State in 2015, was selected as a counselor for this year’s session.

Rising seniors from across the state receive leadership and citizenship training at the events. Participants operate mock governments, develop party platforms, write legislation and debate issues such as education, health care and budgets on the city, county and state levels.

Chelsea Ilarde

Faculty/Staff blogs new parent resource The insights from Webb faculty and staff were posted on the website and social media weekly during the school year in the format of an Article of the Week with reflective comments. By aggregating TED talks, books, interviews, and articles of interest, the goal was to serve as a resource for parents, while demonstrating the philosophies and priorities of The Webb School. Topics ranged from the importance of taking responsibility to developing executive function, to putting foreign language in STEM education.

Teachers Teddy Schaffer and Karla Vogt got married on May 28, 2016, on the Webb campus. They met at Webb 5 years ago. Teddy Schaffer teaches Economics, Calculus, Algebra I and Geometry. Karla teaches AP Statistics and Precalculus.

They both are dorm parents and will be living in Wendel Haynes Hall next year.

The Webb School Magazine

Chelsea Ilarde of Shelbyville, Tenn., and Kennady Peek of Murfreesboro, Tenn., attended Tennessee American Legion Auxiliary Volunteer Girls State May 29-June 4 at Lipscomb University in Nashville. Kara Brooke Bellenfant of Shelbyville was selected, but was unable to attend.

Others performing at the recital were the following: David Nuthalapaty, Lillie Waddell, Lucy Mitchell, Medusa Qu, Kara Brooke Bellenfant and David Nuthalapaty, Jim Sherwood, Ulysses Yu, Ian Reyes, Jessie Song and Lily Li.

Megan Whitehead Flanagan, photographer.

Break the mold

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Andrew Cooper

Forty-eight students, along with parents and faculty members traveled to Washington, D.C. in March for the annual middle school trip. The group visited Gettysburg National Military Park and toured the Jefferson Monument, Roosevelt Memorial, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. Other highlights included the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Navy yard, the Holocaust Museum and visits to the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Korean Memorial and the WW II Memorial.

Monticello, Mt. Vernon, and Old Town Alexandria, Arlington National Cemetery, the Smithsonian, and the Native American Museum rounded out the trip.

Ulysses Yu

Seniors Cooper and Yu named National Merit Scholarship Finalists Andrew Cooper and Ulysses Yu were named National Merit Scholarship Finalists in February. Cooper of Smithville and Yu of San Francisco, Calif., were among the top 1 percent of 201415 U.S. high school seniors to achieve semifinalist distinction in September 2015. Of the 16,000 students nationwide selected as semifinalists, 90 percent (roughly 15,000) were chosen to be finalists and received one of 8,300 Merit Scholarship awards.

Hix is final speaker in 2015-2016 Follin Series

Summer 2016

Billy Hix completed the 2015-2016 Follin Speaker Series at Webb with his April presentation “Science Rocks” in the Follin Chapel.

The series is an endowed program at Webb.

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Hix serves as Founder and Director of the Motlow College Foundation STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program and Professor Emeritus at Motlow College.

Along with his work at Motlow, he promotes STEM education in schools through school presentations, teacher professional development programs, and summer STEM camps for students.

During the past 10 years, Hix has conducted programs with more than 87,000 students and teachers across the U.S. In March 2014, the American Astronomical Society presented the “Master Outreach Award” to Hix. He is one of only a few individuals in the past 100 years to be given this honor. In April

2011, he was selected to be one of three teacher liaisons in the United States with the Space Foundation of Colorado. While serving with the Space Foundation, he works under the direction of Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, who some might know from his Cosmos and NOVA TV series.

Hix supports teachers across the globe to integrate space science into the curriculum. In April of 2013, he was selected as the Space Foundation Teacher of the Year from the United States.

Hix worked for NASA between 1997 and 2007 as a Faculty Fellow at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., and currently serves NASA in an advisory role.

He has also filmed a number of educational TV shows featuring education and STEM for PBS and other TV venues. Along with his STEM outreach, he is currently working for the Battelle Corporation visiting schools across the southeast on their behalf.

He is also currently a science advisor to a new video series being released by Lifeway Publishing examining the relationship between science and religion.

Spurlock tells seniors Webb will be a constant Members of the Class of 2016 were guests at the annual Senior Luncheon on May 19. The event, hosted by the Office of Alumni and Development and Alumni Association, was attended by several members of the Alumni Board, Head of School Ray Broadhead, Assistant Head of School Joe Iorio, faculty and staff.

Matt Wilson, director of alumni and development, welcomed the group and introduced A&D office staff members and also Alumni Board members in attendance, Erin Henrick ’94 and guest speaker, Chase Spurlock ’05.

As part of his remarks, Spurlock noted that “often we have life and college described to us as a journey – and journeys are fun – but part of the journey is getting back home,” he said. “Webb alumni quite literally wander the world, but never cease to speak of their time in Bell Buckle.”

Whatever floats your boat! Students upcycle Whatever floats your boat – for science students it was plastic water bottles and milk jugs, 50-gal. plastic barrels, wooden furniture and cardboard. These were some of the “upcycled” materials used to construct boats for the “Whatever Floats Your Boat” project in Pamela Seals’ Advanced Placement Environmental Science class.

But constructing the boats was not the most challenging aspect of this project. A team member had to ride in each craft, propel across a pond on campus and win at least one heat. There were two days of racing.

“I got this project idea from a team of AP Environmental Science teachers I work with online,” said Seals, chair of the Science

Department and teacher. “After the AP Exam, the students were given an activity to focus on creative uses of recycled materials. In addition, one of the great things that happens in science is when students take creative challenges and use previous skills to solve a problem in teams. This was to help them grow in team skills as well."

Parts from “real” boats (paddles, rudders, etc.) and parts of items designed to be ridden (boogie boards, surf boards, etc.) were not allowed. Nails, tacks and staples were not allowed; however, glue, string, twine, yarn and duct tape were permitted. The vessel had to be ridden; it could not be a kickboard-type floatation device. Team members were required to pick up any boat debris that broke away during the race.

The Webb School Magazine

Teams were given a detailed rubric of standards to follow and one week to actively collect materials and build a vessel. In order to accumulate the most points, each team had to construct a boat from at least five different recycled products, and 100 percent of the craft had to be made from previously used materials. Each team was provided two rolls of duct tape, but could purchase more.

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Webb dedicates $5.4 million Residential Village

Summer 2016

$10 million Moving Our Tradition Forward campaign in final phase

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The Webb School’s newly completed Residential Village, Phase I – a $5.4 million project that includes two dorms and a student center – was dedicated on April 29 during the school’s 2016 annual reunion. The ceremony officially opened Meadows Hall for boys, Wendel Haynes Hall for girls, and the 4,200 sq. ft. student center that serves both day and boarding students. It was also announced that fundraising is under

The completion of Phase I moves Webb closer to a Strategic Plan goal to enroll 50 additional boarding students by 2022 to join the current 100 boarding and 200 day students.

Phase II plans include two additional dorms in the same location.

The Webb School Magazine

way to name the student center in honor of Dorothy Elkins of Bell Buckle, who has been employed at Webb since 1957.

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“This day is the culmination of a vision that began more than “The Board of Trustees has decided to honor one of the most, if not six years ago. I thank all of you for joining us on this important the most wonderful of our employees, certainly our most senior day in the storied history of The Webb School as we dedicate the employee. I’m pleased to announce we’re going to raise money to Residential Village, Phase I,” said Head of School Ray Broadhead name this building after Dorothy Elkins.” at the ceremony. “… The Webb School does not receive any public funding from taxes or state funds. To build a residential village, Elkins began her 60th year at Webb on March 1, 2016, and has Webb is dependent upon the generosity of trustees, alumni, present served as assistant to the headmaster and secretary to the Board of and past parents, and others who have a connection with the Trustees in addition to other responsibilities. She joined the Alumni school.” He added, “In and Development office in August the next two months, we 1988. are looking to finish a “I love the new student center. The new student Commending the board for comprehensive campaign (Moving Our Tradition financially supporting the center is in a central location on campus so Forward), which has a goal Residential Village project 100% to it’s very convenient to both day and boarding of $10 million. To date, … get it started, George Pine, a 1968 we have raised more than students. The student center is a great place for me graduate, current trustee and former $9.5 million. The goal is board chair, thanked the many to get work done and hang out with friends after others who have made gifts. Pine within our sight.” school. I would have to say that the student center also thanked students, who played Speaking of the Residential an integral part in the development is useful to all students.”

Village, Phil Coop ’66, a of the project by providing their trustee, former chair and suggestions and feedback. “We Soniya Patel ’18 campaign co-chair, said, listened and tried to accommodate “It’s a huge commitment” as best we could.” not only to raise the money, but also to Webb’s boarding environment. I’m very, very Keith Barton, a 1975 graduate, board vice chair and Building and pleased to be here with you for the dedication.” Coop called Grounds Committee chair, who spoke on behalf of John Sawyer, attention to the fact that the student center is yet to be named. a 1988 graduate and board chair, thanked Webb’s partners in the project -- Orion Builders and Johnson Johnson Crabtree Architects.

He also thanked Webb employees, Joe Iorio, assistant head of Trustee Emeritus, Thomas Lisenby '47 school and business manager; and Bruce Frommeyer, assistant business manager. Additionally, Barton noted the cooperation of the Webb community during the construction.

Summer 2016

“In a couple of years, we’re going to celebrate our 150th anniversary, said Barton. “We’re investing in the next 150 years. I think we’ve made a good start.”

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Each dorm has a two-story, three bedroom faculty home and a onebedroom faculty apartment attached. There is also a faculty office and study room adjacent to the faculty spaces.

“We are very excited to be moving into Wendel Haynes Hall (faculty home),” said math teacher Karla Vogt, who married math teacher Teddy Schaffer on May 28. “This brand new house gives

“Today we celebrate buildings. We cannot forget that it is the people inside these buildings who make the real difference,” said Broadhead. “It is the students who commit themselves to be Webb ladies or gentlemen. It is the faculty who selflessly give their time and knowledge to help our students to become honorable, intelligent, and independent young adults. The Webb School has a great tradition that began in 1870. Today, with the dedication of these buildings, and with the work of those inside them, we are “moving our tradition forward.’”

us space, as a couple, to begin our life together. It will allow us the personal space to enjoy each other’s company but at the same time welcome students into our main living area. The dorm is a beautiful space with an open concept living room and kitchen. I think it will also be a nice space to spend time with the kids.”

History teacher Larry Foulk and his family will live in the Meadows Hall faculty home. He echoed Vogt’s thoughts about providing a family atmosphere in the dorm. “I am so humbled that my family and I may play a small role in fulfilling the mission of being that example of the ‘character of home’ -- to teach and learn as ‘tireless workers,’ to model and follow ‘the finer points of morals and practice them in our daily living,’ to be the example of those ‘who are always courteous.’”

The student center opened in January, and day and boarding students have been using it to study, complete collaborative projects, watch television and relax with friends. Two offices, a bookstore, student mailboxes and vending machines are also included.

Dr. Gary Jones and Gwen Jones Owen '75

Closing the ceremony, Broadhead acknowledged several donors who focused on the dorms, including Charles Alexander, a 1968 graduate and trustee, who had the vision and spearheaded fundraising among classmates to name Wendel Haynes Hall in memory of a classmate. “We are really, really pleased and grateful for all the work that Charles did, and for the many contributions of his classmates,” said Broadhead.

"Due to the new Student Center’s convenient location at the center of campus, boarders and day students are able to use it for a variety of reasons which include studying and bonding. Also, because of its location the students can stop by to get a quick snack or check their mail."

C.J. Rogers ’17

After the dedication, tours were given of the new facilities, and a reception was held to thank donors.

For more information about the Residential Village, contact Matt Wilson, Director of Alumni and Development at 931-389-5722 or mwilson@webbschool.com.

Additional photos and videos are available at www.thewebbschool.com

The Webb School Magazine

He also highlighted Meadows Hall that is named in memory of James R. Meadows, 1952 graduate, longtime trustee and chair of the board, who passed away in 2012. Broadhead expressed thanks to Meadows’ wife, Pat Meadows, and the Meadows Foundation for wanting to invest in Webb because the school was so important to him. “We’re really grateful to Pat Meadows and the Meadows Foundation for helping make Meadows Hall possible.”

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Dedication Ceremony for

Residential Village Phase 1

Ray Broadhead • Head of School Phil Coop ’66 Board of Trustees Chair (2006 - 2011) and Campaign Co-Chair (2010 - ) George Pine ’68 Board of Trustees Chair (2011 - 2015)

Summer 2016

John Sawyer ’88 Board of Trustees Chair (2015 - )

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Student Center Donors

NAMING OPPORTUNITIES STILL AVAILABLE

Webb gratefully acknowledges gifts from the following donors: COFFEY FAMILY QUADRANGLE PORCH Webb gratefully acknowledges the gift from Christy and Michael Coffey in honor of Kat ’13, Emily ’11, Charlie ’11 and Allie ’16 ERSKINE AND FRANCES ALEXANDER CAFE Webb gratefully acknowledges gifts received in their parents’ memory from Charles P. Alexander ’68 and W. Brent Alexander ’71

MARILYN MCCALLIE MORGAN AND JOHN H. MORGAN COMMON AREA Webb gratefully acknowledges the gift from their children and grandchildren SARA WHITESIDE BRADLEY VESTIBULE Webb gratefully acknowledges the gift from Edward Whiteside Bradley ’61 in memory of his mother

SENIOR ROOM Webb gratefully acknowledges the gifts from Dianna and Zane Cantrell Tanya and David Coffey Beth and Phil D’Antonio Sherry and Danny Freeman Sonya and Phillip King Sandra Knuth and Robert Walsh Kimberly and Michael McAndrew Mary and Max Moss Robin and Eric Newell Kelly and Jerry O’Daniel Lanre and Dapo Omitowoju Susan and Jeffrey Paffrath Camilla and John Schroeder Cynthia and David Sells Claire and Bob Tuma ’87

WILLIAM G. HARDIN JR. ’52 OFFICE Webb gratefully acknowledges the gift from Ann A. Hardin (Mrs. William G. Hardin Jr.) and by Alyson and William G. Hardin III ’79 A. JON FRERE COMMON AREA Webb gratefully acknowledges the gift from Trustee Emeritus Bob F. Thompson ’65 and his wife Mary Battle Thompson in honor of Jon Frere, Headmaster from 1989-2005 DOROTHY ELKINS STUDENT CENTER Webb gratefully acknowledges the gifts from Charles P. Alexander ’68 F. Edward Barker ’57 J. I. Vance Berry Jr. ’72 Leone and Ray Broadhead W. Andrew Carrington ’83 Pam Edde R. Walter Hale III ’61 Deborah Roberts Horst ’75 Paul G. Jennings ’82 Joan and Gary Jones Ralph E. Jones Robert B. Lee ’68 Thomas J. Lisenby ’47

Continued on next page

The Webb School Magazine

DR. GARY M. JONES OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF STUDENTS Webb gratefully acknowledges the gift given by his daughter Gwen Jones Owen ’75 in honor of her father

CLASS OF 1961 COMMON AREA Webb gratefully acknowledges the gifts from Edward W. Bradley ’61 Kenneth E. Chandler ’61 R. Walter Hale III ’61 Paul Marks Jr. ’61 Henry B. Ray Jr. ’61 Michael C. Shealy ’61 Allen J. Strawbridge Jr. ’61

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Wendel Haynes Hall Donors

Webb gratefully acknowledges gifts in Wendel’s memory from Adams Family Foundation Charles P. Alexander ’68 Grady L. Blackwood Jr. ’68 Saniel B. Bonder ’68 Leone and Raymond Broadhead D. Lynn Cobb ’68 Allen K. Craven ’68 Virginia Dale and The Dale Family Foundation Eric J. Forsbergh ’68 Robert L. Gamewell III ’68 Stephen C. Graham ’65 Yvonne and Oscar M. Gwin III ’69 Thomas A. Hawkins Jr. ’68 J. Brevard Haynes Jr. ’64 Sam M. Haynes ’66 Marion W. Hickerson

G. Edwin Johnson Jr. ’67 Samuel L. Lasseter ’69 Robert B. Lee ’68 Betty D. Lewis Robert H. Lewis Jr. ’68 James W. McDonnell Jr. ’43 James W. McDonnell III ’68 Philip H. Neal ’68 Robert V. Nelson Jr. ’68 John K.P. Odell Jr. ’68 George E. Pine ’68 James W. Pou ’68 Charles D. Rucks ’68 N. B. Forrest Shoaf ’68 John Holmes Smith IV ’68 Bob F. Thompson ’65 Dennis M. Woodson II ’68

SHERRILL MARKS BYRD PATIO Webb gratefully acknowledges the gift given in loving memory by her husband, Trustee Emeritus, Hugh Hunter Byrd ’56, Nelson Byrd ’99 and Hudson Byrd ’05 MIKE DORMAN, CLASS OF 1966 PORTICO Webb gratefully acknowledges the gifts for the Mike Dorman, Class of 1966 Portico from John Callow ’66 Phil Coop ’66 Estate of Michael Dorman ’66 William E. Farris Sr. ’66 Jere B. Fones ’66

Summer 2016

Student Center Continued

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Walter W. Manley ’64 Paul T. Martin ’88 Garner Moore ’51 Smith Murphey V ’86 Smith Murphey IV ’55 Kelly Northrup and Jon Chicken John K. P. Odell Jr. ’68 George E. Pine ’68 John E. Sawyer ’88 Brian D. Singer ’78 Moira and L.R. Smith

Sandy and Charles P. “Pick” Stephens ’56 Sandra Truitt H. Lee Woosley III ’78 Jessica Delbridge Woosley ’82 FOUNDATION FOR SUPPORT Webb gratefully acknowledges the gifts for general support from Mary and James P. Gore Ramesh Gowda and Arundati Ramesh Taylor C. Halliburton ’14

Charles O. Hon III ’63 Huddleston-Steele Engineering, Inc. Laurie and William H. Huddleston IV ’81 Paul G. Jennings ’82 Pamela and Glenn Jones ’76 Joseph W. Mooney ’83 Katherine and Donald Steele Peggy and Stephen A. Steele Ruth E. Watson ’14

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JOHN B. LISENBY, CLASS OF 1910, LAUNDRY ROOM “THE BUTTONCRUSHER”

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WILSON FENNELL, CLASS OF 2018 DORMITORY ROOM

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MR. AND MRS. CHARLES P. “PICK” STEPHENS DORMITORY ROOM

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Meadows Hall Donors

Webb gratefully acknowledges the lead gift from the James R. Meadows Jr. Foundation and Pat Meadows MR. AND MRS. DAVID LAROCHE FAMILY PATIO Webb gratefully acknowledges the gift from Brook and David B. LaRoche ’98

MR. JOHN P. MATTHEWS IV ’78 AND DR. KAREN C. MATTHEWS DORMITORY ROOM Webb gratefully acknowledges the gift received from Karen and John Matthews MR. AND MRS. CHARLES P. “PICK” STEPHENS DORMITORY ROOM Webb gratefully acknowledges the gift

MR. SAM MANN ’43 DORMITORY ROOM Webb gratefully acknowledges the gift received from the Mann family

THE WEITZMAN FAMILY DORMITORY ROOM Webb gratefully acknowledges the gift received from May-Ling and Glenn Weitzman in honor of Alexander Weitzman '18

MR. JIMMY NOE JR. ’46 DORMITORY ROOM Webb gratefully acknowledges the gift received from his son Jim Noe ’77

THE WILSON FENNELL, CLASS OF 2018 DORMITORY ROOM Webb gratefully acknowledges the gift from Mr. and Mrs. G. Scott Fennell in honor of their son

JOHN B. LISENBY, CLASS OF 1910, LAUNDRY ROOM “THE BUTTONCRUSHER” Webb gratefully acknowledges the gift received from Trustee Emeritus Thomas J. Lisenby ’47 in memory of his dad

FOUNDATION FOR SUPPORT Webb gratefully acknowledges the gifts for general support from Alden H. Smith Jr. Marietta and James F. Bishop NOTE: Donors listed as of June 1, 2016

The Webb School Magazine

MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM G. HARDIN JR ’52 DORMITORY ROOM Webb gratefully acknowledges the gift from Alyson and William G. Hardin III ’79 in honor of Bill’s parents

received from Trustee Emeritus Pick Stephens ’56 and his wife Sandra

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The Webb School holds a unique position as the oldest continuously operating boarding school in the Southeast. In a school that was founded nearly 150 years ago by William R. “Sawney” Webb, there are traditions that have endured from the first day. There are others -- while not quite as old that remain deeply rooted in the school’s culture and identity. L.R. Smith, longtime faculty member, thinks that honoring Webb’s traditions provides students with the opportunity to have a solid academic and moral foundation and, in many ways, will keep Webb relevant in the future.

SOME TRADITIONS date to 1870 founding, hold key to staying relevant in the future

Summer 2016

“The Honor Code is at the heart of everything,” said Smith.

“If there’s anything that sets us apart, it’s the Honor Code. It’s very much a part of the school -- a code for ethical behavior.

And, just as the Honor Code has been around from Day 1, the Honor Council is 100 years old. We’re trying to encourage our students to be good people, to be honest people, to be responsible people.”

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Smith noted that “in a society that is in serious need of honor, integrity and making the right decisions, the more that we can inculcate the Honor Code and a sense of integrity, responsibility and morality in our students,” the better equipped they will be.”

Having chapel four days a week also honors tradition. “It is a ‘direct line’ to Sawney, because every day started with chapel,” Smith said. “It’s the only time of the day that the student body is together. A great deal of business is transacted there, and we try every day to speak a good word for our Heavenly Father.”

Continued on page 21

Seniors in the Class of 2016 rang the Culleoka Bell after they announced their college choices during chapel. Anna Kate Curtis took her turn after she announced plans to attend University of Tennessee Knoxville.

Some Traditions continued from page 20

Smith added, “If we’re going to say something specifically about how to behave and live in an ethical and honorable manner, that’s where it’s going to be said.” It is also the time that Integer Vitae is sung and the Mission Statement is recited, once every week.

Teaching of The Schoolmaker in English class and an ethics class are becoming traditions, Smith explained, and added that the story of Sawney Webb and the school and focusing on ethics helps reinforce “why we do what we do.”

“This school is very much still the extended shadow of its founder,” said Smith, who added that, like other human beings, he had his weaknesses and omissions. “Some of Sawney’s attitudes are greatly outdated by today’s standards.

Others of his attitudes, particularly towards honor, self-respect, hard work, solid academics, personal honesty and integrity – those attitudes are timeless. We need to honor him for those.” He added, “You read The Schoolmaker, you discuss The Schoolmaker in order to understand what is still relevant and can be carried into the future.”

Another tradition that Webb maintains is the public performance program Emerging Voices. Students are assigned declamations, orations, junior performances and senior presentations depending on their grade. “We require our people to stand up and declare in front of God and everyone and deliver something. That’s a longstanding tradition. I think it is one of the things that, frankly, keeps us relevant.”

Continued on page 22

Honor Council Constitution revised, ratified fulfilling promise of 2015-2016 president, members Ask Webb alumni what characteristic of the school made an indelible mark on their lives, and the answer is almost always the same -- the Honor Code.

Students continue to be serious about upholding its tradition and sign a pledge book each year promising not to lie, cheat or steal. If Honor Code violations occur, it is the Honor Council, comprised of students from each grade and advised by a faculty member, which addresses the issues.

2015-2016 Honor Council Officers — Vice President Andrew Cooper, Sergeant-at-Arms Jim Sherwood, Secretary Sarah Beth Menck, President Austin Fiala

The 2015-2016 Honor Council, led by President Austin Fiala and senior members, Andrew Cooper, Sarah Beth Menck and Jim Sherwood, carried out a lengthy and painstaking revision of the Constitution, which was completed in the spring of 2016. Head of School Ray Broadhead was then given the completed document to review and, with his approval, the Constitution was ratified on May 13. Three copies of the document were signed by the Head of School, the Honor Council officers, current Faculty Advisor James Garcia and Council members.

Three copies of the document were notarized for the head of school, Honor Council and library archives. The document will be in effect until May 13, 2072, at which point the presiding council will have to re-ratify the constitution.

“This is a very significant step that has occurred under the leadership of the current honor council,” said James Garcia. “The council has made a lasting contribution to the school, and we thank them for their service.”

The Webb School Magazine

A document outlining the rules and procedures of the Honor Council, referred to as the Constitution, was created by Michael Morgan and Stephen Hester, 1994 graduates; however, it was never ratified by the faculty, as was stipulated in the document. “That was,” L.R. Smith, at the time the Honor Council’s faculty advisor said, “something of an oversight. Nonetheless, it served

the Honor Council well for the next 22 years.”

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Some Traditions — Continued from page 21

Smith does his part helping to maintain three other traditions in the that have been carved and painted. The Boards are displayed and classroom and outdoors. He continues to use trapping as a method are main attractions for alumni at each reunion. Senior Survival, of instruction and review an annual camping and hiking in the classroom, and his trip led by Brian Wofford, Webb’s students stand when an Outdoor Program director, is the final adult enters his Jr. Room activity that each class enjoys prior classroom. He also has been to graduation. The trip is often cited integral to Webb’s trap as one of alums’ favorite memories. and skeet program. “We’ve Blazer Day, celebrating Sawney’s always had a tradition of birthday on Nov. 11, Lessons and clay target shooting. Sawney Carols and seniors ringing the let students bring shotguns Culleoka Bell on Blazer Day and -- L.R. Smith, faculty member since 1978, to school to hunt. They did when they announce their college Chapel director, former Honor Council advisor have to pledge that they choices are also traditions. would not bring handguns.

That was part of the honor code in the 1890s.”

There’s one other tradition that makes Smith chuckle – Webb’s sense of whimsy. “Webb has a tradition, mercifully, that we don’t The tradition of Senior Boards is an outgrowth of a stipulation take ourselves too seriously. The best example of that is the mascot Sawney made -- that students would not carve on the wooden desks. – the famous Webb Foot. Our symbol is a hairy ankle stuffed into To this day, each member of the graduating class carves a section of a high-top Converse with the toe busted out. That’s great. That’s their Senior Board. Boards in recent years have included sections whimsical.”

“Because our history is so much a part of our identity, we are what we are because of where we’ve been, the things we’ve done and the things we hold dear.”

Students use app-enabled sphere to program and develop logic, problem-solving, creativity While much of the product description touts “upgrading your play”, Raymond Pryor, director of technology, resists calling Spheros “toys”. Instead he sees the potential to incorporate their use in classrooms across the curriculum. He also knows the role that the device can have in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) classes, and how it naturally fits with the technology-based Maker Movement that emphasizes learning through doing.

Summer 2016

Pryor is using the Sphero SPRK, an app-enabled ball that can be programmed, in his computer science classes. Students use Spheros to learn coding, and develop their logic, problemsolving and creativity skills.

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Director of Technology Raymond Pryor’s students learn coding with Spheros.

“In class I include serious programming and creative exploration of the technology – which can be fun – but we aren’t playing with ‘toys’,” said Pryor.

The clear ball allows students to see the gyroscope and other

components that they can manipulate with a variety of apps on multiple devices.

They can program the Sphero to follow a series of commands – all that have detailed capabilities such as rotating and spinning to coding and driving an obstacle course. Pryor uses an arcade app to introduce students to concepts since so many of them already play games on their devices. Another app teaches object-oriented programming with a drag-and-drop interface. After combining simple commands, students can use it to learn more about the power of cause, effect and conditions in programming.

“It’s an introduction to programming,” Pryor said. “The programming of the SPRK is simple enough for younger students and challenging to those with coding experience.” He added, “I tied SPRK and my computer science classroom activities to STEM concepts because it provides hands-on application for theories and concepts that are taught in physics, math and other classes, for example. The Maker culture, he added, typically focuses on electronics, robotics, 3-D printing and the use of computer numerical control (CNC) tools for first-hand practical application.

“The SPRK study meshes well with those activities and instruction, as well.”

“The Sphero lets me explore different approaches to programming that I wouldn’t generally get to investigate,” said Hadley Foulk ’21 of Bell Buckle, who took the class in 2015-2016. “Sphero allows me to play around with programming in order to find a set of macros that will work. Sphero is so much better than programming robots on the computer, because it is tangible, and it is in our classroom.”

Pryor adds 3D printing technology for hands-on learning; AP Computer Science Principles new this fall 3D printing technology has become a popular way to incorporate a more hands-on approach to teaching and learning technology and Raymond Pryor, director of technology, is incorporating it into his classes.

“The building and programming of the printer helps put practical ‘real-world’ outcomes into the curriculum that has been lacking with traditional approaches to teaching programming and computer technologies,” said Pryor. “3D printers and other ‘hands-on’ technology are going to be very useful when Webb offers Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles during the 2016-2017 school year.” This new course offering from the College Board is designed to attract students who are not traditionally taking technology classes by using project-based learning and practical application of technology. Pryor will teach the AP class, one of 23 AP classes offered at Webb. The 3D printer and other ‘hands-on’ technology will be used extensively in teaching this class.

Students taking initiative in learning and being honest taking tests are longtime traditions joined Webb in 1974, Sandy Truitt, like L.R. Smith, has an interesting perspective on traditions. Two that she feels have remained important and relevant are developing and encouraging students to take initiative in their learning process and to have honor and integrity.

The other tradition is “having students on their honor during tests, leaving the classroom, letting them come back to finish a test and giving them take-home tests – this has always been a tradition,” she said. “You know you do it with some trepidation, but you do take the students at their word and give them a lot of responsibility.”

The Webb School encourages and supports faculty and staff members who want to pursue professional development in their respective disciplines and departments, in technology or in another facet of education.

“Webb has done a wonderful job in supporting our teachers in professional development opportunities, and that, in turn, has brought new and fresh ideas to the classroom,” said James Garcia, interim director of studies. As an example, Garcia cited Webb’s math instruction that was partially an outgrowth of a professional development conference. “We have seen changes in our math curriculum, focusing more on problem-based learning.”

Webb’s foreign language teachers will participate in the Center for Accelerated Language Acquisition (C.A.L.A) Language Institute at Middle Tennessee State University this summer. The institute focuses on Total Physical Response (TPR) and Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS).

In recent years, Webb has utilized Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), which are designed for educators to work collaboratively in ongoing processes of collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for the students they serve. PLCs operate under the assumption that the key to improved learning for students is continuous, job-embedded learning for educators.

The Jon Frere Fund for English teacher Kathleen Camp Faculty Development at Webb, endowed by The James C. Meadows Foundation, is designed to defray the cost of enrichment opportunities for returning Webb instructors through subsidizing an educational experience each year. For the 2015-2016 year, Chris Rodriguez, college counselor, attended the Harvard Summer Institute on College Admissions, and Susan Mullen, strings teacher and orchestra director, conducted and taught at the Festival Musical Pacifico in Cobano, Costa Rica.

The Webb School Magazine

“I guess I was given the impression when I first came that a lot was expected of students in the class. Some of the best teachers would have the students read the text themselves and then do the problems. Then they would discuss it – a sort of very independent style. Even though I’m not quite that kind of teacher, I do not want to spoon feed the children.” She added, “I think that that old method goes right along with the new method in the math department that we are investigating, which is this problem-solving method.”

Professional development, growth crucial to success of faculty, staff and students

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Webb launches

Little Feet Club Webb launched its Little Feet Club and Family Fun Zone during reunion.

These new initiatives allow us to include the youngest members of the Webb family and enhance Alumni Reunion as a more family-friendly gathering. Thank you so much to those alumni who attended. It was a very successful event!

Anyone who was unable to make it to reunion but would still like your child or relative to be a member of Little Feet Club, you can register online at live.webbschool.com/little feet.

Little Feet Club membership benefits include:

· Free t-shirt, sticker and bookmark · Annual birthday card from Webb · Mailing list for Summer Camp opportunities and discounts

Summer 2016

Also remember that Webb offers Legacy Scholarships to students who have a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle who attended Webb. Day students are eligible for $1,000 scholarships and boarding students are eligible for $5,000-$10,000 scholarships. Webb currently has more than 30 Legacy students enrolled and is excited that the number is growing. Webb is also considering a boarding summer camp for Summer 2017, which would be a wonderful way to introduce your child to Webb.

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For more information, please contact Julie Harris, director of admissions, at jharris@webbschool.com

Sprin g Ath letics

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• TSSAA All-District Soccer Jarrod Wilson • All-Region Attack 2016 Girls' Lacrosse Katherine McMahan • All-Region Defense 2016 Girls' Lacrosse Lucy Mitchell

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Varsity Baseball Varsity Softball Varsity Boys' Soccer Varsity Girls' Lacrosse Varsity Boys' Basketball Varsity Boys' Soccer Varsity Baseball Middle School Girls' Basketball Varsity Softball Dinner

The Webb School Magazine

• TSSAA All-District Soccer Colin Paffrath

J. Varsity Girls' Lacrosse K. Varsity Girls' Lacrosse L. Middle School Boys' Basketball M. Middle School Golf N. Varsity Boys' Basketball O. Varsity Tennis P. Varsity Tennis Q. Varsity Softball

For more pictures, videos, team rosters and to keep up with scores, please visit the athletics page on www.TheWebbSchool.com Photos by Hunter Norris, Michael Edwards and Jeff Mitchell

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Webb dedicates improvements to Barton Athletic Center weight and cardio rooms, classroom “The Athletic Department has been making a big push to engage our students, faculty and staff about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. These improvements will go a long way in helping to achieve that goal.”

--Director of Athletics Scott Dorsett Members of the Webb community gathered May 18 for an open house and to dedicate improvements to the school’s weight and cardio rooms and classroom.

PAWS and WSPA Presidents Mark Kilpatrick and Melanie Kiser

The goal of the Athletics Department and Parents of Webb School Athletes was to expand the weight room and replace equipment in three phases.

Phase I upgraded the existing facility.

Phase II created a cardio-room with cycles, treadmills and ellipticals, and Phase III replaced equipment.

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“Bringing this vision to fruition would not have been possible without the support of PAWS, Webb School Parents’ Association and other key donors, who jumped at the opportunity to support the project,” said Dorsett. “WSPA became involved in Phase II, along with Dr. Jeffrey Paffrath and Dr. Paul Goco, who made special gifts.” He added, “This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and our students have taken full advantage of the improvements.

I’m delighted to see the Webb community attend the dedication and share in the success of this project.”

The Webb School Magazine

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2016 Alumni Reunion Distinguished Alumni Award

Redmond '66 accepts Distinguished Alumni Award Jorge Redmond ’66, a businessman and entrepreneur in Caracas, Venezuela, was presented the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award during reunion weekend April 29-30. The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves in their careers and in their communities. He was introduced

by Board of Trustee member and classmate Phil Coop ’66.

Summer 2016

“The Distinguished Alumni Award is designed to recognize those of our alums who make the school look good by what they did after they graduated,” said Coop. He added that it does make Webb look good when alums enter “leadership fields and contribute to their communities.”

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Coop explained that Redmond was the class’s only international student, but continued a family tradition by attending Webb.

His grandfather graduated in the teens, his father graduated in 1936 and his uncle in 1937.

“That’s really a Webb legacy – a whole family that has attended Webb and has gone off to contribute to their society.” He added that after college Redmond not only returned to Venezuela to operate the family’s real estate business, but also “turned that existing business into a worldclass chocolate company.” Beyond those achievements, Coop commended Redmond because of the leadership he’s shown in his native Venezuela.”

Jorge Redmond '66 and Phil Coop '66

… helped us out whatever we were doing.” The honoree recalled teachers who challenged and supported him while he was a Webb student.

A native of Caracas, Redmond graduated from the American University in Washington, D.C., with a degree in Business Administration in June of 1971.

He then traveled to Zurich, Switzerland, and worked as an intern portfolio manager at Julius Baer Bank in Zurich from 197172. He returned to Venezuela to start up Organización Cresta, S.A., a company which since has evolved from being a real estate development company into the areas of Cacao Processing, Chocolate Manufacturing, Flower and Cacao Farming as well as other diverse commercial services.

Chocolates El Rey, C.A. and its affiliate companies began as a locally focused company to a highly competitive, quality oriented, international enterprise.

Apart from managing his personal business concerns, Redmond was the Founder and has been President of the Association of Cacao Processors and also served as President of the Venezuelan Chamber of Food Manufacturers Association, the Venezuelan Government’s agro-industrial research center and Venezuelan-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Currently he serves on the boards of Telares Palo Grande, C.A. a private textile company; Venezuelan American Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Pastas Capri, a Venezuelan pasta making concern; the Universidad Metropolitana; FUNDACION Universidad Metropolitana, and he is a member of the Advisory Board of the Conindustria.

Jorge Redmond '66 and his Webb teacher Lucas Boyd “It’s amazing that it’s been He is married to Astrid Horn Redmond, and 50 years,” Redmond told the has two children, Astrid Kristina and Jorge group. “I want to thank you, Phil, and the Board of Trustees Alfredo, both adults and working in the family business. He has for this honor.” In recalling his time at Webb, Redmond said a private pilot’s license and enjoys golf, tennis and snow-skiing as that the Honor Code made an indelible mark on him and other sporting activities. schoolmates. “The honor system at Webb is one of the things that

on

2016 Alumni Reunion Hardin Service Award

Murfree '96 selected to receive 2016 Hardin Service Award Matthias Brickell “Bricke” Murfree IV ’96 of Murfreesboro, the managing member of Murfree & Goodman, PLLC, Attorneysat-Law, received the John B. Hardin Service Award at the 2016 Reunion on April 29-30.

The award is given to recognize and honor those alumni and members of the community who have consistently contributed an exceptional amount of time and talent to Webb and whose efforts benefit students, enhance campus life and reaffirm the commitment of the Webb community to the school. He was introduced by Head of School Ray Broadhead.

“Bricke has given countless hours to Webb serving in many capacities including as a member of the Alumni Board,” said Broadhead. “He was elected to the Webb Board of Trustees in 2008, served two three-year terms and was re-elected in 2015.

During his time on the board he has served on the Executive Committee, Audit and Finance Committee and as the chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee.

building of McClurg Hall. There were many challenges along the way, and Bricke served countless hours as project manager and legal adviser.”

“I just want to thank my family and my Webb family as well,” said Murfree. Webb positioned me in life to be successful, gave me confidence, took chances on me … and those chances certainly paid off in my life.”

Murfree described challenges in his transition to Webb as an eighth grader. “It was pretty hard trying to adjust.” He added that faculty members helped him to succeed.

“As chair of the Building and Grounds Committee, Bricke helped manage one of Webb’s Bricke Murfree '96 and Webb faculty member, Ralph Jones most difficult projects, the

After graduating from Webb, Murfree attended Rhodes College, where he graduated cum laude in 2000. He received his Law Degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 2003. His practice focuses on estate planning, corporate, and real estate law.

He was recognized in the Murfreesboro Magazine’s 2012 Young Guns edition as a young man shaping the future of Tennessee business. He is AV rated by his peers through the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review System and was A rated by Law.com as one of Tennessee’s Top Rated Lawyers in its 2012 and 2013 publications for his work in the areas of business law, estate planning, complex real estate transactions, land use and zoning. He is a frequent speaker on estate and trust matters as well as real estate topics.

Murfree has served on the Board of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, and he was the vice president of the Board of Trustees of Oaklands Historic House (2012 and 2013).

Class of 1996 - Class Party - Front row left to right, Ashley Giles, Anne Bragg Warren, Ellie Lovvorn, Emma Kimbrough, Caroline Lampley, Carrie Carter, Mandy Suttles, Louis Hamric, Harper Hulan, Carl Schmede (Class of 1995), Brick Murfree Back, Luke Nemeth, Manish Sethi, Ben Culbertson, Adam Morgan, Michelle Sorenson

The Webb School Magazine

He is married to Sarah Murfree, and they have a three-year-old daughter Ellen.

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2016 Alumni Reunion

R.L. Williams ’56, Hugh Hunter Byrd ’56 and Pick Stephens ’56 Jackson Wingfield, left, Whit Campbell, Swan Burris, Mike Wolf, Phil Coop, John Callow, Thom Chambliss, Jere Fones, Tom Mitchell, Bill Farris, David Phillips, Cory Hartbarger (guest), Sam Haynes and Jorge Redmond. Also present for the weekend but not at the Saturday night dinner were Don Gallagher and John Vance.

Summer 2016

Jim Gilliland '51 and Bill Rogers

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Ethan Cocanougher '18, Emma Grace Patterson '18 and Noah Johnson '19

Class of 2011 - 5-Year Reunion - Back row left to right, John Dong, George Johnson IV, Justin Lowe, Ben Riggs, Adam Brooks, Matt Steele; Front row, Ellen Williams, Shannon Swartz, Brianna Wofford, Caroline Smith, Emily Coffey Feldbruegge, and Jessie Robinson

Rachel ’01 and Nick '01 Spangler with sons, Collins 3 and Owen 4

Norfleet Anthony ’49 and Ed Davies ’49

2016 Alumni Reunion

Ellen Williams '11, Shannon Swartz '11 and Caroline Smith '11

Dr. Gerald and Pat Martin with Marilyn Morgan, center, parents of alumni

Class of 2006 -- Back row left to right, Riley Rollins, John Roger Roberts, Nick Wisniewski, Alison Jones, Sarah Sutton Osborne, Robert Newman, Mythili Sanikommu, Will Dempsey; Front row, Hunter Bodle, Nikkhil Reddy, Kelsey Lewis, art teacher Mike Quinn

Dr. Chase Spurlock '05 and Larry Nichols, Webb faculty member

The Webb School Magazine

John Gray '49 and Roy Nance '49

Thom Chambliss '66 and Coach Cory Hartbarger

Marty Bartlett '81 and Ellen and John Leavell '81

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Hartbarger continues to compete at high level

By John Callow '66

Add “All-American” to the resume of former Webb athletic director Cory Hartbarger.

Add it three times.

“I had seen something in the Shelbyville paper about Senior Olympics, but I didn’t know anything about it,” Hartbarger recalled while in Bell Buckle for the 2016 Reunion Weekend. “They were going to do a local thing, so I asked the lady who was in charge about it.

“She said, ‘Are you interested?’

“I said, ‘I don’t know. Am I old enough?’ and she said, ‘Yeah,’ and that’s how it started.”

After more than 50 years away from track and field, he went back to the discus, javelin and shot put for district and state competition in 2008.

“In the district I did okay. I won four gold medals in the state competition in 2008,” he said. “I still hold the shot put record for 80-year-olds for the State of Tennessee.”

The state titles earned him a shot at the National Senior Games.

Held in odd-numbered years, the 2009 games were at Stanford University.

“It’s a very collegial thing, but when I went out there, I didn’t know any of these guys,” Hartbarger said. “These guys had been at it awhile. That’s when I won the silver medal (for the shot put). The guy that beat me, Pat Brusca, had just come back from the world tournament where he finished fourth. He beat me by about 3 ¼ inches. He told me later, ‘The only one I was worried about in the shot put was you.’”

Since the Stanford games, Hartbarger has also participated at the national level in 2011 and 2013 and is looking toward the 2017 games to be held in Birmingham.

Summer 2016

“I’ll be throwing as an 89-year-old in June in the state and if I qualify, I’ll go to Birmingham and I’ll be throwing as a 90-year-old.

I’d love to make it when I’m 100,” he said. “But I’ll tell you, God has blessed me so far, so I’m not complaining.”

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Getting to this point for Hartbarger included growing up in Virginia, a first-hand look at the Battle of Okinawa as a very young member of the Navy, a season with the Tarboro A’s in the Class D Coastal Plains League, a stint with the Virginia Highway Patrol (one of his assignments was as a member of the honor guard for Queen Elizabeth II when she visited Williamsburg) and a college career at Northern Michigan University. His alma mater just named him to its Sports Hall of Fame.

“What a fabulous honor, and I cannot be prouder since I was the first Southerner to enroll, and graduate from NMU,” he said. “This

honor goes along with my three All-American honors from the United States Track and Field Association: All-American Senior Master Athlete. The Bible strongly advises against ‘pride’ but I just can't help it.”

In the early 1960s, Hartbarger was teaching and coaching at New Trier High School in Winetka, Ill. (One of his colleagues was Ann Margaret Olsen – yes, that Ann Margaret.)

Alice Hartbarger had been on the building committee for a new Presbyterian church in Winetka with Henry O. Whiteside.

“I got a telephone call one night from Mr. Whiteside,” Hartbarger said. “He said, ‘I want to speak with you and Alice. I’m now going to be the headmaster at (The) Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee.”

“I said, ‘Where in the world is that?’ He tried to explain it to me.”

Whiteside asked Alice to do all the music and teach the lower school while Cory would start a physical education program and head up intramural sports.

“So Alice and I talked it over and prayed about it and decided to come,” Hartbarger recalled.

The couple, their four sons and a German shepherd named Shadow arrived in Bell Buckle in the fall of 1963.

The intramural program started evolving into today’s interscholastic athletic program in 1965 after a student suffered a severe injury playing intramural tackle football.

“I turned to Mr. Whiteside and said, ‘Let’s go to something else.’ So we went to soccer.”

Intramural soccer turned into interscholastic soccer with a homeand-home matchup with Columbia Military Academy.

“We went over there and beat them. Then they came over here, and we beat them again,” he recalled. “We invited them to stay for dinner. They thought that was fabulous.”

As Henry Whiteside prepared to retire in 1970, a decision was made to expand the program to include basketball and baseball and join the TSSAA. Hartbarger registered the team nickname as the Ropers.

“Sawney always said, ‘Don’t let the ropers get you,” he said. “I thought that would be our name, but there were just a few of us that knew what the ropers were. Roy Johnson decided the next year that it would be the Feet. I think they were wise.”

The Hartbargers left Bell Buckle in 1971, but like so many Webb students, Bell Buckle never quite left them.

“We had some great years here,” he said, and after a career with Equitable, they retired to Middle Tennessee.

Huddleston '81

Huddleston’s commitment to Webb extends to estate gift as Burkhead Society member

While the story that William H. “Bill” Huddleston IV tells about how he came to Webb may be slightly suspect -- he considers his experience “one of the best preparatory school educations a student can get.”

“I dropped out of public high school in the middle of my freshman year when they tried to make me square dance in gym class,” said Huddleston with a grin. He is a Murfreesboro, Tenn., native who graduated from Webb in 1981 and whose sister and brother, Ellen Willson and Ben Huddleston, graduated in 1982 and 1985, respectively. “I knew Webb was the best school that would give me the best chance to get into a good college.”

While a student at Webb, Huddleston was a prefect, a varsity basketball player and a member of the Cum Laude Society and National Honor Society. His most memorable school events were winning the district championship in basketball his senior year and the Senior Survival trip. He considers long-tenured math teacher Sandy Truitt his mentor.

Just as important as his rigorous academic preparation, Huddleston said, “Webb taught me to be honest, no matter the situation. Being a prefect encouraged me to respect the difference between right and wrong, and it helped train me to lead by example. Dealing with Webb prefect situations gave me confidence to lead.”

He is a professional engineer and a registered land surveyor and has been President of Huddleston-Steele Engineering, Inc., in Murfreesboro since 1994. “We design subdivisions and site plans on residential, commercial, and industrial developments for public and private developers.”

One of the best testaments of his confidence in Webb was enrolling his children -- triplets Candler, Grace and Will -- at Webb as sixth graders. “My three children graduated from Webb in 2012. They found themselves wellprepared for college. They understand the importance of dedicating the time to study, and they have learned how to study.”

Another example of Huddleston’s strong connection to Webb and its mission is his commitment as a member of the Burkhead Society. The Society is a group of Webb alumni and friends who have made provisions for Webb in their estate plans.

“Estate and trust gifts are vital to sustain Webb because the school cannot survive financially from tuition alone. I know that a gift to Webb after I die will be used for a good cause, providing one of the best preparatory school educations a student can get.”

As campaign co-chair, Huddleston is excited about the campaign’s success and the completion of the Residential Village but continues to consider Webb's future.

“The new dorms should attract more and even better boarding students, and the new student center is more suitably located to be enjoyed by boarding and day students. Buildings and grounds at Webb have been improved tremendously. I hope Webb can continue to improve its college admissions by attracting the best students who are well-rounded individuals.”

Huddleston and his wife, Laurie, reside in Franklin County, Tenn.

1984 in Manchester, New Hampshire, at the New England Division I Championships, which Bill won.

The Webb School Magazine

After graduation, he enrolled at Yale University with his career goal in focus. “I always knew I would be a Civil Engineer and Land Surveyor.” Huddleston graduated in 1985 with a B.S. degree in engineering mechanics. He was named an AllAmerican in 1984 as a member of Yale’s golf team. He was also named to the All-Ivy League and All-New England golf teams three times.

Huddleston earned a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering at Vanderbilt University in 1986.

The alum began his service to Webb as a student trustee on the Board of Trustees in 1985. He was elected as a trustee in 2001 and was re-elected in 2010 and again in 2013. He is chair of the Development Committee and co-chair of the $10 million Moving Our Tradition Forward Campaign. The campaign is in its final stage and was recently celebrated with the dedication of the new Residential Village that includes two dorms and a student center. He previously served the board as vice chair.

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Class Notes 1950s Noble Pace ’59, Slidell, La., writes: “Fred Silverstein ’59 and his wife were recently here. Fred and I, along with John Faires ’59, had lunch April 14 in the Big Easy at Acme Oyster Bar.” Noble Pace ’59, Fred Silverstein ’59, and John Faires ’59

Remembering Wayne Rogers, a class of 1950 Graduate and Trustee Emeritus On April 29 during The Webb School Board of Trustees meeting, a special luncheon was hosted at the William Bond Library on campus to remember Wayne Rogers, a Class of 1950 Graduate and Trustee Emeritus. Amy Rogers attended this special tribute for her husband along with his son, Bill Rogers, who spoke during the luncheon.

“I could tell you that my father loved Webb, but that would be an understatement and really not even come close to delivering the impact that Webb had on him,” said Bill Rogers. “My father was incredibly passionate about Webb – all in, all about Webb, all the time.” He added, “After my father graduated from Webb he went on to Princeton, and you would think Princeton would bear considerable mention when my father was discussing his education. But time and time again, it was Webb that was on his mind, not Princeton.

Summer 2016

“… he insisted that it was at Webb that he grew up, learned to take responsibility for his actions, learned how to interact appropriately with those around him, developed his immense work ethic and generally transformed into the wonderful man that we all loved.”

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Rogers recounted his time as a student at The Webb Schools in Claremont, Calif., that he said mirrored the principles of The Webb School in Bell Buckle. “Like my father, I feel like the time I spent at Webb was transformative.”

He noted that Wayne was passionate in his support of Webb, and “we know those gifts will continue to reap rewards for years to come, enhancing the academic and social experience for numerous students … .”

“In maintaining my father’s ethos, I appeal to every one of you – never be satisfied; never rest on your laurels. Webb is a truly special place and with continued excellence in leadership, faculty and throughout the student body, Webb will continue to be at the forefront of American education.”

Trustees and close friends attended the luncheon that included remembrances of his time at Webb as a student and trustee.

The establishment of the Wayne M. Rogers Matching Scholarship Fund was also recalled.

The scholarship was established in 1997

by Wayne Rogers as a matching fund to others. In 2015, the fund became the first fully endowed boarding tuition merit scholarship.

Among those speaking were George Pine ’68, Jim Gilliland ’51, Phil Coop ’66, Hugh Hunter Byrd ’56, Drew Carrington ’83, George Huddleston Jr. ’76 and Charles Alexander ’68.

Pine closed saying, “I know everybody had a place they could be today, some other commitment they had in their lives, but you chose to be here. So, on behalf of Amy and Bill, thank you all for being here and sharing some great stories about our good friend Wayne Rogers.”

Student will benefit this fall from scholarship in memory of the Rev. Nathaniel Long The Rev. Nathaniel Long’s vision for a Class of 1956 scholarship will come to fruition. The scholarship named The Rev. Nathaniel Long, Class of 1956, Memorial Scholarship in his memory will be presented to a student this fall.

Members of the Class of 1956, his widow, Mary Catherine Long, and others in the Webb community attended a reception in the Jr. Room on April 29 during the 2016 Reunion to commemorate completion of the endowed fund.

Long, a longtime United Methodist minister, mentioned a class scholarship at the 50th class reunion, but he died several days after the reunion. The campaign to establish the class scholarship in his memory was led by three classmates, Steve Herring, Raford Hulan and Bill Lassiter, and Mrs. Long.

Speaking at the reception, Director of Alumni and Development Matt Wilson said, “A love for Webb and a love for Rev. Long led class members to re-energize and finish this scholarship.” He added,

“Members of the class of ’56 have been very generous, and it has been a treat for me to be able to spend time with them as part of this effort. Their stories and memories of Nat are special, and Webb is fortunate to be the recipient of their support.

Nat’s story and this scholarship will inspire Webb families for years to come.”

“We grew up with him and saw him mature,” said Lassiter during the reception. “He was the epitome of friendship. Nat is still with us. He is with us on this campus, and he’s still in our hearts.”

Mrs. Long spoke of her husband’s strong connection to Webb and continued to be grateful for the education that he received as a scholarship student. “The family and I are grateful to accomplish this goal with the inclusion of gifts previously given. The establishment of this scholarship is such a loving tribute … it will outlive all of us.”

1960s

Director of Alumni and Development Matt Wilson, Allen Tate Wood and Collin Jones ’18

Allen Tate Wood ’66, author, educator and consultant on thought reform and the psychology of the cult phenomenon, recently spoke to students in upper school seminar. His topic was “Addict, Idol and Cult Member: Reflections on The Loss of Self.”

Wood worked with felons who had problems with addiction for 16 years in California in county jails, state prison and probation and parole offices. He also worked in private treatment centers in Texas and for eight years as a counselor for a Drug Court in New Hampshire.

1970s Fred Alexander ’70, Decaturville, Tenn., writes: “Had a surprise visit Friday from Chap Adkins ’70 and his wife, Diane. He is retired from American Airlines, and they are residing in Florida.”

The Webb School Magazine

Michael Wolf ’66, Baton Rouge, La., writes: “It might interest some alumni to know that in July I was admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia, and that in August I finished selfpublication (through Amazon) of a short introduction to Buddhist thought called A Summary of Buddhadharma. I’m progressing slowly toward admission to the New York Bar and a greater capacity to imbibe the spirits of the Hudson Valley."

Chap Adkins ’70 left, and Fred Alexander ’70

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Johnson describes writing, publishing first novel Julia Claiborne Johnson’s (1977) first novel Be Frank With Me, published in February by William Morrow/HarperCollins, quickly landed on the Los Angeles Times bestseller list, was named a Best Book of February on Amazon, appeared in the People magazine “Picks” section under the rubric of Best New Books and was chosen as one of a handful of titles—called “IndieNext”—that independent bookstores select each month to recommend to their customers. She has appeared at the Oxford Conference on the Book, the San Antonio Literary Festival and The Los Angeles Festival of Books, and has read in cities as varied as Chicago, Albany, NY, and Washington, DC. When she appeared at Parnassus Books in Nashville, several Webb schoolmates attended her reading and signing. In June she described writing the novel and her life since its publication.

Summer 2016

“I wrote this book in secret, because it seemed sort of embarrassing to be writing a novel. I mean, I was a fifty-year-old woman when I started it, and a fiftyyear-old woman who’d never tried to write a book in her life.The first draft took me three years. I finished writing it one night at 11 p.m. After I typed “The End,” I got it in my head to look up the name of my favorite writer’s agent. My favorite book is Bel Canto,

by Ann Patchett who, as it turns out, owns Parnassus Books in Nashville. I found the agent’s name, Lisa, at a fancy agency in NYC. I wrote Lisa an email and went to bed. The next morning, I woke up and was hustling the kids together for school. I checked my phone around 6 a.m. and saw that Lisa had written me back, saying that she wanted to see my manuscript. After I’d gotten the kids off to school, I called her and explained that I’d never expected to hear back so quickly, that I’d finished the manuscript the night before and that it was a first draft and full of typos. She said, “I don’t care. I want to see it anyway.” I sent it. A week later she took me as a client and said, “I’m sending it out tomorrow” – eight days after I’d finished that first draft. “Buckle your seatbelts,” Lisa said. “It’s going to sell in a week.” It didn’t, which was hard then but good in the long run, because it was a first draft, and a lot needed to be worked out. The revision took me two years. The kids were in middle school at the time, and, I had to take summers off to be with them. I worked on it when I could. And guess what? When I finished rewriting it, Lisa did sell it in a week. Now that it’s all behind me, it seems so effortless. I guess it’s like childbirth in that way.”

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“In case you’re wondering, yes, it’s completely bizarre to have your first novel not just bought by the same house that published Harper Lee, but to have my book received with such enthusiasm.

When I was appearing at a Books-a-Million in Birmingham, where my novel was the President’s Pick, one of the employees there had to explain to me what a big deal that was. She told me that the Books-a-Million president only picks a book for that honor when he feels like it. I think the last one he picked was All the Light We Cannot See. I was already pretty flattered to have been chosen, but after she explained what a rare honor I’d been given— well, all I could think was, Wow.” “I had dinner with a friend last night who said she’d posted something about my book on

her Facebook page, and more than one of her friends, who live in wildly different parts of our country, wrote to her to say, ‘You’re her friend? We just read her book in our book club!’ AND I DON’T KNOW THESE PEOPLE. Can you imagine? I worked on this book holed up in my room for so many years, wondering if it was a big fat embarrassing waste of time. I was just at Parnassus Books in Nashville for a reading, wandering the store aisles after everyone had left and I stumbled onto my book in alphabetical order on the fiction shelves. I actually gasped. It was the first time I’d seen it in the wild. Just there, on the shelf, with other books, some old, some new. I could have died happy right then.”

And let me say this: Thank heavens for independent bookstores.

One very wise man I know, John Evans, who runs Diesel Books out here in California, says that the online chains offer you the books you know you want to read, whereas the independent booksellers introduce you to the books you don’t realize yet that you want to read until the booksellers recommend them to you.

I’ve gotten photographs from all over the country that my friends have taken, with my book tagged with “staff picks,” and why whatever staffer selected mine thinks people will love it. I don’t know most of those booksellers personally, but I do know that I love them.”

“Here are some differences in what life is like now that my book is published: I leave my desk sometimes, and talk to people. I am treated with deference by people who have read my book and liked it. Creepy ex-boyfriends have sent me messages saying that they miss me, even though I haven’t seen them in 30 years and hope to never see them again. Okay, just one creepy ex-boyfriend.

But still.”

“Nobody has asked me for a loan yet but that’s probably because they realize that the money I made, stretched out over the 6 years it took me to write it, is roughly equivalent to what I could have made working as a checkout girl in the grocery store.”

Left to right, Moe Hill ’75, Jane Sevier ’74, Julia Johnson ’77, Carolyne Brinson Haddon ’77 and Deborah Roberts Horst ’75.

(The author, nicknamed Julie, grew up on a farm in Shelbyville. Her father, Alsey Johnson, taught English and French at Webb in the mid-1970s. Her sister Jane Sevier – also an author – and brother John Johnson both attended Webb, graduating in 1974 and 1975, respectively.

Johnson worked at Mademoiselle and Glamour magazines before marrying and moving to Los Angeles, where she lives with her comedy-writer husband and their two children.)

1970s

Mary Lynne Walker ’75, Bell Buckle, Tenn., writes: “I have opened a bed & breakfast in Bell Buckle, Tenn. – Walker Inn Bell Buckle. Hope everyone will check us out when visiting Bell Buckle. I'm so excited to offer these accommodations for The Webb School and the Bell Buckle community.”

1980s Charles Goodman ’87 Charles continues to teach physics at Pitt Community College in Greenville, N.C. He volunteers to mentor a local astronomy club.

Irvin Ashford Jr. ’87 recently received a Dallas Business Journal 2016 Minority Business Leader Award. He is senior vice president of corporate and public affairs, director of community development and external affairs for Comerica Bank.

James Anderson ’89, Bell Buckle, Tenn., has been a financial advisor for 18 years. In September 2014, James (’89) and Julie (’90) opened Anderson Asset Management in downtown Bell Buckle on the “square” in the building that used to house the Welcome Corner. In the capacity of Principal, James is a Certified Financial Planner and Senior Financial Advisor. Julie earned her Series 7 license earlier in the year and serves as Office Administrator. James and Julie are very glad to be working together and being so close to home (two blocks!) They encourage any alumni to stop by and say hello.

1990s John Goodman ’90, Murfreesboro, Tenn., a partner in Red Realty in Murfreesboro, is active in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Courtney Donaldson Davis ’94, Auburn, Ala., writes: “Remarried November 12, 2013, to John I. Davis. Together we run an Auburn-based communications and security company (Computer Communications, Inc.).”

Bettine Langhorst Gude ’98, Germany, writes: “We welcomed our third son, Theo, this year and are looking forward to 2016 as a large family. All the best to Webb in 2016!”

Nora Goodman Walsh ’99 enjoys teaching chemistry at Reitz High School in Evansville, Ind. Erica Wright ’99 was guest speaker at the Cum Laude Society ceremony on April 26. She also signed books at a reception in the Bond Library. Wright's latest crime novel The Granite Moth was called “brisk, dark, slinky” by USA Today. Her debut, The Red Chameleon, was one of O, The Oprah Magazine's Best Books of Summer 2014. She is also the author of the poetry collection Instructions for Killing the Jackal, and her new collection All the Bayou Stories End with Drowned will be published in 2017. She is the poetry editor at Guernica Magazine as well as an editorial board member for Alice James Books. She has taught creative writing at Marymount Manhattan College and New York University's continuing studies program. She grew up in Wartrace, Tenn., and received her B.A. from New York University and Erica Wright ’99 and Head of School Ray her M.F.A. from Columbia Broadhead University.

Courtney Hall Allen ’99 writes, “Having grown up in a restaurant, I have been around food my entire life. Where, for some, that might be enough to make them run away from the industry; I found I missed it. After the holidays, and the many requests I had for baked goods, my husband and I joked about the possibility of opening a bakery. Then, after some thought, what is so funny about that idea? Lillian’s Sweet Cakes is the result. Named for my daughter, the business is still in infancy. I operate out of my home. When Mrs. Lea Anne Windham placed an order for Valentine’s Day, I was elated. In April, Mrs. Sandra Truitt requested that Lillian’s Sweet Cakes provide the cookies for the reception following the induction ceremony for the new members of the Cum Laude Society, and the speech by a very dear friend and fellow alum, Ms. Erica Wright. I was honored. In the future, my husband I hope to expand the business into a store front. We are on Facebook, www. facebook.com/Lillianssweetcakes, and are currently developing a Courtney Allen ’99 with daughter Lillian website.”

The Webb School Magazine

Cannon Loughry ’90, Murfreesboro, Tenn., was named chief operating officer early this year by TwelveStone Health Partners, a leader in providing patient support in the post-acute care environment including pharmacy and a wide range of medical supplies and services. Loughry is responsible for developing corporate strategy and encouraging process optimization across all divisions of the medical service and pharmacy company. Prior to being named chief operating officer, Loughry was the vice president of information services for TwelveStone’s predecessor company, Reeves-

Sain Family of Medical Services. He joined the organization in 2012 from Microsoft, where he was a healthcare technology strategist for Microsoft’s healthcare industry accounts in Tennessee for four years.

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Lt. Cmdr. Alan A. Patterson '96 Clay Target Complex dedicated The Lt. Cmdr. Alan A. Patterson ’96 Clay Target Complex was dedicated in the memory of Alan by his family during reunion on April 30.

Joining Alan’s parents, Drs. Phillip and Teresa Patterson, at the ceremony were Alan’s daughter, Emma-Grace Patterson ’18; brother, Joey Patterson ’99; sisters, Melissa Garner and Jessica Bridges, and niece, Andrina Bridges.

His brothers, Phillip and Craig ’98, could not attend.

Approximately 75 people were present for the ceremony, including a number of the Patterson family’s friends.

The Patterson Family

Among those speaking at the ceremony were L.R. Smith, longtime trap and skeet program head coach and adviser, who provided the history of the program and has been instrumental in maintaining it since 1978. He noted the Pattersons’ support of the program through the years, Dr. Patterson’s help with Webb’s shooting team this year and added, “We truly appreciate the Patterson Family for endowing this field. We are just so proud to be able to dedicate this to Alan’s memory.” Smith also thanked Antonio Valiente ’01, who donated new trap machines, Alumni and Development Director Matt Wilson, assistant coach, and others who have supported the program since its inception.

Summer 2016

2000s

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Lindsey Fournier ’01, Murfreesboro, Tenn., recently won the inaugural Athena Young Professional Leadership Award in Rutherford County.

The announcement was made at the Rutherford Cable banquet in April. The award criteria include excelling in a profession, Lindsey Fournier '01 with daughter Amelia serving the community and Photo courtesy of The Daily News Journal being a role model for young women. Fournier is Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation development coordinator and was nominated by Cable.

Ted Goodman ’02, Murfreesboro, Tenn., is a partner in the law firm of Murfree and Goodman with fellow Webb alumnus, Bricke Murfree ’96.

Buck Smith, who is completing this first year teaching at Webb and has served as head coach, noted that Webb will return to Scholastic Clay Target Program competitive shooting this summer. He also discussed the characteristics young people develop in a shooting program – the ability to work hard, perseverance, attention to detail and responsibility. “It’s just so wonderful that this field is being dedicated in the name of someone who exemplifies all those traits so well.”

Dr. Patterson introduced family members and friends in attendance and talked about the interest and importance of shooting to his family. In addition to shooting with family members and at Webb, he told those in attendance that Alan shot at the U.S. Naval Academy all four years and was recognized as a high-scoring team member.

Family members took turns shooting, and Dr. Patterson closed by saying, “The field is officially open ... . I know Alan would be proud.

He really enjoyed the sport.”

Lt. Cmdr. Alan A. Patterson, 34, died on March 11, 2013, when his EA-6B Prowler Naval Aircraft crashed during a training flight.

Carolyn Goodman Henn ’06, graduated from U.T. Memphis in May as a Nurse Practitioner with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.

Susanna Sells, ’06, Shelbyville, Tenn., writes: “I graduated from Belmont University College of Law and passed the Tennessee Bar Exam in 2015.”

Shannon Swartz ’11, Murfreesboro, Tenn., writes: “Graduated from Saint Mary’s College of Notre Dame, Ind., with a B.A. in Communicative Sciences & Disorders (class of 2015). Currently attending UT in Knoxville for an M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology.”

Ellen Williams ’11, Murfreesboro, Tenn., writes: “Graduated from Middle Tennessee State University School of Nursing in May 2016.”

Obituaries

Following are annotated obituaries of alumni who have passed away. To view the announcements in their entirety, visit www.thewebbschool.com/ alumni/alumni-home. The Webb School publishes obituaries as they are received from family and friends of alumni. Please submit notices to a_dwebb@webbschool.com. (School photos are included when available.)

1930s

1940s

Andrew Glaze '38, Birmingham, Ala. Poet and playwright Andrew L. Glaze ’38 died Feb. 7, 2016, at age 95. He was named Poet Laureate of Alabama in 2013.

Howard B. “Buddy” Shofner, Jr. ’40, Murfreesboro, Tenn., died on April 29, 2016 at the Christian Care Nursing Home in Shelbyville, Tenn. A graveside service was held on May 7 at the family cemetery at Shofner Lutheran Chapel.

Shelbyville Times-Gazette Daniel Ernest Jackson, Jr. ’47 age 87 of Sun City Center, Fla., passed away Jan. 11, 2016. A memorial service was held Feb. 6 at Saint John the Divine Episcopal Church, Sun City Center.

Robert (Bob) Lee Felts ’48, Visalia, Calif., died Dec. 27, 2015. A memorial service was held on Jan. 16, 2016, at Visalia First Christian Church.

Published in Visalia Times-Delta & Tulare Advance

Jerry B. Holden ’53, Chesapeake, Va., 80, passed away peacefully on Oct. 31, 2015, in his home. The funeral was Nov. 5 with interment in Arlington National Cemetery.

Published in The Virginian Pilot George C. Jones III ’53, age 81, of Vero Beach, Fla. passed away March 3, 2016. Graveside services were March 10 at Sandy Springs Chapel, Sandy Springs, Ga. Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Edward Bowlin Maupin III ’58, age 75, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., passed away on Feb. 4, 2016. Graveside services were Feb. at Jenkins Chapel Cemetery in Bedford County.

1960s

1970s

Thomas “T.J.” James Ladet ’70, age 64, of Canton, N.C., passed away Monday, Dec. 21, 2015.

William W. Rucks III ’49, Lafayette, La., died March 7, 2016, at his residence. Funeral services were held March 9, 2016, at a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary, Mother of the Church, Catholic Church.

Alden Hitchcock Smith, Jr. ’49, Nashville, Tenn., age 84, died on Feb. 25, 2016. Graveside services were held at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Published in Tennessean Doak Matthews Worley, ’49, Point Venture, Texas, died March 23, 2016.

Lt. Col. Webb F. Banks (USAF RET.) ’50, of Brownsville, Tenn., passed away April 11, 2016, in Tennessee State Veterans Home in Humboldt, Tenn.

Funeral services were April 14, 2016, at the Brownsville First United Methodist Church.

Wayne Rogers ’50, Los Angeles, Calif., died Dec. 31, 2015. He was 82. The actor was surrounded by family when he died in Los Angeles. (Read more on page 34.)

Stuart Jones, Sr. ’71, age 63, of Pine Bluff, Ark., passed away March 17, 2016. Funeral services were March 21, 2016, at Lakeside United Methodist Church, with a private burial.

Jack Coop ’73, age 60, of Shelbyville, Tenn., passed away April 1, 2016. A Celebration of Life Service was April 5, 2016, at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with burial in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.

Shelbyville Times-Gazette

1980s

Camillus Brennus Huggins V, ’80, Roanoke, Va., passed away on Feb. 15, 2016. A graveside service was held at Evergreen Cemetery in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Helen Henry Spence ’82, Powder Springs, Ga., died peacefully on Jan. 31, 2016, in Marietta, Ga. A celebration of Helen’s life was held at the Log Cabin Community Church, Smyrna, Ga.

2000s

Christian Angelo Lapid ’14 died Feb. 4, 2016. A funeral service was held Feb. 13 at Affinity Funeral Service. There was a private burial.

The Webb School Magazine

1950s

Louis D Hamric II ’67, Olive Branch, Miss., passed away peacefully on Jan. 19 2016. Funeral services were Jan. 23 at Memorial Park Funeral Home with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Published in The Commercial Appeal

39

The Webb School BELL BUCKLE

Post Office Box 488 Bell Buckle, TN 37020 Address Service Requested

Don’t ever be a spectator.

Take a hand in the game.

In celebration of Sawney Webb’s 174th Birthday, make a gift in support of our Webb community.

WSPA Belles and Buckles Gala

SAVE THE DATE FEBRUARY 3, 2017

Summer 2016

The Webb School Parents' Association would like to thank all those who made the 20152016 Belles and Buckles Gala a success - our sponsors, donors, volunteers and guests! We hope to see you at our next gala.

40

WEBB GIVE DAY

11.11.16

#WebbGives #HappyBirthdaySawney To serve as a Webb Give Day Ambassador, contact Meredith Hilleary, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations.

mhilleary@webbschool.com or 931-389-5769

for more information, please visit the website: www.thewebbschool.com/alumni-home/index.aspx