KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

The Tullahoma Utilities Authority (TUA) recently honored five former employees with a memorial tree-planting dedication ceremony on its campus at 901 S. Jackson St.

The honorees this year were Pat Garringer, Curtis McEwen, Edgar Holt, Charlie Liggett and Joe Loggins. In attendance were family members Nancy Liggett Loudermilk and Lucretia Loggins Campbell, Mayor Ray Knowis and City Forrester Lyle Russell. Also in attendance were TUA Vice President of Administration & CFO Jason Penny, TUA Vice President of the Electric & Fiber Department and incoming President Allen Potter and TUA Vice President of the Water/Wastewater Department Scott Young.

According to TUA Communications Specialist Chris Barstad, TUA’s Memorial Tree program began in 2003 and the utility has honored 37 past employees and board members for their contributions to not only TUA, but to the city of Tullahoma.

“This program started as a way to honor past employees and board members, while at the same time helping to beautify our city and enhance our tree canopy, as trees provide not only a beautiful landscape, but many health benefits to our residents and environment,” Barstad said. “In this case, they also help us honor and remember loved ones, friends and co-workers.”

The first honoree was Pat Garringer with a Little Gem Magnolia tree planted at the Waste Water Treatment Plant. According to Barstad, Garringer retired from TUA in 1987 as an accountant, and started with the utility while it was called the Tullahoma Power System (TPS).

“Pat started while we were still Tullahoma Power System, located downtown, and was one of the ones who made the move to 901 South Jackson,” Barstad said.

He shared comments from former employees of Garringer who described her as easy to work with, loved her job and continued to push herself to come to work as her health was began to fail.

The second memorial tree honoree was Curtis McEwen, who also received a Little Gem Magnolia planted at the Waste Water Treatment Plant. McEwen was a meter reader who joined the water department at TPS after the city placed the water system under the control of TPS, which inevitably led to the creation of the Tullahoma Utilities Board (TUB) which would become the TUA.

The third memorial tree honoree was Edgar Holt, who was also honored with a Little Gem Magnolia planted at the Waste Water Treatment Plant. Barstad said Edgar worked at the original Wastewater Plant for TUA and was a wastewater plant operator and sludge truck driver. Edgar passed away while on duty at the wastewater plant in the early 1980’s.

The fourth honoree was Charlie Liggett, who received an American Hophornbeam planted at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Liggett served on the Board of Directors from 1994 to 1995, and was an avid supporter of his community. Liggett was active in youth athletics on multiple levels including coaching Little League, Babe Ruth and American Legion Baseball. He also was an assistant coach with Motlow State Community College’s softball and baseball teams. Outside of sports Liggett was active with the Children’s Advocacy Center, where he coordinated fundraising efforts, as well as being active with First Presbyterian Church’s youth outreach in Tullahoma, rotary, Priest Lake Presbyterian’s Appalachian Ministry and volunteering at Good Samaritan.

“The one main theme to anyone who knew Charlie was his interest in children,” Barstad said.

In attendance was Liggett’s daughter Nancy Liggett Loudermilk, who

The last memorial tree honoree was Joe Loggins, who was honored with a Willow Oak planted on the TUA main office grounds. Loggins was a General Manager of the then TUB for 21 years until his retirement in 2006. Loggins was an active member at Welsey Heights United Methodist Church and a rotarian. Barstad said Loggins spent much of his retirement researching property in Cumberland Furnace and promoting the preservation of the area’s history.

“(Loggins) became General Manager at a time when TUB was struggling financially and through his meticulous guidance delivered TUB to financial strength and set the standard on how to conduct business and how to set priorities,” Barstad said.

Barstad welcomed Young to speak, which he said had the chance to work with all of the honorees, given his over four decade career with TUA. Young shared brief stories of each honoree ranging from talks in the hallway to directly working with them.

“It’s really great to honor all of these people with a tree,” Young said. “Hopefully we’ll do this again and honor more in the future.”

Potter followed Young and said the memorial tree program was not just a way for TUA to honor the memory of past employees and board members, it was an opportunity to cultivate a legacy of sustainability and beauty for generations to come.

“Each tree planted serves as a living tribute, a testament to the lives we celebrate and the impact they had on our community and TUA,” Potter said. “As each tree takes root and flourish they become a living legacy, reminding us to cherish the moments we share and nurture the world around us. May these trees stand as monuments to the past, beacons of hope for the future and symbols of your love for those who left us and never will be forgotten.”

The memorial tree plaques in the lobby of TUA that will have the names of our recipients added to the list. The plaques will be in the TUA lobby where they will remain on display for all customers and employees to see.