KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

It was an evening of commemoration as friends, family and colleagues filled the room at the Tullahoma City Schools Administration Building to celebrate and honor the 25^th Clyde W. Smith Jr. Leadership Award recipient: John Rickman.

The school board held a celebration reception for Rickman prior to its October meeting at the administration building at 510 S. Jackson St. The award, named for the former TCS chairman Clyde W. Smith Jr. who died in 2010, recognizes individuals in the Tullahoma City Schools family with strong ties to the community and its education.

School board chairman Kim Uselton gave the brief history of the creation of the award and the other 24 recipients, who ranged from secretaries to teachers to administrators.

“These individuals have impacted thousands of lives from their service in education,” Uselton said. “The Tullahoma Board of Education is excited about celebrating yet another incredible educator who will be this year’s Clyde W. Smith Jr. Leadership Award recipient: Mr. John Robison Rickman.”

School board member Pat Welsh spoke next at the podium to share some background on Rickman. Born and raised in Chapel Hill by his parents Ike and Kat, Welsh said Rickman made great effort to become “an apple in Kat’s eyes” but said he and his brother tied for distant third, with his sister Mary Johns and her cousin, which was met with laughter from attendees. Welsh also shared during high school Rickman was also in a band, as well as being part of the trio us two and him, who have appeared on the Grand Ole Opry over 60 times on 650 AM WSM.

“It’s important to note that our recipient is a talented songwriter, writing much material for us two and him,” Welsh said.

Welsh said most of the songs written were about life in Chapel Hill but his favorite song is about outhouses, sharing his favorite lyric from “Interstate is Comin’ Thru My Outhouse” which was “they’ll bring a big steamroller and flatten my two holder,” which was again met with laughter from the audience. He added that Rickman “provided 40% of the talent” for the segment on Tullahoma Living called “Conversations with John and Pat” on LightTube

Welsh then talked about Rickman’s career in education, where Rickman began teaching at Tullahoma City Schools in 1969 where he was a physical education instructor at East Middle School (formerly East Junior High School). Welsh said Rickman was the head coach the boys and girls basketball teams for many years, leading the teams to successful seasons. He also coached the East track and field squads. As track and field coach, Rickman helped lead the Panthers to over a 20-year stretch where they did not lose a meet. Welsh said it was important to know that Rickman has been a member of Grace Baptist Church for over 50 years, where he is a long-time deacon, Sunday school teacher and member of the choir.

“Finally, and most importantly, our most noteworthy recipient of the 2024 Clyde Smith Award is my friend,” Welsh said.

After a standing ovation from attendees, Rickman thanked Welsh, and said it was humbling to join the other 24 recipients.

Rickman said throughout his career, he was surrounded by many gifted and dedicated educators, and praised all the principals he worked under right up to retirement.

“Young men and women go into teaching for a variety of reasons, for me I felt a calling,” Rickman said.

Rickman then shared some of his friends and family who helped influence him to getting into education, noting his greatest influence was his high school coach, Norman Henson.

“He had a profound impact on my career,” Rickman said.

Rickman also highlighted several members of his family, including his wife and daughter, who either have also have been or are currently working in the field of education. He said he was grateful for the honor and thanked his family, friends and former students. He then asked his former student David Cleveland to share a story. Cleveland recalled when he was in ninth grade, Rickman was showing him and a group of students a track event where Rickman told them not to touch the pole vault pole while he was gone.

“I looked around, no coach, and I ran down, cleared the bar and as soon as I hit the foam I heard somebody holler ‘Cleveland!’” he said. “Coach was coming across that field with that look and I knew I was in for it.”

Cleveland said Rickman told him not to touch the pole vault pole, and Cleveland said he knew but he wanted to. He said Rickman’s asked him how high get got when he did the jump.

“I was trembling and said ‘I don’t know.’ I heard he gave pretty hard whippings,” Cleveland recalled. “He told me ‘You got the choice: you can take three licks or join the track team.’ I said ‘Sign me up my baseball career is over!’”

Cleveland said Rickman influenced his life, as by the end of his senior year he set the record for every meet he was in, was a high school All American and went on to accomplish other accolades during his time at MTSU. Cleveland said he felt he owed Rickman for part of his college education, so he said made wagers when they go play golf together, and let him win to pay him back, which was met with laughter and applause.

“As a former student, there is no greater man, greater coach and now greater friend than Coach Rickman,” Cleveland said.

Rickman said he didn’t know he was going to ask Cleveland to speak, but said it felt right.

Getting back on track, Rickman reiterated that education has been around his family and friends, and said he was 22-years-old when he made his way to Tullahoma and raised his family in the city.

“Never had regrets, Tullahoma has been good to us,” Rickman said as he held back tears. “It’s been a privilege to teach and coach in a great school system.”

Rickman said to be presented with the Clyde W. Smith Jr. Leadership Award was very nice, he loved everyone there and thanked them again. Members of the school board and the audience gave Rickman one more standing ovation as he returned to his seat.

After a standing ovation from those in attendance, Uselton said three members of the board, including herself, had Rickman as a teacher and coach, and seeing him and his family there was wonderful.

“We are so happy to get to celebrate you, and it’s so wonderful to see all of your family to celebrate you too,” she said.