Significant Sigs from Beta Sigma Chapter
The General Fraternity’s highest honor for outstanding achievements in the profession. Throught 2019: The 23 Honorees from UT’s Beta Sigma Chapter (and Year that their Significant Sig Award (SSA) was earned):
Tim Burchett, '86: Tim has a long history of service in the state of Tennessee: U.S. Representative for the state's 2nd congressional district, 2019 - Present; Knox County Mayor, 2010 – 2018; Member of the state Senate (7th district) 1999 - 2010; Member of the state House of Representatives (18th district) 1995 – 99. (Year earned: 2019).
Hon. Timothy E. Irwin, '81: Tim played offensive tackle for UT's football team, earning All-SEC and Academic All-American honors in 1980. Tim played for UT head coach Johnny Majors, '57, another Significant Sig from Beta Sigma (See below). Tim was a stand-out lineman in the NFL for 14 years, mostly with the Minnesota Vikings (1981 - 1993). Tim serves as Judge of the the Juvenile Court for Knox County since 2005. (Year Earned: 1992).
Lee Carter, ' 79: Lee is owner of the Carter Group, a Nashville-based construction firm licensed in 22 states. In response to Carter Group’s growth, the Nashville Business Journal awarded the company with its Fast 50 Award. Lee also is founder and partner of Summit Constructors. (2019).
Kem Hinton FAIA, '77: Kem is a founding partner and now Principal in Tuck-Hinton Architecture & Design. (His partner Seab Tuck, Auburn '75, was also named a Signficant Sig in 2014). Established in 1984 in Nashville, the firm has become one of the most highly respected design studios in the region. Kem was named a Fellow, American Institute of Architects. (2014).
James A. "Jimmy" Haslam III, '76: While at UT, Jimmy was roommates with Bob Corker, '74, now a U.S. Senator who was named a Significant Sig in 2003. Jimmy is CEO of the Pilot Flying J truck stop chain; and current majority owner of the NFL's Cleveland Browns. (2011). Jimmy's father Jim Haslam, '52 (see info below), and younger brother Bill Haslam, Emory '80, are also a Significant Sigs. Bill served as Governor of Tennessee (2011 - 2019), and as mayor of Knoxville (2003 - 2011), in addition to his role in the 1990s as President of family business Pilot Corp.
Ron Harr, '76: From 2002 to 2011, Ron was CEO of Volunteer State Health Plan (VSHP), the largest subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, with more than 700 employees and $1 billion in revenues. After VSHP, Harr became president of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce. In 2014, the Chattanooga Times Free Press named him that year’s Best Chattanoogan. (2016).
Kenneth A. Cutshaw, '75: Ken served two roles in the U.S. Commerce Department: Deputy Assistant Secretary (under Pres. George H.W. Bush), and a Chief of Staff (Pres. Ronald Reagan). Ken was a partner of the Holland & Knight law firm where he focused on international transactions. He was the legal counsel for the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville. He also served as EVP for international and chief legal officer for Church’s Chicken. His next role: the President and Chief Legal Officer of Quiznos International restaurants (2012 - )
Scott Parks LeTellier, '75: Longtime sports-organization executive; CEO, Big League Dreams USA; Former Managing Director, World Cup USA 1994. (1994).
Bill Tate, '75: Bill is a founding member of the Howard Tate Sowell Wilson Leathers and Johnson law firm in Nashville. He is president of the Tennessee Association of Construction Counsel and a fellow and trustee, and later president, of the Nashville Bar Foundation. (2016).
Robert P. Corker Jr., '74: Former Mayor of Chattanooga; Now: U.S. Senator (Tenn.). (Year Earned: 2003).
Charley Hodges '74: Charley co-founded the New Forum Inc. real estate development company in Charlotte, NC, in 1990 and has served as its president since. He previously was EVP of the McDevitt and Street Co. in Charlotte (1979 to 1990). UT's dept of civil & environmental engineering inducted him into its hall of fame in 2017. (2018).
Robert A. McCabe Jr., '72: Longtime Officer with First American National Bank; Now: Chairman of Pinnacle Financial Partners, Nashville's largest locally headquartered bank. (2007).
Harvey White, '71: Harvey joined Pinnacle Financial Partners as chief credit officer in 2009 and has led the firm through the U.S.'s real-estate crisis that same year. In 2017, Pinnacle was ranked No. 24 on by Forbes list of America’s 100 Largest Banks. Previously, he served First American Bank in Nashville (and successors AmSouth and Regions banks), as commercial division manager and senior credit officer for 28 years. (2017).
Bill Hickerson '67: Bill was named president and CEO in 1979 of the City & County Bank of Greene County (now Andrew Johnson Bank), in Greeneville, TN, serving the bank throught 2018. Under his leadership, the bank grew from $10 million in assets and one location to over $350 million and seven offices in 2018. Hickerson was the first chairman of the Board of the Greene County Partnership — a combination of the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development boards. (2019).
Bobby Ogdin, '66: One of Nashville's most successful recording-session keyboard musicians; former member of The Marshall Tucker Band; Recorded/Toured with Elvis. (2015).
B. Tom Collins, '65: Country Music Producer (Barbara Mandrell, Ronnie Milsap, Tom T. Hall, Charley Pride). (1983).
William E. Wade Jr., '64: Longtime executive, and President, ARCO (petroleum). (Year Earned: 1998).
James E. Hall, '63: Leading expert on transportation safety and security, crisis management and government; Chairman of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (1994 to 2001). Served as 1963 Consul. (1996).
Hon. James H. Jarvis II, '59: Senior United States Chief District Judge. (1997).
Thomas E. Bronson, '58: All American fullback at UT; Tommy played football at UT with Johnny Majors, '57, another Significant Sig from Beta Sigma. Tommy was a longtime cement materials executive; Chairman and CEO of Meridian Aggregates Co. and Vice Chairman of Meridian's parent, MAC Acquisitions, Inc. (2004).
John T. Majors, '57: Johnny was a football All-American (halfback & other positions); and former head coach, University of Pittsburgh and UT. At UT: a two-time winner of the SEC MVP award in 1955 and 1956. He finished second for the Heisman Trophy in 1956. Johnny played football at UT with Tommy Bronson, '58, another Significant Sig from Beta Sigma. Johnny served as the head coach at Iowa State (1968–1972), Pittsburgh (1973–1976, 1993–1996), and Tennessee (1977–1992), compiling a career college record of 185–137–10. His 1976 Pittsburgh squad won a national championship (12-0). He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1987. At Tennessee, Majors won three SEC titles in 1985, 1989, and 1990. (1973).
George Goosmann III, '57: In 2019, George is serving his sixth term as mayor of the town of Biltmore Forest, NC. He retired as a division manager at Jostens Inc. in 1999, after serving in that role for 10 years. (2017).
David E. McKinney, '56: President of the IBM World Trade Americas/Far East Corp. and Chairman of the IBM World Trade Europe/Middle East/Africa Corp. in the 1980s. (1991).
John N. Wilford Jr., '55: Science correspondent for the New York Times and winner of two Pulitzer Prizes for national reporting. (1987).
James A. "Jim" Haslam II, '52: Founder, Chairman & President of Pilot Corp., Chairman of Pilot Travel Centers. Jim played football at UT with Hank Lauricella, '52, who is also a Significant Sig (See below). Both of Jim's sons, Jimmy Haslam, '76, and Bill Haslam, Emory, '80, are also Significant Sigs (See info above). (Jim earned his SSA in 1989).
Hon. Francis E. “Hank” Lauricella, '52: All-America football player He is a member of the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame. Hank played football at UT with Jim Haslam, '52, who is also a Significant Sig (see above). Hank served 32 years in the Louisiana legislature. (1983).
William H. Lane, '45: (Year Earned: 1979). Need info.
Dr. Cecil C. Humphreys Sr., '36: Former President, Memphis State University (now University of Memphis). (1971).
Dr. W. Everett Derryberry, '28: President of Tennessee Technological University from 1940 to 1974. As an undergrad, set an all-time scholarstic mark at UT with a perfect A record for four years. (1977).
Floyd B. James, '27: (Year Earned: 1983). Need info.
Rufus H. Fitzgerald, '19: Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh from 1945 to 1955. (1955).
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