Kingsport Spirit

Jeff Fleming's unique take on the Kingsport Spirit with stories of faith, family, people, places, & history of his hometown and surrounding region. Jeff retired in 2019 after serving the City of Kingsport for 35 years, rising from planning intern to city manager.

Remembering Bill Dudney

John Dudney was Kingsport’s Postmaster and the original Santa Claus on the Santa Train. He instilled a sense of community service in his family. His grandson, Bill, chose to live his life in his hometown of Kingsport, giving back every step of the way. As a student at Dobyns-Bennett, he was selected to work for First Tennessee Bank and would ultimate become its highest ranking official in the Kingsport market.

From the Chamber to Economic Development Board, Downtown Kingsport to Visit Kingsport, and MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center to Girls Inc., Kingsport Fun Fest!, United Way of Greater Kingsport, NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership, and CSX Santa Train, his fingerprints are all over our town.

So glad the Kingsport Community Foundation was able to recognize him as Kingsport’s Best for his legacy of community service.

He was never interested in becoming an elected official, but he is living proof that you can make a lasting difference by volunteering, and he did so in virtually every capacity.

As a child who was born with a heart defect that was never supposed to survive, he thrived!

Thank you, from a grateful community.

Here’s a sampling of articles from the Kingsport Times-News spanning forty years of community service.

1992
1980-1990
1990: Four Generations of Dudneys
1991: Dudney says he has the old Santa suit worn by his grandfather.
1992
1991
1992
1992: Working the phones to get an affirmative vote for the Convention Center.
1991
1992
1992
1993
1993: The citizens vote “yes” to the convention center
1993
1992
1993
1993
1993
1993
1994
1994
1995
1995
1996
1996
1998
1999
2000
2000
2000
2001
2001
2002
2005
2009
2015

Jeff Fleming

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One response to “Remembering Bill Dudney”

  1. larrypennington Avatar
    larrypennington

    This collection of information- on Mr Dudney and the community – will be valued for all time; I didn’t know Mr Dudney..

    I do appreciate the concept of spirit in the community. And because Meadowview is mentioned, I’d like to thank local law enforcement for their spirit, for a moment long ago..

    I had gone to Meadowview for Mayberry Days. Still a time when some famous folks were still alive. Wife and I had seen some acts, and were catching the elevator to go to another Mayberry event. This time a law enforcement official was holding the door , waiting for us. We didn’t think anything until we saw he was escorting Don Knotts and entourage..
    The officer could have blocked us- but knew he was about to give the chance of a lifetime.
    I said to Don Knotts, I admired his work. And then we rode in silence. When the door opened, Mr Knotts hesitated for a moment then went on. Immediately a manager? appeared, saying thank you for not asking for an autograph. He’s really sick..
    Shortly after, Don Knotts passed away..

    Decades later, I think about that time and the officer who allowed this moment for us to meet Mr Knotts.

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