Kingsport Spirit

Ticket link for Kingsport’s Best

The Kingsport Community Foundation’s mission is simple but powerful: to honor the legacy and embrace the future.

That mission is personal to me.

After my brother Larry’s death — my only sibling — he was honored with The Knoxville Award, recognizing his life, service, and impact. He took the spirit nurtured by growing up in Kingsport and quietly left a bigger mark on the Knoxville community than we realized — through Scouting, the Boys & Girls Club, regional economic development, United Way, and other acts of service.

That experience left a lasting impression on me. It reminded me that a life is not measured only by birth and death dates, but the dash in between. It is measured by the people touched, the good done quietly, the example left behind, and the seeds planted for those who come after us.

Now in its 33rd year, The Knoxville Award has been given to people such as Jim Haslam, Jim and Kay Clayton, Governor Bill Haslam, Randy Boyd, Pat Summitt, Peyton Manning, and Phillip Fulmer, to name a few. Seeing Knoxville pause to honor my brother in such a meaningful way made me think about Kingsport.

Our city has its own remarkable tradition of people who have stepped forward for the greater good — people whose generosity, service, leadership, and love for community deserve to be remembered in a lasting and public way.

That is how Kingsport’s Best began: as a Kingsport expression of the same idea — that communities should honor those who helped shape them, encourage those serving now, and inspire the next generation to carry the work forward.

At its heart, Kingsport’s Best is an effort to institutionalize what many of us call “The Kingsport Spirit” — the habit of thinking beyond ourselves, working for the greater good of the greater number, and giving Kingsport that little extra edge people feel when they visit and realize something here is different.

Each year, Kingsport’s Best honors those whose lives reflect generosity, service, leadership, and love for community. Recipients are often honored as couples, when appropriate, because community service rarely happens alone. Behind many people who give generously of their time, resources, and energy is often someone else offering encouragement, patience, sacrifice, and support.

Honorees are recognized in four categories.

Legacy of Philanthropy honors those whose lifetime of giving has helped shape Greater Kingsport.

Future of Giving recognizes younger citizens who are already serving well and are poised for long-term legacy impact.

Community Service celebrates those who have jumped in, rolled up their sleeves, and served the community directly.

In Memoriam remembers those who left a mark on our town and whose influence continues even after their passing.

One of the most distinctive features of Kingsport’s Best is The Legacy Bowl, handcrafted by Dr. Kent Blazier from the wood of a tree grown in East Tennessee. The bowl has become a meaningful symbol of the event because it says, in a tangible way, what Kingsport’s Best is really about.

I was honored to write its description:

“This legacy bowl is made from the wood of a tree grown in East Tennessee. With strong and sturdy roots, it flourished for many years. It benefited from the nutrients of a thriving community. It was honed to perfection by the steady hand of a local craftsman. The rings in the wood commemorate each year of life. In its place, a new generation will grow. It is a touching reminder to honor the legacy and embrace the future.”

That is the heart of the evening: strong roots, lives well lived, careful craftsmanship, and a new generation growing in its place.

Just as important, the format of Kingsport’s Best was designed to match the spirit of the occasion. The event is carefully timed, thoughtfully scripted, and centered on the honorees. Videos allow family members, friends, and colleagues to tell each recipient’s story in a personal and elegant way.

There are no high-pressure sales, no auctions, and no distractions from the purpose of the evening. Time is intentionally built in before and after the program so people can visit, reconnect, and enjoy one another’s company. It is social but not rushed; meaningful, but not heavy-handed; elegant, but still warmly Kingsport.

That is one reason Kingsport’s Best has quickly become one of the most unique and favored events of its kind locally. It is not simply a fundraiser or an awards dinner. It is a community celebration — a chance to pause, remember, give thanks, and honor those who have given so much to our city.

Begun in 2020, Kingsport’s Best has honored an extraordinary list of citizens.

Legacy of Philanthropy recipients include Pal Barger, Sam and Delois Anderson, Dr. Kent and Mayor Jeanette Blazier, Roy Harmon, Mayor Dennis and Bobbie Phillips, Eliza Brown, Bill and Janyce Dudney, Don Royston, Frank Waldo, and Mayor Hunter and Sylvia Wright. The 2026 inductees are Jim and Donna Harlan and Dr. Harry and Pat Turner.

In Memoriam honorees include Doyle Burdine, Fielding Rolston, Boots Duke, Mike McIntire, Bodie Scott, Bob and Peggy Turner, Ruth Montgomery, and Richard Watterson. The 2026 inductees are Jack Pierce and Toy and Josie Reid.

Future of Giving recipients include James and Crystal Phillips, Judge Curt and Dr. Jenny Rose, Sam and Maggie Booher, Seth and Blair Jervis, Reid and Kristin Burton, Wes and Chrissy Idlette, Chris and Rebecca Thomas, and Dr. Kevin and Amanda Martin. The 2026 inductees are Matthew and Rebecca Spivey.

Community Service recipients include Jeff and CeeGee McCord, Van and Dorothy Dobbins, Stephen and Trida LaHair, Brenda White Wright, Peter and Susan Lodal, Roger and Dreana Mowen, Jane Scott, Claudia and the late Jeff Byrd, and John and Beverley Perdue. The 2026 inductees are David and Brenda Fox and Russ and Joyce Brogden.

The honorees are also recognized on a beautiful three-dimensional trophy displayed at the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, creating a permanent reminder that community legacy should not be left to chance. It should be remembered, celebrated, and passed on.

The Kingsport Community Foundation does more than honor community builders. It helps fund the work that strengthens Greater Kingsport for the future.

Over its 20-year history, KCF has helped direct more than $11 million into Greater Kingsport and surrounding communities, including more than $500,000 in direct grants and millions more through facilitated and indirect gifts.

Major projects and initiatives have included Centennial Park, Bays Mountain Park improvements, Petworks Good Steward Animal Center, the Dobyns-Bennett Band Centennial, the Second Harvest Food Bank Regional Challenge, Kingsport Public Library renovations, KingsportARTS, and improvements to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kingsport, among many others.

The Foundation also helped spin off the Kingsport City Schools Education Foundation as a separate, standalone fund, further extending its impact in education and community life.

The Kingsport Community Foundation is funded entirely through private donations, endowments, and fundraising activities. Contributions are used to grow the endowment and support projects for the betterment of Greater Kingsport. The Foundation is advised by a local board of directors and operates as an affiliate of the East Tennessee Foundation, benefiting from its administrative support, record-keeping, and financial management.

The goal is to grow the endowment first, while also providing support for worthwhile community projects. KCF strives not to duplicate the work of other organizations or become a source of ongoing annual funding. Instead, it seeks to help donors maximize their contributions by awarding grants that enrich lives and strengthen the Greater Kingsport community forever.

The current Board of Directors includes Frank Lett, Chair; DeeDee Dietrich, Vice Chair; Jeff Fleming, Secretary; Sam Booher; Christine Cooper; Linda Coffey; Stephen LaHair; Carla Karst; John Pendleton; Greg Perdue; Brett Sago; and Jan Shumate.

Kingsport’s Best honors those who came before us, encourages those serving now, and challenges the next generation to carry the work forward. It is rooted in a simple conviction: communities should remember the people who helped make them what they are.

Ticket link for Kingsport’s Best. Help us celebrate those who have given so much to our community. If you cannot attend, but would still like to donate, you may do so here.

If you or your business would like to be a sponsor, here are the levels:

And if you know someone who should be considered as Kingsport’s Best, let me know! You can write to me at jeff.fleming.kingsport@gmail.com.