Tag: fiction
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Don’t Tell Nobody: What Happens When You Bet on an Appalachian
I was saddened to learn of the passing of Roger Ball, the man behind the redevelopment of the Kingsport Mall (now East Stone Commons). Our paths first crossed in 1997. I had just been promoted to Development Services Director at age 35, and Roger had acquired one of Kingsport’s most prominent development sites at the…
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A Lesson in Grace, Learned at Food City
Some of the most important lessons our kids learn don’t come from classrooms, coaches, or report cards. They come from time clocks, name tags, and difficult customers. When our son was 14, we thought it would be a good idea for him to get a part-time job. Our daughter, too—but I’ll save that for another…
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The Gentle Giant Behind Kingsport’s Transformation
Terry Cunningham was recently honored for his lifetime of partnership as Executive Director of the Kingsport Housing and Redevelopment Authority. I was asked to share my thoughts. Terry Cunningham is one of the best human beings I know. He’s a gentle giant who has worked mostly in the background to effect positive outcomes for our…
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Lessons from Grassy Creek: The Man He Didn’t Have to Be
In 1976, when he was 34 years old, Bob Moore married Carol Salyer and gained a 6-year-old son, Timothy. To put things in perspective, Bob would have been about the same age as his grandsons Zack Fleming and Zachary Salyer are now. Just 6 years and 9 months into their marriage, Bob & Timothy lost…
Kingsport Spirit 