The Order of the Muddy Boot

Each year the East Tennessee Economic Council honors individuals or groups of people that have helped build the community’s economic base with a “Muddy Boot Award.” The award was started in 1973 by the founders of ETEC (then the Roane Anderson Economic Council or R-AEC) to reflect the Manhattan Project founders of Oak Ridge, who worked through adverse conditions to build this community. It has been presented to elected officials, business leaders, representatives of the Department of Energy, and others.

Records on some of the early Muddy Boot recipients have been lost. ETEC is currently in the process of trying to collect them and present their stories on this page. Below are some of the recipients of the award.

Alphabetical list of Muddy Boot Recipients

Ben Adams, Owner, ACHW; Founding Member of R-AEC; Past President (1999)
Larry Adams, Martin Marietta Corporation, Corporate Office
The Honorable Howard Baker, U.S. Senator and strong proponent of Oak Ridge community (1988)
The Honorable A. K. Bissell, First Mayor of Oak Ridge
Gerald Boyd, Manager, Oak Ridge Office, Department of Energy (2005)
Frank Bruce, ORNL; first president of Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce
Pete Craven, serial entrepreneur, community activist; ETEC Chair (2004)
Floyd Culler, Union Carbide Corporation; former Associate Director, ORNL; Longtime chair of Oak Ridge Regional Planning Commission
Les Dale, South Central Bell; Original Member of R-AEC Executive Committee
Jim Desmond, Lockheed Martin Corporation (1999)
Lou Dunlap, for work as president of Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce
The Honorable James "Buzz" Elkins, State Senator
U.S. Rep. Joe L. Evins, strong advocate for Oak Ridge, introduced legislation to build the American Museum of Science and Energy and site the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Program in Oak Ridge
Gordon Fee, President, Lockheed Martin Energy Systems (2000)
Homer Fisher, Senior Vice President Emeritus and Director of Oak Ridge Operations, University of Tennessee (2005)
The Honorable Al Gore, Sr., U.S. Senator; strong advocate for Oak Ridge, including advocacy for the Clinch River Breeder Reactor and other science initiatives
Dick Grant, President, Boeing Oak Ridge; brought the company to Oak Ridge to compete for the DOE centrifuge program
Bob Hart, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission; proponent of R-AEC to diversify region's economic base
Jim Hall, Manager of DOE-ORO; initiated reindustrialization program for Oak Ridge
Tom Hill, former owner, The Oak Ridger; Founding member and first president of R-AEC (1999)
U.S. Rep. Chet Holifield, for legislation to build the Holifield Heavy Ion Accelerator at ORNL
Clyde Hopkins, President, Lockheed Martin Energy Systems (2000)
Ken Jarmalow, President, Lockheed Martin Energy Systems (2000)
George Jasny, Union Carbide Corporation and LMES; advocate for the community
Gene Joyce, attorney; Founding Member of R-AEC (1999)
Ed Keen, Bechtel Corporation; ETEC executive committee member
John Keto, DOE attorney in the "in lieu of tax" case brought by Anderson County; after retirement supported the county's side
Roland Langley, Bechtel International Corporation; R-AEC executive committee member; community activist
Joe Lenhard, Department of Energy; former ETEC chair and community activist (1996)
U.S. Rep. Marilyn Lloyd, for support of Oak Ridge programs, 1974-1994
Bill Madia, Director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 2000 - 2003; champion of commercialization of federal technology (2003)
Bill Manly, Cabot Corporation, ORNL technology transfer (2002)
Don Maxwell, Bank of Oak Ridge; Founding Member (1999)
Jan McNally, Corporate Director - Leadership Development, Covenant Health (2007)
Randy McNally, Senator, State of Tennessee (2006)
Tim Myrick, Retired from ORNL (2007)
Jesse Noritake, Secretary to the Board, 1973-2000 (1997)
David Patterson, Past director of UT School of Planning; mentor to local entrepreneurs (2001)
Larry Peck, Vice President for Information Technology, SAIC (2002)
Herman Postma, Director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory 1974-1988; community leader; ETEC chair (2001)
Tom Rogers, President and CEO of Technology 2020 (2006)
Dick Smyser, Founding editor, The Oak Ridger (1996)
Ed Spitzer, past president of R-AEC; Tennessee energy czar during Gov. Blanton's administration
Billy Stair, Director, Communications and External Relations, ORNL & statesman (2006)
Ron Townsend, President, Oak Ridge Associated Universities; ETEC Chair (2004)
Ernie Tremmel, Burns and Roe; former AEC headquarters officials, R-AEC consultant in Washington D.C.
Al Trivelpiece, Director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory 1989-1999 (1999)
Bob Van Hook, President, Lockheed Martin Energy Systems (2000)
U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, for consistent, unflinching support of Oak Ridge programs 1995 – present (2002)
Alvin Weinberg, Director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory 1955 - 1974; nuclear pioneer (2003)
Horace Wells, former publisher Clinton Courier News; original Executive Committee member 1973-1988
Workers of Y-12, for their dedication and committment to the missions of Y-12 and the community

2007 Muddy Boot Honorees

Tim Myrick and Jan McNally

The East Tennessee Economic Council named Jan McNally and Tim Myrick on January 4, 2008 as the two newest recipients of the “Muddy Boot Award,” a tribute to those people who have been dedicated to building a stronger community.

This year’s Muddy Boot winners each contributed to building a stronger community—quite literally. Jan McNally oversaw the largest new construction project in Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge’s history in her role as hospital administrator. Tim Myrick, retired from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, continues to play a major role in the renovations of Oak Ridge High School.

Jan McNally

Jan McNally is a graduate of the J&J Wharton Fellows Program for Nurse Executives, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. She received her bachelor of science in biology from the Mississippi University of Women; a bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Tennessee College of Nursing; and a master’s degree with honors in Health Services Administration from the University of St. Francis, Joilet, Ill.

She is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and a former Knox area president of the Tennessee Organization of Nurse Executives. She won the University of Tennessee College of Nursing Outstanding Alumna award in 1994, and serves on the college’s nursing advisory board.

McNally has held memberships in the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Arts Council of Oak Ridge, Leadership Oak Ridge, and the American Association of Critical Care Nursing. She serves on the board of directors of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, and also as a Board member and officer for the East Tennessee Economic Council. Ms. McNally served as past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence in Nashville.

McNally and her husband, State Senator Randy McNally, D.Ph., an MMC pharmacist, live in Oak Ridge. They have two daughters, Melissa, and Maggie, and three grandchildren Haley, Morgan, and Trent.

Tim Myrick

Tim Myrick retired from Oak Ridge National Laboratory at the age of 50 to “serve my community in a Christlike way, with the same zeal and dedication as my working career, but with protected quality time for family and the celebration and protection of nature.”

His career focused primarily on nuclear waste management and environmental restoration, including design and environmental impacts analysis for high-level waste repositories, low-level waste disposal sites, uranium mill tailings sites, and the East Fork Poplar Creek cleanup. His most recent work assignment was lead engineer for the design and construction of the new Oak Ridge National Laboratory research campus, including the first formal incorporation of sustainable design features into DOE and State of Tennessee buildings.

Serving the community has been a hallmark of Myrick’s involvement in the region. He is currently (1) a member of the SSAB, overseeing the cleanup and land use decisions on the Oak Ridge Reservation; (2) President of the Board of Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC); (3) leader of a disaster relief unit of the American Red Cross; (4) Pillar Society member of the United Way; (5) a Big Brother in the Big Brother/Big Sister program, and (6) an active member of the First Presbyterian Church-Oak Ridge. From an environmental perspective, he is a legacy member of the Nature Conservancy (TNC) and a member of Trout Unlimited, and have recently worked with the Tennessee Chapter of TNC to purchase and protect a high priority watershed tract adjacent to the Birch Branch Sanctuary in Shady Valley.

2006 Muddy Boot Honorees

Randy McNally, Tom Rogers, and Billy Stair

The East Tennessee Economic Council has named three new recipients of the “Muddy Boot Award,” a tribute to those people who have been dedicated to building a stronger community in a ceremony on December 8, 2006.

All awards were presented at the Council’s annual meeting in the Cumberland Room of the Oak Ridge Mall. Anne Pope, co-chairwoman of the Appalachian Regional Council, keynoted the event, which also featured special recognition of Carolyn Jensen, director of Senator Majority Leader Bill Frist’s East Tennessee office for the last 12 years; and a tribute to the Oak Ridge High School Siemen’s Award Winners.

The 2006 Muddy Boot Awards were presented to: Tom Rogers, President and CEO of Technology 2020; Randy McNally, Senator, State of Tennessee; and Billy Stair, Communications Director for Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Statesman.

Congressman Zach Wamp, R-3rd District, himself a Muddy Boot winner, talked about the importance of the Boot in a video presentation.

“Let me say how important this day is, a day when we recognize great Tennesseans for their good works,” said Congressman Wamp. “The Muddy Boot is to me one of the great traditions of Oak Ridge. It reflects on our Manhattan Project heritage and all the incredibly important things we’ve done in Oak Ridge since that time. Anyone that gets this award has proven that they are willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to help Oak Ridge continue to carry out these missions for our country. I want to congratulate all of the award winners today, and I want to encourage you to continue your good works. What we’ve done in Oak Ridge over the last 10 years is an example for our whole country. We’re on the move because of the work all four of these people have done. Congratulations.”

Randy McNally

Randy McNally serves as Tennessee State Senator for the 5th District covering Anderson, Loudon, Monroe, and part of Knox counties. He has served as a Senate Member of the 95th through 105th General Assemblies and as a House member of the 91st through 94th General Assemblies. He is Chair of the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee, Vice-Chair of the Senate Rules Committee, and a member of the Senate General Welfare Committee, the Joint Fiscal Review Contract Services Subcommittee, the Joint Select Oversight Committee on Education, the Joint Business Tax Committee, and the Joint Lottery Oversight Committee.

McNally is employed by Methodist Medical Center, Oak Ridge, TN and the Hospital Pharmacist, a position he has held since 1978.

Tom Rogers

Tom Rogers is a founder and President and CEO of Technology 2020, a public-private partnership headquartered in Oak Ridge whose mission is to help grow technology companies in the Tennessee Valley Corridor. Technology 2020 recently celebrated its tenth anniversary, and has received recognition for its technology-based economic development achievements from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Southern Growth Policies Board, and the National Business Incubator Association. Its client companies currently employ more than 1500 people in the Tennessee Valley Corridor, contributing $100 million annually to the region’s economy.

Rogers joined Tech 2020 in 1996 after serving as President of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce for nine years. He has also served as the Executive Director of the Tennessee Technology Development Corporation and worked for more than a decade at T.V.A. in the areas of economic development and strategic planning.

Rogers serves as the Chairman of the Board of Digital Crossing Networks, LLC, and as a director of the Southern Appalachian Fund, Meritus Ventures, Southeast Community Capital, the UT-Battelle Development Corporation, the East Tennessee Economic Council, Heritage Center LLC, and Leadership Knoxville.

Rogers holds a B.A. with honors from Michigan State University and a Master of Regional Planning degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He and his wife Mary have two grown sons, and live in Knoxville.

Billy Stair

Billy Stair is director of Communications and External Relations at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He is responsible for coordination of media relations, marketing support for the scientific agenda of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, internal communications, and communication with ORNL retirees. He also serves as the Laboratory’s primary liaison with a variety of community and political stakeholders. Other functions under his direction are the operation of the ORNL Research Library, graphic design and publishing services, community outreach efforts, and oversight of the American Museum of Science and Energy.

A native of Kingsport, Tennessee, Stair received a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, North Carolina, and a master’s degree in history from Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania. He worked in Tennessee’s state government for 18 years, serving in both the legislative and executive branches. From 1987 to 1994, he served as Governor Ned Ray McWherter’s Senior Policy Advisor.

Stair left state government in 1994 to serve as Executive Assistant to the President of the University of Tennessee (UT), Dr. Joe Johnson, assisting in government relations, communications, athletics, and various budgetary initiatives. In October 1999, he joined the UT team that partnered with Battelle to develop a successful proposal for managing and operating ORNL for the Department of Energy.

Stair is co-author of a textbook, Government and Politics in Tennessee, released in 2001 by the University of Tennessee Press.

Objective

To recognize an individual (not institution) for significant and long-term contributions to the East Tennessee area with respect to the federal government programs and its spin-offs by leveraging the federal presence to create private sector jobs. Participation in the community beyond the workplace is essential.

Frequency

This award will be made usually at the annual meeting of the ETEC membership. Normally, there will be one to two awards per year. Some years no award may be given.

Criteria for Honorees

Honorees shall be selected by any or all of the following criteria:

Significant political contributions: Assisting in the development of new programs with new sources of revenue that add to the region’s economic base, although--in difficult times—merely helping maintain the stability of programs may warrant recognition. Being a cheerleader for the area is an important factor.
Significant programs contributions: Usually reserved for someone who has created, nurtured and sold a significant sized program through the system and led it to completion.
Project management: Should have been a manager of a large and complicated project that finished on time and within budget.
Scientific contribution: This can be awarded to an individual for sustained scientific leadership in important national areas. For example this award should follow the awards of Academy membership, Fermi Awards, and large prizes of international scope.
Technology Transfer: An individual that takes an embryonic idea and turns it into a thriving local industry.
Managerial creativity: Some managers in the course of their work conceive of entirely new approaches—administrative or local economic problems, for example—that they revolutionize the routine of business in the region.
Business creation: Building from a federal business base to creation of a significant local business.
Sustained effort for regional growth: Some individuals, by virtue of effort in various arenas over the years, may cumulatively have a large impact on the region’s economy.
And, other criteria as deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors and selection committee.

Photos by: Lynn Freeney, Critique, Inc. DOE Photography