| Sources |
- [S73] Rawlings Funeral Home, Book 2, 11 Mar 1963.
Steward Henderson obituary
- [S51] The Seymour Herald, (www.smokymountainherald.com), 9 May 2006.
On Friday, May 5, National Park Service Director Fran Mainella visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park to present a 50 Year Service Award to Lewis Grooms, 72, of Gatlinburg, Tenn. Grooms, who currently serves as the Park’s Supervisory Contract Specialist, has worked his entire career in the Smokies where he started as a warehouseman in 1958. “When Lewis began his government service by putting on his U.S. Army uniform in 1954, Eisenhower was in the White House,” Mainella said, “When he joined the National Park Service my chair was filled by Conrad “Connie” Wirth and Edward Hammel was completing his tenure as the Superintendent here at the Smokies. Since then Lewis has served with distinction under 11 of the 16 NPS Directors and 12 out of the 15 Park Superintendents. His knowledge and team spirit have made Lewis the “go-to-guy” to help resolve all the contracting needs and problems of numerous other NPS sites in this area of the Southeast Region.” “He is recognized by his community for his work in the First Baptist Church of Gatlinburg and his active involvement the American Legion and has often used his annual leave to participate as a member of honor guards at funerals of U.S. veterans,” Mainella continued. Mainella, who oversees the 388 national park units totaling over 80 million acres, joined Park Superintendent Dale A. Ditmanson in presenting Grooms with a gold-embossed 50-year service plaque, a STAR (performance) Award, and a gold watch. Grooms was taken by surprise by the recognition. He had joined a group of about 60 Smokies employees at Friday’s event under the expectation that he would be hearing Director Mainella speak about current and upcoming issues affecting the National Park Service. He did not suspect that he was being honored until he saw his wife, Betty, and his son, Tim, who is a Law Enforcement Officer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service on the Daniel Boone National Forest in Stearns, Ky. Grooms says he still has “some things he wants to get done in the Park” and has no immediate plans to retire. During Friday’s event Mainella also conveyed the Service’s appreciation to 43 National Park Service employees who responded to assist NPS areas hit hard by the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes, Kartina, Rita, and Wilma. She commended those employees for their willingness to leave their homes for up to three weeks to live under primitive conditions in the storm-ravaged areas. During those deployments. Smokies employees were tasked to help locate and determine the well-being of their fellow employees and to help them respond to damages to their homes and property. And, depending upon their skills, they helped to clear debris from roads, trails and grounds; performed emergency repairs to roofs, windows and utility systems, and worked to prepare damage assessments and information to begin contracting for repairs. Some Rangers were assigned to provided security to the parks while others worked under FEMA assignments to provide water, food and other relief supplies to the public at large. In recognition of those efforts Mainella presented each employee who was deployed to the Gulf with a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of Southeast Regional Director Patricia Hooks.
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 14 May 2008.
National park honors employee, tourist family of the year
Both Grooms and a randomly chosen tourist family received gifts from area businesses.
Grooms is the Park's senior contracting officer responsible for administering contracts for everything from road projects and utility systems to trash removal services for the Park, as well as managing cooperative agreements among the Park, municipalities and various universities doing research work.
In speaking about Grooms' work, administrative officer Donna Losson noted how remarkable it is to find an individual who has worked so long in a job and demonstrated such dedication. Putting his tenure in perspective, Losson pointed out that Dwight Eisenhower was president when Grooms started working for the Park, and said, "At that time there were no air conditioners, no computers; everything was done on typewriters. Remember all those carbon copies? ... But Lewis has risen to every technological challenge and learned multiple new things every day."
County Mayor Larry Waters said it was a special honor for him to help recognize his friend Grooms, and he always enjoys the opportunity to show appreciation for the Park and recognize its role in the economic development of the surrounding communities.
Steve and Judi Swihart of Huber Heights, Ohio, and their 6-year-old grandson Matthew Mescher were surprised to be chosen Tourist Family of the Day shortly after entering the Sugarlands Visitor Center at 9 a.m. Monday. The Swiharts said they have come to the Smokies once or twice a year since 1960.
"We brought our two children and now we've been bringing our grandchildren," said Judi Swihart.
Steve Swihart said, "We've made a lot of memories here that we can't replace and can't put a value on."
Matthew meanwhile just could not wait to tear into the blue cooler full of area crafts, gifts, attractions passes and goodies because, he said, "I want that (toy) bear."
n cgrimm@themountainpress.com
- [S112] Census, 1940.
Name: Lewis Grooms
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1940
Event Place: Civil District 2, Sevier, Tennessee, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 6
Marital Status: Single
Race (Original): White
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Son
Relationship to Head of Household: Son
Birthplace: Tennessee
Birth Year (Estimated): 1934
Last Place of Residence: Cosby, Cocke, Tennessee
District: 78-2
Family Number: 47
Sheet Number and Letter: 4A
Line Number: 4
Affiliate Publication Number: T627
Affiliate Film Number: 3933
Digital Folder Number: 005461375
Image Number: 00055
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Earl S Grooms M 46 Tennessee
Wife Rosa A Grooms F 30 Tennessee
Daughter Jewel L Grooms F 15 Tennessee
Son Jack E Grooms M 10 Tennessee
Son Lewis Grooms M 6 Tennessee
Daughter Nadine Grooms F 4 Tennessee
Daughter Imigene Grooms F 1 Tennessee
- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 24 Jun 2017.
January 6, 1934 - June 24, 2017
Born in Sevier County, TN
Resided in Gatlinburg, TN
Lewis Grooms, age 83 of Gatlinburg passed away Saturday June 24, 2017.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and was past commander of American Legion Post #202.
Lewis retired after a long career with the National Park Service.
He was preceded in death by his parents Sanders "Early" and Rose Grooms, brother, Jack Grooms, sisters, Jewel Dodgen and Imogene Messer.
Survivors:
Wife: Betty Grooms
Son and daughter-in-law: Tim and Bonnie Grooms
Granddaughter: Gabrielle Grooms
Sister and brother-in-law: Nadine and Tom Whitted
Many nieces, nephews and friends
The family will receive friends from 5-7PM Tuesday in the West Chapel of Atchley Funeral Home with service to follow at 7PM. Rev. Larry Burcham and Rev. Jimmy Maples officiating. Family and friends will meet 1PM Wednesday at Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens for interment. Military honors provided by American Legion Gatlinburg Post #202. Online condolences may be made at www.atchleyfuneralhome.com
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