Sources |
- [S104] Cocke County, Tennessee, and its People, Cocke County Heritage Book Committee, (Walsworth Publishing, 1992), 57.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 9 Sep 2004.
NEWPORT—The seventh annual Senior Citizens Home Assistance Service, Inc. (SCHAS) luncheon will honor Dr. Fred M. Valentine Jr. at 12 noon on Thursday, September 16th, at Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center.
Reservations will be accepted until Sept. 13th, by calling (423) 623-5231. Payment will be accepted at the door, but advance reservations are required. The luncheon is $30 per plate, with $19 of that being tax-deductible.
SCHAS provides in-home care to the elderly. This luncheon is a fundraiser to help SCHAS to better serve the elderly of the community, along with United Way and city and county allocations.
“I encourage everyone to attend this event to recognize such as upstanding citizen and to support a worthy organization that offers assistance to those in the community,” said Acuff.
“This award recognizes an outstanding person who repeatedly demonstrates his or her care for the community and its citizens,” she added.
“Our elderly are so deserving to remain in their homes independently and with dignity as long as possible, as that is where they really want to be,” she said.
Dr. Valentine was born on April 7, 1928, in Newport, to Dr. and Mrs. Fred M. Valentine Sr. Educated in the local school systems; he was an outstanding athlete for four years in football and basketball.
In addition, he became an accomplished pianist bringing home the statewide Eugenia Buxton Cup.
He entered the University of Tennessee on a football scholarship. It then became apparent that he would need to choose between a medical or football career. He quit the sport, and then paid his own way through college.
Determined to excel, Dr. Valentine finished all of the courses needed to enter medical school in 15 months, and he entered UT Medical School of Memphis in 1947 where he graduated first in his class.
He then married his high school sweetheart, Wanda Martin, of the Edwina community. He credits Wanda’s support with helping him to maintain his high ranking.
After graduating medical school, he served his internship at Baylor University Medical School in Houston, Tex. He was then called in duty with the Air Force. A Captain, he served as the chief of the OB/GYN Department.
In 1954, Dr. Valentine Jr. joined his father and Dr. Glen C. Shults at Valentine-Shults Clinic and helped the facility grow to a 45-bed hospital with 85 employees.
For 40 years, the hospital provided the bulk of the medical care to Cocke County and surrounding areas.
Newport attorney Roy Campbell said, “I’m sure Dr. Valentine takes a lot of pride in that anytime he goes down the street now. He sees either somebody whose child he delivered or a person on whom he had performed surgery. They really did help a lot of people.”
In 1982, Valentine-Shults Hospital was sold to Baptist Health System of East Tennessee.
Dr. Valentine has served on the hospital’s board of directors, has served as president of the Cocke County Medical Society, Chief of Staff at Baptist Hospital of Cocke County, and was honored by the medical staff by being given a life-time honorary medical staff position.
In Oct. 1954, Dr. Valentine’s daughter, Vickie, was born and delivered by Dr. Shults. Vickie chose to study law and is a practicing attorney in Maryville.
Vickie and her husband, Victor, are the proud parents and Dr. Valentine is the proud grandfather of Victor III, a sophomore at Webb School in Knoxville.
After the death of his beloved wife Wanda, Dr. Valentine later married a long time friend, patient, and neighbor, Christine Gorman, in 2001. He said he has been extremely lucky to enjoy the company of two incredible women.
Dr. Valentine’s commitments to Cocke County and its people have continued. He was named to the National Bank of Newport, now the National Bank of Tennessee, board of directors in 1965. He has served as chairman since 1996.
He is also a director of The First Peoples Bank of Jefferson City. He also serves as director and secretary of the Newport Utilities board.
In 1966, the people placed their confidence in the doctor and elected him mayor of the City of Newport. He served in that capacity for 16 years, longer than any other mayor in the community’s history has thus far.
Many accomplishments were credited to him as mayor, but he is most proud of the marked increase in availability of low-income housing with the Gregg Chapel units being named the Mayor Valentine Homes.
He received awards from the Tennessee Municipal League for his financial turn-around of the near-bankrupt city; led the construction of Newport’s first two permanent fire halls and the construction of a $2 million Newport Community Center dedicated to him; was the first chairman and the co-founder of the Newport/Cocke County Industrial Development Commission; and responsible for the Cultural Center in Cosby.
He received the Citizen of the Year award from the Newport/Cocke County Chamber of Commerce, the coveted Sertoma Club’s Service to Mankind Award, and the Tennessee Pride Awards from the State of Tennessee.
In addition, he established the Valentine Fund in order to raise money for the cardiac imaging unit. This fund is now administered through the Baptist Health System Foundation.
Currently, Dr. Valentine serves as chair of the Cocke County division of Campaign Baptist, raising the level of donor leadership and support, which once again will benefit Cocke Countians.
In Nov. 2003, Dr. Valentine received the Visionary Award from Baptist Health System. This award was to recognize his long time commitment and dedication to the people of Cocke County and Baptist Hospital of Cocke County. This was the first of these awards given to a Cocke Countian, and therefore, is a great reflection on the community.
A long time friend, Keith Ketterman, said, “Almost everyone in town and in the county has been touched by Dr. Valentine in one way or another.”
“As you look around Newport, you can see the monuments to Dr. Valentine, but just look a little deeper— look into the lives of the people in Cocke County, there you will see more enduring tribute—monuments of the heart,” said Acuff.
The Cocke County SCHAS luncheon is a fundraiser for the non-profit agency, which was chartered by the state in 1970 to help elderly and disabled persons to remain as independent as possible with the highest quality of life possible.
Services provided by the agency include shopping, meal preparation, bed changing, doing laundry, cleaning kitchen and bathroom fixtures, sweeping, mopping, and dusting. Help with personal care, such as bathing and dressing, companionship, and reminding individuals about their medication is also included.
All proceeds from the luncheon will be used to support the work of the SCHAS of Cocke County. SCHAS programs are designed to assist families in caring for their loved ones; to give family members respite; and to maintain the independence of the frail or disabled person.
SCHAS is the only agency in the State of Tennessee accredited by the National Association of Hospice and HomeCare.
“Hundreds of persons in Cocke County have been able to remain in their own homes during their golden years because of the work of Senior Citizens Home Assistance Service of Cocke County and the generosity of committed citizens. Thank you, Cocke County, for your support of this vital work,” Acuff said.
“We do have certified nursing assistants and homemaker assistants who are bonded. Extensive background checks are done. Our assistants are also required to have thorough training along with nutritional knowledge,” she added.
For additional information, or to make reservation, contact the Cocke County SCHAS, 131 Court Street, at (423) 623-5231
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 19 Nov 2006.
Valentines make donation to Baptist Health System Foundation
(c)2006 NPT PHOTO BY DUAY O'NEIL Dr. and Mrs. Fred M. Valentine Jr., left, presented a donation to the Baptist Health System Foundation during a dinner meeting Friday in Newport. On hand to accept the gift was Terry Morgan Upshaw, third from left, Baptist Health System Foundation president. At right is Dr. Patti Ketterman, Baptist Hospital of Cocke County administrator.
By: Duay O'Neil
Source: The Newport Plain Talk
11-19-2006
NEWPORT- As a result of a substantial donation made to the Baptist Health System Foundation by Dr. and Mrs. Fred M. Valentine Jr., several nurses at Baptist Hospital of Cocke County will have the opportunity to continue their education and professional development.
Their contribution will be used to help fund approximately five Silver Lamp Awards presented to nurses at the Cocke County hospital.
Last year 25 nurses from the Baptist Health System's Baptist Hospital of Cocke County, Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee and Baptist Hospital West each received scholarships ranging from $500 to $3,000 for use in the continuation of their careers.
Recipients of the 2006 awards, along with their families, other nominees and hospital leaders will gather on Jan. 25 at Knoxville's Club Le Conte for a dinner and the presentation of the scholarships.
In making their donation Friday, Dr. Valentine said, "Cocke County Baptist Hospital will always be in our community. Therefore, we must always support this facility.
"Chris and I are pleased to support our local students with academic scholarships. All the funds [we give] will remain locally [for use by] Cocke County students."
On hand to accept the Valentine's gift was Terry Upshaw Morgan, Baptist Health System Foundation president, who said, "Dr. Valentine has always been a leader, one with a vision for his community, especially the hospital. He believes in giving the challenge to others and sending a spark of encouragement throughout his community. He has both vision and faith."
Morgan reminded those at the presentation dinner, "Dr. Valentine had the vision to set up the Cocke County endowment fund years ago."
Valentine agreed and added, "That was when Bud Nelson [Dr. William Nelson] was alive."
Dr. Patti Ketterman, Baptist Hospital of Cocke County administrator, praised the Valentine's contribution, saying, "Dr. Valentine has always been a supporter of our hospital for a long time, and this gift is just another example of his and Chris's generosity. This scholarship donation will give our nursing employees an opportunity to advance their education or enhance their job knowledge through educational seminars. On behalf of all the employees, we certainly appreciate their gift."
When the Silver Lamp Nursing Awards were established, they were so named because of the value of silver and the traditional use of the lamp as a nursing symbol.
The lamp icon dates to the Crimean War, when the nursing profession of today was established by women working by lamplight to treat injured British soldiers.
The award represents the dedication of nurses through Baptist Hospital's Health System for their outstanding contributions in nursing in such specific areas as cardiovascular, oncology, medical nursing, surgical nursing, maternal-child, nursing, behavioral health, critical care/emergencies, community care, geriatric-rehabilitative care, research, and administrative nursing.
- [S113] Manes Funeral Home, (http://www.manesfuneralhome.com), 20 Nov 2007.
(April 17, 1928 - November 20, 2007)
Dr. Fred M. Valentine, Jr, age 79, of Newport, passed away, Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at his Northcutt Street home. He was born in Newport on April 17, 1928. He graduated from Cocke County High School in 1945 and the University of Tennessee Medical School, in 1950. For many years, he was associated with Valentine-Shults Hospital and Cocke County Memorial Hospital, serving as Chairman of the Board. He served as Mayor of Newport for 16 years. During his tenure, the Newport/Cocke County Community Center was built, as well as several government housing projects. He was chairman of the board of both National Bank of Tennessee and First Peoples Bank in Jefferson City. He was a charter member of Smoky Mountain Country Club. He was a member of First United Methodist Church. Preceding him in death were his parents, Dr. Fred M. Valentine and Marguerite Hinkle and his wife of 49 years, Wanda (Martin) Valentine. He is survived by his wife, Christine Gorman Valentine, Newport; daughter and son-in-law, Vickie Valentine and Victor L. Hart, Jr., Knoxville; one grandson, Victor L. Hart, III, a student at Stamford University in Birmingham, Al; other survivors include a special cousin, Becki Norton, Houston, TX; two stepchildren, and their families, Randy and Lori Gorman, and Gregory Gorman London, and Donald Gorman, Jr., Surgoinsville, as well as other cousins. Funeral services will be held 2:00 pm Friday, November 23, 2007 at the First United Methodist Church., with the Rev. Freddrick Long, the Rev. Marta Cogburn, and Dr. Tony Crisp. The family will receive friends from 12:00 noon until 2:00 pm Friday prior to the funeral services. Burial will follow in Union Cemetery.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 22 Nov 2007.
The Legacy of Dr. Valentine
By: Duay O'Neil
Source: The Newport Plain Talk
11-22-2007
NEWPORT - Tributes lauding the life and accomplishments of Dr. Fred M. Valentine, Jr. continue to pour in as word of his sudden death on Tuesday spreads.
Valentine, 79, died at his Northcutt Street home. He underwent surgery last Thursday in Knoxville and returned home on Monday.
A Newport native, Valentine was born April 17, 1928, the only child of Dr. Fred M. Valentine, Sr. and his wife, the former Marguerite Hinkle.
He graduated from Cocke County High School in 1945 and from the University of Tennessee Medical School in 1950.
Following two years of service in the United States Air Force, Valentine and his wife, the former Wanda Martin, returned to Newport where he joined his father and Dr. Glen C. Shults in practice at Valentine-Shults Hospital.
Long a supporter of improved healthcare for Cocke Countians, he served on the building of Cocke County Memorial Hospital and later served as chief of staff. With its merger into the Baptist Health System, Dr. Valentine continued to work diligently for improved healthcare for East Tennesseans.
Dr. David Rankin, Chairman of the Board of Baptist Health Systems, said, "Dr. Valentine was an extremely important and special individual to Baptist Health Systems. Not only was he an excellent doctor, he also cared deeply about Baptist Hospital of Cocke County and contributed to its becoming the excellent community hospital that it is today."
Terry Morgan, president of Baptist Health Systems Foundations, issued the following statement: "On behalf of the BHS Foundation and the entire BHS System, boards, physicians, staff and the patients we serve, we are deeply saddened by his loss. Dr. Valentine exemplified leadership, commitment, value and our Christian healing mission. His generosity and vocation as a great physician are his legacy. This is a loss that will be felt by many throughout the entire East Tennessee region and we will miss him deeply."
His co-workers in the medical field remember him fondly. Perhaps the one who knew him best is Helen Grooms, who served as his registered nurse for 15 years.
"I had worked for Dr. Mims before," recalled Grooms on Wednesday morning. "Then in 1975, I went to work for Dr. Valentine."
When asked to name what she first of when hearing Dr. Valentine's name, Grooms immediately replied, "A big teddy bear."
"People didn't know the good he did. I remember many Medicare patients and others who were simply too poor to pay," Grooms continued. "He treated them just as well and with as much respect and concern as he did the president of the bank. He was such a good doctor."
Commenting on her work with Valentine, Grooms said, "I never felt like he thought he was superior to me. He treated me the same as if I had been a doctor."
Grooms, who administered Valentine's yearly flu shot just days ago, recalled, "Once he and Wanda went to services with me at First Christian Church. When the preacher told him I was his doctor, Dr Valentine laughed and said, 'Well, she's my doctor, too.' I shall miss him deeply. He was my best friend."
Another co-worker of Valentine, Viola Seay, now Compliance/Risk Coordinator at Baptist Hospital of Cocke County, said, "I worked with Dr. Valentine for many years when we were Cocke County Memorial Hospital and after we became BHCC. He was loved by his patients and respected by his peers. Dr. Valentine had a deep commitment to the healthcare needs of our community and was a great supporter of our hospital. He will be missed for his commitment to health care and for his wonderful sense of humor."
Dr. Patti Ketterman, BHCC Administrator, said of Valentine, "I am proud to have worked professionally with Dr. Fred Valentine, Jr. as a young nurse in surgery, the delivery room, and on the general floor of Cocke County Memorial Hospital. He was a great physician and was dearly loved by all his patients. He will be especially remembered as the doctor who delivered thousands of newborns in Cocke County. There seemed to be an aura that surrounded him when he made rounds at the hospital. He talked to everyone and encouraged each and every one."
Continuing, Ketterman added, "Later in life I have been fortunate and blessed to have been friends with Dr. Valentine. He was an exceptional person, one who genuinely loved Cocke County and its people. I think that this is why he chose to live and practice medicine in Cocke County for so many years. Even though he was a retired physician, many former patients still sought his opinion. 'Dr. Fred, Jr.' wanted to see healthcare progress, and he was very generous in his financial support of the hospital and funded many educational programs. There was rarely a time when I was with him that someone didn't approach and say, 'You delivered me when I was born.' I think he was the last of a great breed of country doctors."
A member of what is now First United Methodist Church for 72 years, Valentine joined what was then the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1935.
Throughout the years, he was a staunch supporter and faithful member of the congregation.
The Rev. Freddrick Long, who became Valentine's pastor in June, 2002, said, "What a joy it has been having Dr. Valentine as a member of First United Methodist Church. He has been helpful in many ways and a faithful service of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Of the many Newport citizens who knew Valentine, several of their friendships with him date to the 1930s.
One of these is Roy T. Campbell, Jr., who served as Newport's city attorney while Valentine was mayor.
Campbell summed up Valentine as a person who was "very intelligent with a driving ambition to succeed. He had a vision for Newport."
"We entered first grade together," recalled Campbell, "and completed high school during the World War II years."
Both men were fine athletes and played high school football together as tackles. Valentine also played basketball under coach Jim Franks.
"Before he was an athlete, he was a fine pianist," Campbell continued. "He won numerous competitions as a grammar school student."
Campbell, 80, is about six months older than Valentine. "This meant that I could be drafted at the end of the war," said Campbell, "but Fred went to college and medical school. However, he eventually enlisted as a non-commissioned officer in the Air Force and was stationed at Bangor, Maine as a flight surgeon."
Although both men returned to Newport in the 1950s to begin their professional careers, it wasn't until Valentine was elected mayor that the two spent a great deal of time together.
They made many trips together to Atlanta where the federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) office was located dispensing grants to cities.
"When he took office as mayor," Campbell said, "the city was having financial difficulties. He brought fiscal responsibility and stability to the town. He was hands-on with the budget."
"Dr. Shults had previously served as mayor and offered advice to Dr. Valentine, Jr.," continued Campbell.
As friends, Campbell and Valentine frequently attended UT football games together, both at home and away, but persistent leg problems caused Valentine to attend fewer games as he got older, said Campbell.
Dr. Nathan Ford, retired Newport optometrist, graduated from high school with Valentine in 1945 and remained friends with him for over 65 years.
In recalling their friendship on Wednesday, Ford said, "I think Cocke County has lost one of its greatest ambassadors. He, I, and the late Bill Blazer worked together on the Economic Development Commission when it was founded. At the time Cocke County was struggling and about to lose several good businesses. Dr. Valentine worked to get a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission and eventually we got things back on track."
"He was a force for everything that was good for Newport and Cocke County," Ford concluded.
Valentine's death shocked State Representative Eddie Yokley, who issued the following statement:
"Seldom does a man of Dr. Valentine's stature walk among us. He touched the lives of so many people. The legacy he leaves behind through his exemplary character, many selfless contributions to our community, our county, and the great state of Tennessee will be remembered and treasured by his family, friends, and associates for many years to come.
"He was one of our community's brightest lights. He was a popular man and inspirational community leader. So much of what he did focused on our community and this state. He was an active visionary leader who worked tirelessly to make things better for others."
Cocke County Mayor Iliff R. McMahan, Jr., speaking of Valentine, said, "It is with a saddened heart that I have learned of the passing of a true friend and a wonderful man, Dr. Fred Valentine, Jr. My heart is sad not only personally and for Chris and his family, but also for this community, which he loved so much. Doc was a friend to all he met, and he treated people fairly, honestly, and compassionately.
"He was certainly one of the brightest people I've ever known, and he possessed a quick wit and dry sense of humor. He was an astute politician who never lost his keen sense for good business. Newport and Cocke County are much better off today because of the love, devotion, and commitment Doc shared over his lifetime as an outstanding physician, a dedicated Mayor of Newport, and a devoted family man. I admired him so, and I am blessed to have had him as my friend. I will miss him," ended McMahan.
Current Newport Mayor Connie Ball said of Valentine, "I've known Dr. Valentine all my life. To me, he was a friend and an icon for the city of Newport and all of Cocke County. He was a great leader and we're going to miss him very much.
"I got to see him on the golf course a lot, and I enjoyed his friendship. Words can't express what he's done for the community. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chris and his family," Ball concluded.
Sessions Court John A. Bell stated, "Dr. Valentine, or 'Doc,' as my family called him, was my personal friend. He was always giving advice and support to me and my family. Whether I saw 'Doc" at Jabo's for lunch or at the National Bank of Tennessee, it was always a pleasure to talk with him. His death comes as a shock to everyone. He will truly be irreplaceable. His service to Cocke County is immeasurable. Not only did he deliver countless babies and treat thousands of patients as Dr. Valentine, he also gave a tremendous amount of his time, energy, and resources to better our community. He was a genuine, sincere, and exemplary citizen. He will forever be remembered as a respected mayor, physician, and family friend."
Retired Circuit Court Judge Kenneth Porter, in remembering his long friendship with Dr. Valentine, observed, "Superlatives best describe Dr. Valentine: prizewinning pianist, stalwart athlete, entrepreneur, mayor, banker, world traveler, philanthropist, and kind, gentle, giving man in every way to all whose lives he touched."
Porter's wife, Janet, echoed her husband's comments, saying, "Fred was a true gentleman - generous to a fault and our friend. We will sorely miss him."
Additional Valentine friends, Dr. George Clark and his wife Joyce, also praised him. Of Valentine, Dr. Clark said, "The Newport and Cocke County community have lost their best friend. Fred loved this place and its people. The extent of his good works and the contributions on both the county and personal level, as well as the lives he has touched, will most likely never be known. Godspeed, Fred. We will miss you."
Joyce Clark added, "Fred Valentine was a wonderful and caring man. He meant so much to me because he made Chris so happy and she him."
Another friend of longstanding is Don Meredith, retired Tennessee Highway Patrol officer.
"Fred came back to Newport in the summer of 1954, and I was transferred here that September. We first became acquainted through my work when we would take accident victims to Valentine-Shults Hospital," said Meredith.
"As Bonnie and I became friends with Fred and Wanda, who were living then in the apartment over the hospital, we often played golf together and enjoyed golf trips and ballgames together.
"People thought the world of him. Wherever we went, people always asked, 'Do you know Dr. Valentine?' He was one of a kind, a man who went out of his way to do good. A lot of times he helped in the background, and people never knew it," Meredith ended.
Valentine's influence in local banking circles is legendary.
William "Bill" Agee, 89, served as an early president of National Bank of Tennessee and joined the bank when it opened in 1958. He was a longtime friend of the late Dr. Fred M. Valentine, Sr., who, along with the late Charles Rhyne, Sr., shared in the leadership of the bank.
Speaking of Dr. Valentine, Jr., with whom he worked at the bank for many years, he said, "He loved this community and wanted to see it reach its potential. I wish everybody could have a friend like Doc.
"His father and I were good friends. Both men were active in the Methodist Church and he (the son) was my doctor." Agee said that he got to know Dr. Valentine, Jr. more during his 16 years as Newport mayor.
"He did a great job as mayor. The community center is something he will always be remembered for," said Agee. It was Dr. Valentine's vision and leadership, which resulted in the multi-million dollar grant for the center.
Agee said that father and son shared many traits. Not only were they extraordinary doctors but also they were keen businessmen, dedicated to endeavors, interested in economic development, and Christian leaders.
"Doc was noted for his fiscal responsibility. He contributed much to the success of National Bank, and I believe it was because he knew so many people," said Agee, who served with the bank until the mid 1980s.
Agee continued, "He was one of the best friends I ever had. He just loved people and understood them. He knew that his father and I had been good friends. He became my doctor and treated me with kindness, doing everything he could to keep me in good health."
"Doc also had a good sense of humor and enjoyed a good funny story and would sometimes share these with others," ended Agee.
National Bank of Tennessee President and CEO Keith Ketterman has worked with Dr. Valentine since Ketterman joined the bank in 1984, and said, "One of the great Cocke Countians of all times has left us. Dr. Fred M. Valentine, Jr. dearly loved Newport and Cocke County. His fingerprints can be seen throughout our community by his medical practice, his political career, philanthropic endeavors, and his service to National Bank.
"Dr. Valentine was a person who did not dwell on the past but always looked forward to the future of Cocke County and its citizens. He supported the growth here and people with all his energy and continued to strive for excellence and progress.
"The directors and employees are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Valentine. He will truly be missed, not only as a doctor and business advisor, but, most of all, as our friend."
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 25 Nov 2007.
By Friday afternoon the highs were only in the upper 30s outside First Methodist Church for the funeral of our longtime friend and good physician, Dr. Fred M. Valentine Jr. Few people were ready to hear that he died unexpectedly in the afternoon on Tuesday. I heard he had a kidney removed days prior and never got his strength back. Those who I interviewed referred to him as a great friend, visionary, professional. He was wealthy yet generous and not pretentious or a conspicuous consumer. As Judge John Bell observed, while we talked sitting in the chapel, Doc's father and mother raised him to be mindful of his resources and a good steward. I found Dr. Valentine always to be courteous, astute, willing to support a worthy cause, never petty, a mentor and leader. As a young reporter, my first recollection of Doc was in the mid 1970s, when he as mayor led the groundbreaking for the new Cosby Highway. He has made news ever since in a positive way and that has been good for Newport.
Just Plain Talk - A week of beginnings and endings
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