Being a good natured person is essential to being roasted by your friends and family.
Luckily, John Hood is about as good natured as you can get.
He’ll need it when Post columnist Dan Whittle, MTSU Dean of Education Lana Severs, Ed Barlow and Bob Mifflin start throwing comedic insults at him at the City Schools Foundation Excellence in Education Celebration.
“I am honored and flattered to be chosen. Anything I can do to help Murfreesboro City Schools, I’ll do it,” said Hood, who attended the now-closed Critchlow Elementary School in Murfreesboro in his youth.
The evening honoring Hood begins with a pre-party, held by foundation trustee Elizabeth McPhee and MTSU President Sidney McPhee at their home. The pre-party is open to event sponsors and their guests, as well as Excellence guests who contribute an additional $50 toward the foundation.
Since it’s inception, the City Schools Foundation has contributed more than $250,000 to Murfreesboro City Schools’ 12 primary schools and more than 7,200 students.
The roast will take place Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Stones River Country Club. Individual tickets may be purchased for $250 each as a contribution to the foundation. For inquiries about sponsorships and tickets, contact Collier Smith at 615-828-7063.
“I would rather be honoring someone, than being the one honored,” Hood said. “But I’m excited to be able to raise money for schools.”
As the honoree, Hood is joining an elite group of public servants. Past honorees include: former NASA astronauts Dr. Rhea Seddon and “Hoot” Gibson, philanthropists Gloria and Ted LaRoche, community leader and first president of the City Schools Foundation Joyce Taylor and former U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon.
If there is anyone who belongs on this list, it is John Hood.
In his professional career, Hood has done anything and everything he could to promote education in Rutherford County.
“As my predecessor (state Rep. John) Bragg always said, ‘Roads plus schools equals jobs.’ To get the jobs of the future, we need an educated workforce,” Hood said.
Whether it’s through his 16 years on the Murfreesboro City School Board or by his stint in he Tennessee House of Representatives, Hood has spent his adult life as a statesman for education.
In fact, his list of accomplishments is rather long and no laughing matter.
He served on the Rutherford County Commission as chairman of the Health and Education Committee for 10 years, on the City School Board for 16 years, and as a member of the state House Education Committee and Higher Education Committee for 12 years.
“When he was a representative he secured dollar after dollar for our schools when our community was growing like wildfire,” said Excellence in Education Chairman and former state Sen. Andy Womack. “And, there is no more thankless task than serving on a local school board, and he did for 16 years.”
Hood also worked as the director of Development at MTSU from 1966-1976 and currently serves as director of Government and Community Affairs.
That doesn’t even account for his volunteer service with the Exchange Club and Read to Succeed.
So, what insults do you hurl at a man who has dedicated his life to bettering his community?
“Apparently this was my children’s idea, so I don’t know what I’m in for,” Hood said, adding his kids probably won’t have any problems making fun of him.
But roaster Whittle, for one, is stumped.
“Being a ‘roaster’ of John Hood is one of the most interesting challenges I’ve had as a roasting speaker, but quite the honor to be asked,” Whittle said, adding he is still trying to dig up some dirt.
“I’m researching presently with a high school classmate of Sir John, Mr. smooth-former radio voice of area sports and all things good in Rutherford County,” Whittle continued. “So far, the classmate has resisted my offers of bribes in attempt to get some ‘colorful’ events about Mr. Public Relations of Murfreesboro and Middle Tennessee State University. But, being a determined, semi-retired newspaperman, I ain’t through digging.”
Womack, on the other hand, is looking forward to the evening.
“He has a fantastic sense of humor and roasting him will be great fun, but don’t get me wrong, his commitment to education is serious,” Womack said. |
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