You can hardly pick up a local newspaper, magazine or periodical without seeing the name or photo of Liz Rhea.
So, who, exactly, is Liz Rhea?
My friend Liz recently supplied me with some facts of her history and I am happy to share them with the community. Liz was born Liz Hay in Eagleville and had two brothers and three sisters. One of those sisters is now deceased.
She attended Eagleville High and later Middle Tennessee State University (then known as Middle Tennessee State College). She graduated from MTSC in 1955 and went to the University of Tennessee Memphis Medical School where she obtained her medical degree with a specialty in radiology.
It was in radiology class that she met her future husband, Dr. Creighton Rhea. Creighton was the teacher, Liz the student. She graduated in 1958 and they married in 1961. In 1962 they moved to Murfreesboro where Creighton worked for the Murfreesboro Medical Clinic.
Creighton would work in the mornings at the clinic and Liz would join him in the afternoon. They traveled to surrounding areas (Sparta, Jamestown, Livingston, Monterey among others) to practice radiology where there were no radiologists at the time. She called it "riding circuit."
In 1970 they both joined the Veterans Administration Hospital and transferred to Houston, Texas in 1973. In 1979 the Doctors Rhea joined the Department of Radiology at the Beaumont Army Medical Center at Fort Bliss in El Paso. They stayed there until they retired and moved back to Murfreesboro in 1992 to be closer to her mother. Liz's mother passed away in 2003, and sadly she lost Creighton in 2004.
Since the time Liz has been in Murfreesboro, her feet have hardly touched the ground. She began volunteering, with Creighton by her side, for any cause in which she became interested.
And volunteer she did. If there was a need, Liz met it.
Liz currently serves on the boards of the following organizations (in no particular order): Center for Domestic Violence, Discovery House, Alive Hospice of Nashville, Hospice of Murfreesboro, St. Rose School, Middle Tennessee Medical Clinic Ambassadors, American Heart Association, American Cancer Association, Habitat for Humanity, Stones River Medical Alliance, First Bank and the MTSU Alumni Board.
In addition, she is on the commissions or cabinets of United Way, St. Clair Senior Citizens Center and the Center for the Arts. She is past president of the MTSU National Alumni Board. Dr. Rhea is also on the board of the Hope Clinic and received their Olin Williams Award for Excellence by a Physician the same year she received their Community Service Award for her volunteer activities. She is a past president of the Blue Raider Athletic Association and is currently on its advisory board.
By her admission, her favorite causes are MTSU and the Middle Tennessee Medical Center Foundation. You can see that that's not stopping her from helping anyone else.
Years ago Oaklands had a wonderful cookbook compiled by members and sold in its gift shop. When I told Liz casually that I thought they needed another one because the original was so good and out of print, she said, "You get it published and I'll sell it." What a woman!
Liz is enthusiastic, tireless, devoted and unrelenting. She's kind of like the Energizer Bunny-she never stops.
She told me recently that she "sort of believes that people have to give their time and talents to their causes" and says that everything she has she owes to her beginnings at MTSC. Liz says that MTSC made a big impression on her because it gave her start. School officials let her work her way through college in the chemistry department, and if they had not she would not have been able to go to medical school.
She said, "I try to make a difference in the organizations I serve through."
Probably everyone in Murfreesboro has been touched indirectly by Liz Rhea's largess whether they realize it or not, and in her this city has a tangible treasure.
When she received the Hope Clinic Olin Williams Service Medal she said, "I have received so much more than I have given."
Those who complain about the fact that Murfreesboro is growing so much should thank its lucky stars that Liz and Creighton Rhea found their way back home. It would probably take 10 people to replace her. It is Liz, not this writer, who should be named "Mrs. Murfreesboro."
If you could bottle Liz Rhea, she'd be sold out in the first release…. but I doubt any of us could afford it.
For your countless unselfish ways and service above self and duty, from your community, Liz…. many, many thanks.
Til later.
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