Ross Newman Robinson came to Kingsport in 1921 as the principal of Kingsport High School, having previously graduated from Carson-Newman College and serving in the field artillery during World War I.  Three years later, at the age of 30, he became superintendent of Kingsport City Schools.  By the time he retired in 1954, a community with three schools had grown to one with two high schools, a junior high, and six elementary schools.  A new school bearing his name was opened in 1955.

 

In a recent piece written by former city manager and local historian Jeff Fleming, Mr. Fleming references a quote from the Board of Education at that time stating, “The reputation of Kingsport schools are directly the result of the efforts and direction of Mr. Robinson in adhering to sound and conservative educational policy in the administration of the system, and in his careful selection and development of a competent staff of principals and teachers.”  When we talk about Kingsport City Schools standing on the shoulders of the greats that have come before us, this quote reflects that there is likely no better example of this, than with Mr. Robinson.

 

After a 33 year career with Kingsport City Schools, Mr. Robinson retired and lived in Kingsport, spending much of the rest of his life volunteering throughout the community.  He is certainly an icon in the history of Kingsport education and is forever recognized for his effective leadership during such a monumental time in the growth of Kingsport.

Walter Edward “Buck” Van Huss was born in 1919 and was raised during the Great Depression. His parents instilled character in him from an early age. At six years old, he was already practicing his basketball shots using a barrel hook on a corn crib as a hoop. He enrolled at Happy Valley High School in his senior year to play for the legendary Coach John Treadway. During that year, Buck earned a scholarship to Lincoln Memorial University. He studied at LMU for two years, but war broke out and Buck volunteered to serve his country by joining the US Army and was stationed in England and then France. 

 

One of his fun duties while serving in the Army was organizing basketball and baseball teams with the troops wherever he was stationed. Post-WWII, he returned where he met and married Mary Lynn Cannon. He also soon realized his passion for teaching and coaching was paramount. 

 

He applied for and successfully received the GI bill for WWII veterans, and enrolled and graduated from East Tennessee State University.  Buck began his coaching career at the age of 33 at Hampton High School, where he took a team of “Minute Men” to win the State Championship in 1960.  After many successful years at Hampton High School, achieving a record of 484 - 133, he was recruited and accepted the head basketball coaching position at Dobyns-Bennett High School in 1967. This was a role he treasured until his passing in 1990.

 

During his 23 year tenure at Dobyns-Bennett, Buck amassed a remarkable coaching record of 537 wins. His teams won 10 District and 11 Regional titles. He also led the Indians to the State tournament eight times in his first 14 years. During those 23 years at D-B, Buck fostered and developed generations of students and athletes with a strong school spirit.

 

In addition to basketball, Buck was an avid golfer, coaching the Dobyns-Bennett Golf Team. He also took great pride in his Mechanical Drawing classes, where he mentored students who did not participate in sports. His dedication was beyond athletics, and he was a beloved role model, community servant, and most of all a dedicated Godly husband and beautiful father. 

 

Buck and Mary Lynn loved the City of Kingsport, Dobyns-Bennett, and the countless students, athletes, and fans. Buck’s legacy remains a testament to unwavering education, leadership, and love for youth. His story will certainly continue to inspire future generations of students,
athletes, and coaches.

After receiving her undergraduate and masters degrees from East Tennessee State University, Lora began a teaching career that would span more than four decades… beginning at Church Hill High School, then Volunteer High School, and finally, for 30 years at Dobyns-Bennett, starting in 1986.

 

While at D-B, she served as the Wellness Department Chairperson and also served on school accreditation teams for wellness for Sullivan North School and Sullivan South High Schools.  She co-developed the Kingsport City Schools wellness curriculum and certified KCS middle and high school coaches in American Red Cross CPR, while also assisting in certifying students for American Red Cross Lifeguarding.  Outside of the classroom, she co-instructed women’s self defense classes for KCS teachers and served as a supervisor and mentor for student teachers from E.T.S.U. and King College.  Her excellence in the classroom was recognized in 2013, when she was named the Dobyns-Bennett Teacher of the Year.

 

Lora also had an illustrious coaching career, serving as the D-B girls basketball coach from 1986-1996.  During that tenure, three of her teams reached the state sweet 16, and were twice state semi-finalists.  Her teams also were regional champions and conference co-champions.  During the 1993-94 season, Lora was named the Northeast Tennessee Coach of the Year, and in 2024, began the “Lora Fowler Big East Hustle Award” for girls basketball.

 

But it wasn’t just at the high school level where her impact was felt.  She also implemented the FUNdamentals Basketball Camp for elementary and middle school girls.  In 1997, her attention turned to the pool, where she began a 13 year tenure as an assistant swim coach.  During that time, she taught American Red Cross lifeguarding certification and implemented the “Aqua-tic” swim school for children ages 4-12.

 

She credits her faith and the support of her parents, sibling, and family’s love and encouragement as being instrumental in achieving her dream of being a teacher.  Lora says that to her, teaching is a calling and not just a job, giving thanks and credit to God.

 

Ms. Fowler retired from KCS in 2016, but her influence on the lives of countless students and the Kingsport community looms large.

In 1971, Dr. McPherson began a 40-year career with KCS as a special education teacher at Washington-Lee Elementary.  After three years in that position and at the age of 25, she assumed the responsibilities of being the first KCS Director of Special Education, a position she held for 14 years.  During that time, she developed and supervised a comprehensive spectrum of services for over 1,000 exceptional students, launching the first program for autistic students in the region, behavior management, early intervention, and intellectually gifted programs, a life-centered career education-alternative school, a modified classroom for pregnant students, and a special education transportation system.

 

In 1988, her responsibilities extended to the Director of Special Services, where she conceptualized and developed the initial phase of the Early Childhood Learning Center and oversaw the district-wide staff development program.

 

From 1990 to 2007, Dr. McPherson served as principal, first of Washington Elementary, and then for 14 years as principal of John Sevier Middle School, during which time she was named the 1995 Tennessee Middle School Principal of the Year.  As a leader, she was constantly searching for innovative ways to support students.  While at Washington, she developed the Inter-Generational Learning Experience and Arts for Performance, or I-LEAP program, an extended school-day enrichment program involving approximately 200 students each quarter.

 

She was especially adept at finding pathways to overcome challenges, such as providing effective leadership when Sevier was closed for extensive renovations in 1994.  During that time, 6th graders were moved to Robinson Middle School while 7th and 8th graders and their teachers were housed in the old Washington School on the corner of East Sevier and Watauga streets, returning to a completely upgraded Sevier facility in 1997.

 

Perhaps one of the things Dr. McPherson is most known for as a principal is for personally writing and mailing birthday cards to students and staff… over 10,000 cards in total.  In fact, many students commented over the years that they had never received a birthday card before.  Each year, the cards featured artwork by students, which was selected by a blind review process among staff members.  Dr. McPherson wrote encouraging and personal comments for each student, based on things like grades, activities, and improvements.

 

As a principal, Dr. McPherson was a fierce advocate for her school, students, and staff.  During her tenure, over $1 million in grants were written by Dr. McPherson for Sevier.  Along with her staff, Sevier teachers and administrators implemented a Home Visit program, with the goal of at least one teacher visiting every student’s home at some point during his or her middle school experience.  And those poster-size photos of students that are found in schools across the district?  That started at Sevier during Dr. McPherson’s tenure, highlighting the focus of our collective efforts as educators.

 

In 2007, she was named the KCS Assistant Superintendent for Academic Initiatives and Support.  In that role, she continued to innovate, developing and implementing the KCS Teacher Leader Academy and other targeted professional development for employees across the district.

 

After retiring from KCS, Dr. McPherson continued to lead through positions with the Niswonger Foundation, the Kingsport Music Club, the Colonial Heights United Methodist Church Pre-School Board, and as a founding member and participant of the Forty Fingers Concert Series.