2022 Inductees

KCS Hall of Fame Class of 2022

8th Annual Kingsport City Schools Hall of Fame Ceremony: July 25, 2022

Kingsport City Schools recognized and inducted five members of the eighth class of the Kingsport City Schools Hall of Fame, during the back to school teacher Convocation event on July 25, 2022.

Established as the keystone award for former employees, the KCS Hall of Fame recognizes those individuals that have most impacted the Kingsport educational community during their careers with KCS.

NEWS RELEASE

The class of 2022 elected to the KCS Hall of Fame includes:

Mr. Donald Christian

MODERN ERA CATEGORY (RETIRED less than 25 years from induction)

Mr. Donald Christian retired in 2016 with 25 years of service (1991-2016) as a bus driver for Kingsport City Schools. Having retired from the trucking industry in 1991, Mr. Christian used his knowledge of the road and the mechanics of vehicles to establish a KCS bus drivers training program for new hires. Over the years, Mr. Christian has been responsible for training hundreds of KCS bus drivers while maintaining his daily routes. He is noted for demonstrating great enthusiasm for instilling high expectations for the drivers he's trained and for placing student safety as a number one priority. He is recognized for his positive attitude, knowledge, and devotion to his job and has proven to be an unparalleled source of inspiration to the KCS Transportation Department and to all who know him. Donald Christian was elected to the KCS Hall of Fame in the Modern Era category (Retired less than 25 years from induction).

Ms. Cora Cox

TRADITION ERA CATEGORY (RETIRED 25 to 49 years from induction)

Ms. Cora Cox retired in 1982 with 39 years of service (1943-1982) as a special education teacher for Kingsport City Schools. Ms. Cox began working in Kingsport as a teacher and girls basketball coach in the 1940s at Douglass High School, the city's African-American high school. She is noted for being one of the most inspiring, nurturing, and persistent teachers at Douglass. After Kingsport's desegregation and the closure of Douglass in 1966, Ms. Cox taught at Robinson Middle School, Sevier Middle School, and Johnson Elementary School during her tenure with KCS. While teaching, she obtained her master's degree in special education, where it is said she demonstrated a passion for motivating special needs children. Many of her former special education students entered the workforce after graduation with a determination to succeed. Ms. Cox is noted for being a driving source of energy for public education where she initiated the Kingsport Head Start program, championed programs for autistic children, and was twice named the KCS Teacher of the Year. In 1977 she was named Tennessee Teacher of the Year for her exemplary service. In 2012, KCS named a building in her honor - Cora Cox Academy. Cora Cox was posthumously elected to the KCS Hall of Fame in the Tradition Era category (Retired 25 to 49 years from induction).

Mr. Douglas Dade

TRADITION ERA CATEGORY (RETIRED 25 to 49 years from induction)

Mr. Douglas Dade retired in 1996 with 36 years of service (1959-1996) as a teacher for Kingsport City Schools. Mr. Dade served as an English Language Arts teacher for Sevier Middle School and taught summer school English at Dobyns-Bennett High School. In addition, Mr. Dade served as president of the Kingsport Teachers Association for a number of years. Upon returning from a military tour of duty in Korea in 1959, he began teaching at Sevier Middle School while working on his master's degree as a new teacher. Mr. Dade, was affectionately known by his former students for his tremendous passion for grammar, diagramming sentences, and his giant Larry Bird poster. Both former students and colleagues have acknowledged his calm, light-hearted, consistent, and fair personality, which garnered respect from all. In 1985 he received the KCS Outstanding Educator Award for exceptional service and the positive impact he had on his students. Mr. Dade is recognized for how influential he was in the development and success in shaping his student's lives. Douglas Dade was elected to the KCS Hall of Fame in the Tradition Era category (Retired 25 to 49 years from induction).

Mr. Randy Quillin

MODERN ERA CATEGORY (RETIRED less than 25 years from induction)

Mr. Randy Quillin retired in 2012 with 40 year of service (1972-2012) as a teacher, coach, and administrator for Kingsport City Schools. During Mr. Quillin's tenure with KCS, he has served as a Dobyns-Bennett High School physical education/wellness teacher (head of the department), assistant principal, assistant girls basketball coach, assistant football coach, and freshman baseball coach. While at Sevier Middle School, he was a physical education/wellness teacher, assistant principal, head girls basketball coach, assistant football coach, assistant boys basketball coach, and co-head track coach. In addition, Mr. Quillin served in the Navy, Navy Reserves, and the Tennessee Army National Guard. During his time as an administrator, he artfully mastered the skill of disciplining students while still working with them to improve and build upon their behavior, academics, and growth as a young person. He is noted for his outstanding leadership skills, love for his community, and his overall commitment to supporting all students to the highest degree. Mr. Quillin is recognized for possessing the skills, passion, and knowledge to effectively teach, coach, mentor, and lead; changing the lives and paths of generations of students. Randy Quillin was elected to the KCS Hall of Fame in the Modern Era category (Retired less than 25 years from induction).

Mr. LeRoy Sprankle

LEGACY ERA CATEGORY (RETIRED 50 years or more from induction)

Coach LeRoy Sprankle retired in 1943 with 21 years of service (1922-1943) as a teacher, coach, and athletic director for Kingsport City Schools. Coach Sprankle was recruited to Kingsport in 1922 to teach Algebra and most notably to coach all of the athletic programs for Kingsport High School. He was the head basketball, head baseball, and head track coach. Coach Sprankle's first quarterback, the legend, Bobby Dodd, made it known that Coach Sprankle was like a second father to him and was directly responsible for his successes and those of generations of Kingsport athletes. Some of those athletes include George Peters, Jitney Blankenbeckler, and Bobby Cifers - all Dobyns-Bennett Alumni Hall of Fame inductees. While athletic director, Coach Sprankle with heavily involved in the construction of J. Fred Johnson Stadium. Upon retirement, Coach Sprankle published the book, My Boys, which told the story of his football team and the players at Dobyns-Bennett. The dedication of the Sprankle Gymnasium (Sevier Middle School), was an indication of his impact on Kingsport athletics. Coach Sprankle is remembered for laying the groundwork for one of the most successful high school programs in the United States... the "Father of East Tennessee Athletics." LeRoy Sprankle was posthumously elected to the KCS Hall of Fame in the Legacy Era category (Retired 50 years or more from induction).