Museum of Appalachia Honors Dr. Joe Johnson and Jim Hart

NORRIS — The Museum of Appalachia on Oct. 1 celebrated Dr. Joseph E. Johnson and James M. Hart at its “Heroes of Southern Appalachia” award ceremony. Guests from throughout the region gathered in the Museum’s Heritage Hall to pay tribute to the night’s honorees.

“It was a special night,” said University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd, who also served as one of the evening’s award presenters. Boyd honored Johnson, while Hon. Gary R. Wade and Stephen W. Dean paid tribute to Hart.

The Museum’s criteria for choosing recipients included honoring a person(s) from the Southern Appalachian region who exemplifies the characteristics of perseverance, fortitude, self-reliance, and service.

“Both Dr. Johnson and Mr. Hart have dedicated their lives to this region and its people,” says Museum President Elaine Irwin Meyer. “They truly embody the spirit of Southern Appalachia.”

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Johnson, of Vernon, Alabama, spent more than six decades at the University of Tennessee, serving as system president from 1990-1999 and 2003-2004.

As president, he ushered in a tremendous period of growth and expansion, as he brought multiple state campuses together into a single system and expanded the boundaries of the Knoxville campus, allowing for the growth of the student population from 10,000 to 30,000.

Over the course of his career, Johnson spearheaded several record-setting fundraising campaigns and facilitated the creation of UT-Battelle — a company that manages the nation's largest multi-program science and technology laboratory, ORNL.

Boyd describes Johnson as nothing less than “a UT legend.”

“His legacy is inspirational. We’re so grateful for the impact he’s made over the last fifty-plus years.”

Hart is "the best boss I ever had,” declared Wade, retired Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice. Many of the evening’s presenters and attendees would go on to echo this sentiment.

Hart, an East Tennessee native, was general manager of WBIR-TV for 13 years. It was there that he created the "Heartland" series — a program that shared the culture and stories of the people of Southern Appalachia. The show aired for 25 years and was described by the late U.S. Senator Howard Baker as "the last iteration of our history and culture of a generation.”

For the past 20 years, Hart has served as president of Friends of the Smokies. During his tenure, the organization has raised more than $75 million to fund historic preservation, wildlife management, and environmental education.

Proceeds from Heroes of Southern Appalachia benefit the Museum of Appalachia, a 501(c)3 organization, and are used in support of its mission to preserve Southern Appalachian history and culture.

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Museum of Appalachia Honors Dr. Joe Johnson and Jim Hart