Vietnam Veteran Mike Reeder Celebrated As Hometown Hero

Local veteran Mike Reeder is being honored for his service and love for our country in big ways this month. With Veteran's Day on 11.11.11, he'll spend the morning with the fourth graders at Oakview Elementary sharing his story and being celebrated for his service. Mike has also been chosen as the November Darrell Waltrip Automotive Hometown Hero.

Reeder lost both of his legs in Vietnam, but he "hasn't let that slow him down", according to Earl Hensel, an acquaintance of Reeder's, and supporter of Outward Bound, an organization that assists returning disabled veterans in coping with life in America and the sponsor of the nomination for his Hometown Hero award.

Now retired he is known as an accomplished golfer, recently being featured in an ESPN report chronicling his journey to play on the old course at St. Andrews, and shooting a 79 while there.

"When we received Mike's nomination the decision to honor him was a no-brainer. He is a hero to not only our local community, but a hero to our nation", said John Gallagher, General Manager of Darrell Waltrip Automotive.

As a part of the Hometown Hero award $500 will be donated in his honor to Mike's charity of choice- Challenged Athletes Foundation, the non-profit who sent Mike and his wife to Scotland to play at St. Andrews.

Darrell Waltrip Automotive's Hometown Heroes is a monthly event honoring Middle Tennessee residents who have made a positive impact on their community. Nominate your hero at http://www.darrellwaltrip.com/.

25th Anniversary Celebration

Join Darrell Waltrip Automotive on Saturday, October 8 from 11:00am to 2:00pm at 1430 Murfreesboro Road, as they thank the community for making their last twenty-five years of business a success!

“Our hope has always been to invest in the community the way the community has invested in us,” says General Manager, John Gallagher. “This event is our way of saying thank you to the residents of Williamson County and the surrounding area for supporting us for 25 years.”

The free community celebration and lunch will be held in the parking lot of the Honda showroom, complemented by local nonprofit partners hosting activities for families. Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt is teaming up with Trace Bikes to provide children ages 6-12 with a Bicycle Safety Rodeo. Mercy Children’s Clinic will be hosting carnival games with prizes, the Franklin Family YMCA is providing bounce houses, and there will be music on-site. Snow Ball Heaven has been invited to give out snow-cones, and there will be police cars and fire trucks to explore.

The community is invited to come and celebrate, free of charge. For more information visit http://www.darrellwaltrip.com.

Evelyn Hickerson named DWA Hometown Hero for August

Left: Cathy Buchanan & Right: Evelyn Hickerson accept a grant from Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation (MTEMC)
To inspire and impact the lives of both children and adults is a quality that most people only hope to attain. This month, Darrell Waltrip Automotive’s Hometown Hero award goes to one woman who has successfully attained this level of influence. For her compassion toward educating and inspiring individuals of all ages and backgrounds, Evelyn Hickerson is named the Hometown Hero this August.

Evelyn Hickerson has been teaching for over 30 years, currently teaching at Johnson Elementary School in Franklin. In the summer of 2010 she started Gentry’s Educational Foundation in honor of her parents, James and Josephine Gentry. Using the money left to her upon their passing, she and her husband Robert started the foundation to give children in Franklin the opportunity to enrich their lives through education, support, and mentoring.

Gentry’s Summer Camp is offered at no cost to elementary age students from diverse backgrounds. It includes reading, math, technology, fitness, science, creative arts, and character education classes taught by teachers from Johnson Elementary. The one-month camp has had an extremely high success rate. Since their start in the summer of 2010, they have already doubled in size.

“This is all of Evelyn’s heart,” says close friend, coworker, and partner in expanding Gentry’s Foundation programs, Cathy Buchanan. “Her drive, her will, and her never giving up…she really is an angel here on Earth.”

In May, Cathy Buchanan heard about Darrell Waltrip Automotive’s Hometown Heroes campaign. She spread the word to her coworkers at Johnson Elementary School, inspiring nearly 30 nominations for Mrs. Evelyn Hickerson – the most nominations for one individual thus far in the Hometown Heroes campaign. Together the teachers shared compelling stories as to why Mrs. Hickerson should be a DWA Hometown Hero.

“Her generous spirit is providing for children that might not have other places to be for summer, children who need remediation to have success in school, and those who need the support of caring adults as mentors.” -Jan Cochran, former principal of JES

“She has a way of making everyone she comes into contact with, coworkers and students feel special and loved.” -Erin Lefkovitz.

“Evelyn is a tireless champion for children.” - Venetia Henry

“Helping children is her love, and she is ours!” - Colleen Hooper

“She has encouraged and helped many younger teachers in reaching their goals as educators. She inspires many and makes sure that all children have the opportunity to learn.” -Dinah Wade.

“Everyone that Mrs. Hickerson touches is a better person after knowing this incredible women! She goes out of her way for children every day and gives hope to so many people.” – Bethany Wiseman

“Her love for children to do their best and us to give them our best makes her my hometown hero.” -Deborah Willett.

An assembly will be held in Mrs. Hickerson’s honor in October and will include performances by her students and a check presentation for Gentry’s Educational Foundation from DWA. To learn more about the foundation, visit www.gentryseducationalfoundation.com.

Darrell Waltrip Automotive’s Hometown Heroes is a monthly event honoring Middle Tennessee residents who have made a positive impact on their community. Nominate your hero at www.darrellwaltrip.com. If you have been inspired by this story to get involved in your community, please visit www.givingmatters.com.

Kenny Lane Awarded as July's Hometown Hero

July's Hometown Hero award goes to Kenny Lane, former Fire Chief of Brentwood, for serving such a vital role in the development of Brentwood’s Fire Department and for his dedication to bettering his entire community.

Kenny Lane has served the Fire Department from the beginning of its inception in 1986. Since 1993, he has led the department as the Fire Chief, retiring from the department on June 30th of this year.

Mary Phillips, the President of the Brentwood Woman’s Club, nominated Kenny Lane as Darrell Waltrip Automotive’s Hometown Hero. In honor of his retirement, they purchased a Rehab Emergency Trailer to use for disasters and emergency situations in the Middle Tennessee area.

Lane has chosen to give the $500 donation by Darrell Waltrip Automotive to a non-profit organization that he has a high regard for, the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home of Brentwood. “I am honored to be able to do this for such a worthy organization that has done so much for their community,” says Lane. “They have helped so many kids who have had a rough start.” Kenny has been involved with Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home throughout his career with the city of Brentwood and through his association with the Rotary Club.

About Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes
Tennessee Baptist Children's Homes, Inc, a non-profit organization founded in 1891, is a ministry of the churches of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, which provides residential care to children. Thousands of children in Tennessee suffer the pain and loneliness of a family in crisis. TBCH cares for approximately 200 of these children each year who find themselves without a place to call home due to family crisis. All children are accepted regardless of race, creed, or socio-economic background. They have six campuses across Tennessee and the Houses of Healing and Hope in Brentwood care for the single parents and their children.

Williamson County American Red Cross Donation

Darrell Waltrip Honda is donating $1 for every new follower on Facebook/Twitter to the Williamson County chapter of the American Red Cross.

If you haven't become a fan of Darrell Waltrip Honda, follow the links below to get started!