Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

As you head into Memorial Day Weekend, we wish you safety in your travel and activities. This weekend is a time to remember those who lost their lives defending our freedom, as well as those who have been wounded or who have served or are still serving in any capacity. We are eternally grateful for our soldiers' sacrifices and service!  

While reflecting on our military heroes this weekend, I invite you to peruse our Greatest Generation and Support Our Troops blogs. These blogs have been put together by UGA and Athens legend Claude McBride, and they are filled with wonderful stories of UGA graduates who have defended our country over the years.  

CLICK HERE to visit the Greatest Generation blog.

CLICK HERE to visit the Support Our Troops blog. 

Thank you, veterans and troops, and Go Dawgs!

UGA graduate now a golf curator at St. Andrews

My favorite thing about meeting with UGA graduates from across the country is hearing all of your wonderful stories and accomplishments. Recently, at UGA Day in Nashville, I was speaking with Josh Parker (BBA '00) when he told me about his father, Dr. Tony Parker (AB '90, MA '92). Last year, Dr. Parker was named curator of the "Lawrence Levy Photograph Golf Collection" at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. 

His assignment is to organize and catalogue the more than 240,000 images taken between 1978 and 1994 by Levy, who lost a battle to cancer in 1994.  Of course, living and working in St. Andrews, we hear that Tony may be enjoying a little golf, as well!

Dr. Parker isthe first Curator of Golf History in the 600-year history of the University of St. Andrews. They are currently raising funds to build a purpose-built facility to house their Special Collections. Knowing how much we cherish our own Special Collections Libraries, I know how valuable that addition will be to St. Andrews.

An excerpt from an article by Loran Smith on Parker in the September 4, 2012 edition of the Athens Banner-Herald describes his path to this project:

After graduating with a masters degree in history from UGA in 1992, Parker enrolled at the University of St. Andrews, where he received a degree in Scottish history in 1996. He and his wife, Lisa, who grew up in Alpharetta and is also a UGA graduate, decided to stay in Scotland. Last year, they became Scottish citizens and now have dual passports.

Following the conferring of his doctorate, Parker became the administrative director of the Institute for Transatlantic, European and American Studies at the University of Dundee, where he taught for 12 years.

Leaving the University of Dundee in 2008, he formed the Parker Group Scotland, which specialized in Scottish and golf-related history, educational consultations and photography.

In 2007, Parker was introduced to the Queen and Prince Philip for his "contributions to the people of the United Kingdom." 

Dr. Parker, I and the thousands of UGA graduates who are avid golfers or golf fans are so proud of your role at the home of golf. We know you miss fall afternoons 'Between the Hedges,' but we know that replacing them with fall afternoons on the Old Course is not too bad an alternative!

Well done, and Go Dawgs!

This post was sourced from an article by Loran Smith in the September 4, 2012 edition of the Athens Banner-Herald.  CLICK HERE to read the full article.  

Photo credit:  Courtesy of Tony Parker

Betsy Crossley (BS ’77, MS ’80) elected mayor of Nashville suburb

Congratulations to newly elected Brentwood, Tenn., Mayor Betsy Crossley (BS ’77, MS ’80)!

Elected as a Brentwood City Commissioner in 2007, Crossley previously served as mayor from 2009 until 2011. She has been a member of the city's Historic Commission, Planning Commission, Tree Board and Library Board. For the past five years, she has served as a member of the Tennessee Municipal League's Board advocating on behalf of municipalities. On the state level, Crossley was appointed to a three-year term on the Tennessee Water and Wastewater Financing Board by the governor in 2011. In 2012, the Speaker of the House appointed her to a two-year term as a member of the Tennessee Local Development Authority. Crossley was the first woman ever appointed to serve in that position.

The alumna moved to Brentwood in 1999. Prior to her public service there, she was a medical researcher and teacher. Her community involvement includes Christ United Methodist Church, the Williamson County Education Foundation Board, Leadership and Youth Leadership Brentwood, Williamson County Chamber of Commerce, Brentwood Rotary Club, and the American Heart Association.

She has been married for more than 30 years to her husband, George. They have two sons who graduated from the University of Tennessee (we’ll let that slide).

We are so impressed with Crossley’s commitment to her community and are impressed by her continued leadership in the Nashville area. Best of luck in this term, Betsy!