23 Feb Remembering Sam Powell . . . . BreakAway Volunteers Wanted . . . . Trail Building Jobs . . . .
CTC Co-Founder Sam Powell Dies
Sam H. Powell, 86, of Signal Mountain, devoted his whole life to building hiking trails, conservation and improvement of the environment, died on February 8, 2019. He was married to the late Emilie Ervin Powell for 61 years. A native of Tarpon Springs, Fla., he was the son of the late William Marshall Powell and Margaret Harvey Bomar Powell.
Sam Powell
He grew up in Fla. and Haley, Tenn., and served in the U.S. Army 1953-54 during the Korean War. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UTK) in 1958. Sam worked his entire life in the electric utility industry, starting as a lineman with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in West Tennessee and Kentucky in 1951.
Following graduation from UTK, he join TVA at Chattanooga in 1959 where he worked 40 years, retiring in 1994 as manager of co-generation and small power production. He was active in the UT Alumni Association for many years, serving as the Hamilton County Chapter president. He was a two-term member of the General Alumni Board of Governors and in the 1960s led a group of UT Alumni in Hamilton County to contact Dr. Andrew Holt, president of the University of Tennessee (UT), to ask that UT establish a campus in Chattanooga.
Working with Third District legislators and Paul Kinser, the governor’s representative in Hamilton County, the group was able to get the University of Chattanooga to become the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1968. Sam served a term on the UTC Chancellor’s Round-table. He was also a member of the Tennessee Conservation Commission for five terms (15 years).
Sam was a founding member of the Cumberland Trail, which runs from Signal Mountain 300 miles across the state to Cumberland Gap. This trail continues to grow with additional parts that spin off to connect various parks. In addition, he was chairman of the Cumberland Trail Conference, and was a founding member and longtime director of the Tennessee River Gorge Trust.
Preservation of the environment was very important to Sam and in addition to the many other groups he was active in he served on the Tennessee State Committee on Off-Highway Vehicles and the Tennessee Riverpark Advisory Committee which oversaw Hamilton County Parks for many years.
On Signal Mountain he served as chairman of the Parks Board, was an environmental monitor for the construction of Shackleford Ridge Recreational Park, obtained grants and led the development of four miles of hiking trails within Shackleford Ridge and directed the building of a trail system connecting Green Gorge with Rainbow Lake and the Cumberland Trail. Sam spearheaded the building of two bridges in the Green Gorge section of the Mountain.
Other groups Sam was active in include: the Chattanooga Engineers Club, the Association of Energy Engineers (International) and the International Cogeneration Society. He served as president of the Chattanooga Audubon Society for two years and for 16 years was Scoutmaster to Boy Scout Troop 130 on Signal Mountain. He even assisted the Signal Mountain Police department as an auxiliary officer for many years.
Awards given to Sam included: the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Lifetime Environment/Conservation Achievement Award for 2002, the Tennessee Governor’s Greenways and Trails Award for 1999, the Cumberland Trail Award for 1998, the Chattanooga Engineers Club People-To- People Award for 1990, the Tennessee Division of Forestry Friend of Forestry Award for 1986, the Signal Mountain Junior High Father-of-the-Year Award for 1982, the Tennessee Trails Association Trails award for 1980 and the Boy Scouts of America Award of Merit and Eagle Scout. In honor of Sam’s dedication to his community, the town of Signal Mountain dedicated “Sam Powell Trail” as a new road through Shackleford Ridge Park. It is now the official address for Signal Mountain Middle High School.
He is survived by daughter Julia Powell Rafter, her husband Michael and son Jaden Powell Rafter of Milton, Georgia; sisters-in-law Nancy Ervin Powell, Wartrace, Tenn., and Susan Ervin Callis, Findlay, Ohio; brother-in-law Nat Ervin and his wife Bonnie of Ashland City, Tenn.; and Judy Ervin (wife of brother-in-law Kimery Ervin), Columbia, Tenn. He is predeceased by sisters Marie Powell Bragg, Tullahoma, Tenn., and Rose Powell Clinard, Shelbyville, Tenn.; brother Robert Stone Powell; and brothers-in-law Larry Callis, Carey, Ohio and Kimery Ervin, Columbia, Tenn..
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 12 p.m. (noon) on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in the chapel of Hamilton Funeral Home with Bro. Richard Floyd officiating. Military honors will conclude the service. His family will receive friends from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, and from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. (noon) on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, at the funeral home prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to one of these charities that were all very important to Sam: Cumberland Trails Conference, The Land Trust for Tennessee or the Tennessee River Gorge Trust. You can learn more about these organizations, and where to donate, through their websites. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Powell family guestbook at www.HamiltonFuneralOptions.com.
Last Week of BreakAway 2019
March 31 to April 5 !
So far BreakAway students and the professional crew have completed just over two miles of trail between Black Mountain and Ozone Falls in Cumberland County. If you have never volunteered during BreakAway, this is your last chanced for 2019.
Never built trail before? Not sure what this is all about? No problem. You will be assigned to a crew led by a Wagon Master (crew leader) and learn along with the students. Tools and meals provided too. Work days are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Sunday after dinner is the orientation, introductions and safety demonstration.
Call the CTC Office and let them know what day – or days – you expect to be there. They will provide directions and information on accommodations.
931 456 6259 or email: ctcoffice2014@gmail.com
TRAIL BUILDING JOBS
Both the Cumberland Trail Conference (501(c)3) and the Cumberland Trail Scenic Trail (State) have openings for trail builders.
– CUMBERLAND TRAIL STATE SCENIC TRAIL – TENNESSEE STATE PARKS
The Cumberland Trail State Scenic Trail is seeking qualified candidates for a Backcountry Crew.
WHEN: Late March through April. The Summer Crew will start around the week of May 14th through the week of July 31st (11-12 weeks – dates subject to change). Applicants may apply for both seasons or only one.
WHERE: The Trail Crew will be camping & working on the Cumberland Mountain Segment located 40 miles North of Knoxville in Campbell & Claiborne Counties.
Detailed Information CLICK HERE.
CUMBERLAND TRAIL CONFERENCE JOBS
Contact the CTC Office for job details. Four day work week. Raise incentives and clothing allowance after three months. Currently working in the Cumberland County and Soak Creek areas.
931 456 6259 or email: ctcoffice2014@gmail.com a