By Steve Williams Sam Springer had a baseball summer to remember in 2014. The National Amateur Baseball Federation recognized it too by naming the West pitcher to its 2015 high school preseason All-America team. Springer, a left-hander who will be a junior for the Rebels this spring, was one of 25 players across the country […]
Police Review Meeting Draws A Crowd By Focus Staff The Police Advisory and Review Committee, the city mayor and the city police department were praised and criticized last Monday evening in a public forum held at Vine Middle School. PARC meetings normally draw a very small crowd of citizens, but last week’s saw a couple […]
By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com An event Thursday evening at the Beck Cultural Exchange Center topped off 2014’s Knoxville’s Civil Rights series that began last February. 2014 marks 50 years since President Lyndon Johnson signed the 1964 Voting Rights Act. 1964 was also the year that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. accepted the Noble Prize for […]
By Ray Hill Robert Marion LaFollette, Jr. came into this world with just about every advantage one could hope for; yet, he suffered from depression and eventually ended his own life. “Young Bob” LaFollette was born January 6, 1895, the son of Robert M. and Belle LaFollette. Bob LaFollette, Sr. was perhaps the most significant […]
By Ken Lay Bearden High School soccer coach Ryan Radcliffe saw his dream come true Tuesday night at Bruce Allender Field. “I always set my goals high,” Radcliffe said before Bearden High School unveiled its new locker room facilities. “These kids come here and take pride in the program. This is a dream. “The kids […]
By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com Tennessee historian and co-chair of the Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, Dr. Carroll Van West, could not have said it better: “This is a great day, a kick off to several months of programs, projects, events and lectures.” Van West made this remark during his speech at the December 5 dedication […]
By Ken Lay A 6-6 tie left both the Farragut High School hockey club and the Knoxville Knights feeling a little disappointed Thursday night. Neither team was happy with the draw but Farragut coach Jeff Lindsay was especially dejected. “We had too many stupid penalties and those penalties absolutely killed us,” Lindsay said after watching […]
By Ray Hill For decades, one of the most politically and socially prominent families in Alabama were the Bankheads. John H. Bankhead was both a Congressman and senator from Alabama; his children would all occupy important posts in the state. His son and namesake, John H. Bankhead, II would be a senator from Alabama; daughter, […]
By Ray Hill Edward Hull Crump, in partnership with U. S. Senator Kenneth McKellar, began his domination of Tennessee politics in 1932. Crump was then a member of Congress, although he served for only four years. The Memphis Boss announced he would not be a candidate for reelection in 1934. Crump had not especially enjoyed […]
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