I learned just this morning of Marshall Whisnant\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s passing on Saturday night. It is yet another crushing loss for Oak Ridge; his service on the planning commission, the education foundation, and various business and civic organizations was legendary.<\/p>\n
For me, Marshall was a source of inspiration, of perseverance, a ready smile and always a touch of humor. A few years ago, my husband and I would play tennis on Sunday afternoons (when the courts were least crowded, in order to not disturb those more proficient than ourselves). Marshall was frequently sitting on the porch watching, always ready with a cheer in the unlikely event that I pulled off an ace or managed to drop a ball just barely over the net and out of reach.<\/p>\n
Losing \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Big Dave\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Bolling, Larry Dickens, and now Marshall in the space of a few months has been tough. As our county and our town face future challenges, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll always ask myself what they would have done.<\/p>\n
Now, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s up to the rest of us to summon the courage and leadership to move the community forward in the selfless, but passionate way of those who went before us.<\/p>\n
Rest well, dear friend. I know I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll see you again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I learned just this morning of Marshall Whisnant\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s passing on Saturday night. It is yet another crushing loss for Oak Ridge; his service on the planning commission, the education foundation, and various business and civic organizations was legendary. For me, … Continue reading