Diane Brown

Senior center names Brown its Woman of the Year
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Diane Brown has served her community in many ways, from working as a teacher to taking on the role of businesswoman in a local bank, to helping to found several community service organizations.She has helped countless individuals achieve their dreams and helped to build the community.

To honor her lifetime of work, the Fair Park Senior Center named Brown the 2006 Woman of the Year as part of its Women's History Month celebration.

"What a wonderful honor," said Brown.
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Many community leaders, family members, friends and colleagues were on hand to help celebrate the occasion and let everyone know why Brown was most deserving of the award.

"The attributes I most admire about her are her integrity, her tenacity, when she believes in something, she's not going to give up, and her love of learning and her enthusiasm for teaching," said Muffin Liskovec, director of the Cumberland County Higher Education Center.

Brown is a third-generation Cumberland Countian, the only child of Moses E. and Agnes Lee Garrison Dorton.
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"I got through 16 years of formal education and only won one academic award, and that was the year I had Diane Brown as my teacher for American history and won the Woodman of the World Award.
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Brown was also elected president of the Cumberland County Education Association and successfully obtained the first negotiated teachers' contract in Cumberland County.

When her father died in 1982, Brown left teaching for the business world.She served as senior vice president and member of the board of directors for First National Bank of Crossville/Union Planters.

"As I moved into the business world, it was my husband's leadership that continued the tradition and role in the community.We had a very strong board of directors.All in all, what wonderful opportunities I had.And all of these gracious words you've heard are not just for me, but for my family, my colleagues and my friends in the community," Brown said.

Crossville Mayor J.H. Graham III recalled working with Brown during that time.
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Brown has shared her skills with numerous organizations in Cumberland County, including Art Circle Library and the Cumberland County Playhouse.She was also a member of the originating board of directors for both Cumberland County Habitat for Humanity and the 4C's Foundation.
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As a member of the Roane State Foundation, Liskovec said Brown was adamant in her support of an accessible, affordable and quality higher education for the people of Cumberland County.

"When it was appropriate, she reminded them Cumberland County was one of the eight counties in Roane State's service area and we had needs that needed to be addressed," Liskovec said.

Stone and Brown served as co-chairs of the committee to raise funds for the Cumberland County Higher Education Center.
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"But the accomplishment attests to the integrity and commitment and the energy Cosby and Diane brought to that campaign."

Stone related a story of the RSCC foundation being polled on their top priorities for the college, and Brown wrote her top three priorities were a campus for Cumberland County.
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Stone also said he'd been honored to have known Brown as a friends, as well.

"She always lifted you up and inspired you and encouraged you to do your best and be your best," Stone said."I think she has a special glow of excellence, of leadership, of honor and goodwill.I would like to think some of her students have learned to reflect that just a little bit."

Brown thanked everyone for the award and said, "When you think about getting honors, there are people today in our community, and I'm thinking particularly of young women, who go to work everyday, who raise their children, who mold their family who in turn mold the community.
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In addition to being named Woman of the Year, Brown also received a special joint resolution from the Tennessee General Assembly presented by state Rep.
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Diane Brown was honored as the 2006 Woman of the Year by the Fair Park Senior Center.On hand to celebrate with Brown were, from left, Muffin Liskovec, director of the Cumberland County Higher Education Center; Cosby Stone, CEO of TAP Publishing; Cumberland County Mayor Brock Hill; Brown; state Rep.On hand to celebrate with Brown were, from left, Muffin Liskovec, director of the Cumberland County Higher Education Center; Cosby Stone, CEO of TAP Publishing; Cumberland County Mayor Brock Hill; Brown; state Rep.
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Diane Brown and her family. / (Click for larger image)

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