George Wilson, left, the treasurer of the Coffee Club, accepts the best attendance award from David Martin, the club’s president who tied with him for the honor.
A group of Knoxville business and retired business people has been meeting for lunch for 95 years now. OK, it’s not the same individuals that first met in 1930 when the group was founded! But it is a continuation of the same group. And the current members are just as dedicated to keeping the organization going.
It’s the venerable Coffee Club, a some 20-member group that meets for lunch every Friday to discuss politics and other issues of the day. The club recently had its annual dinner meeting at Cherokee Country Club. The dinner meeting has one order of business: to give an award to the member with the best attendance.
This year, it was a tie for that honor between the club president, David Martin, and club treasurer, George Wilson, whose father was a long-time member of the Coffee Club. Martin said he flipped a coin to determine the winner and he awarded the trophy to Wilson.
Retired First Horizon market President Pam Fansler had won the attendance award so regularly in the past that Martin almost automatically had her name inscribed on the plaque. But Fansler has been traveling often this year and missed coming in for a three-person tie by one meeting! (She took the news well.)
Members and spouses dined on filet and salmon at the event and thanked President Martin for his leadership with a round of applause. They also applauded former President Bob Page for arranging a great dinner.
You can read a little about the history of the Coffee Club in this 2014 Blue Streak post.
Coffee Club members, from left, George Wilson, Alan Carmichael, and Bruce Hartmann chat prior to dinner.
Coffee Club member Pam Fansler, left, with Susie Wilson, the wife of member George Wilson.
Club members Mintha Roach and Jeff Lee, right, and her husband, Jon Roach.
Members Jim Hart, left, and Jeff Chapman.
Members, from left, Jerry Bodie, David Martin, and Bob Page.
Members John Gill, left, and Alan Carmichael.
Club member Bruce Hartmann with, from left, club member spouses Margie Nichols Gill, Tami Hartmann, and Tracy Phillips.
Looks like serious talk during happy hour! From left, club members Tom Hale, Jeff Chapman, and Bob Page.
Members Ward Phillips and Mintha Roach.
Standing, from left, club member Tom Hale, his wife, Terri Hale, member Larry Martin, and, seated, his wife, Jane Martin. (I think I startled them when I walked up!)
It was a beautiful evening. Here’s view from Cherokee’s River Room, where the dinner was held.
Time to be seated.
From left, Terri Hale, Tracy and Ward Phillips, Tom Hale, and Jerry Bodie.
From left, Susie Wilson, Bob Page, Jeff Lee, George Wilson, Pam Fansler, and Jeff Chapman.
Sandy Martin, wife of club president David Martin, chats with member Bruce Hartmann at dinner.
Tami Hartmann, Bruce’s wife, in serious discussion with member Alan Carmichael.
From left, club president David Martin; his wife, Sandy Martin; member Bruce Hartmann; his wife, Tami Hartmann; and member Alan Carmichael.
Club member Mintha Roach and her husband, Jon.
From left, member John Gill; his wife, Margie Nichols Gill, and member Jim Hart.
From left, member Larry Martin; his wife, Jane Martin; and member Mintha Roach.
Dinner was delicious. Clockwise, from bottom left: pear salad with mixed greens, walnuts, craisins, gorgonzola cheese, and champagne vinaigrette; sliced beef tenderloin with red wine demi glaze and grilled salmon with mushroom risotto and asparagus; chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream. Yum!
Club members. Standing, from left, Jeff Lee, Bruce Hartmann, Alan Carmichael, Jerry Bodie, John Gill, Tom Hale, George Wilson, and Jeff Chapman. Seated, from left: Bob Page, Jim Hart, Ward Phillips, Mintha Roach, David Martin, Pam Fansler, and Larry Martin. Missing: Howard Vogel.
Congratulations to George on the attendance award. When you have surpassed Pam, you have scored a big win!
Alan: Good point!