Marsha and Duane Grieve at the reception in his honor last week.
Duane Grieve is leaving his position as executive director of the East Tennessee Community Design Center, a post he’s held for eight years, but don’t call it “retirement,” he insists!
Grieve was the honoree last week at a sweet little reception held at the non-profit’s headquarters behind WATE-TV which occupies the historic Greystone mansion on North Broadway. The little building was packed almost from the time the event started because Duane Grieve is a popular guy!
Grieve, one of Knoxville’s preeminent architects, is probably best known by the general public as an eight-year member of Knoxville City Council, on which he served from 2009 to 2017. He also was the city’s vice mayor for three of those years.
But he has a special place in my heart because one of his passion projects as an architect was the revitalization of the historic Miller’s Department Store building on Gay Street. That’s where the public relations firm that my husband, Alan Carmichael, and I owned — then known as Moxley Carmichael — was happily located for 20 years. The building truly is a beautiful — and functional — treasure. Thanks, in a large part, to Duane Grieve.
Wow!
Another of Grieve’s passion projects is the little pocket park on Kingston Pike in Bearden called Everly Brothers Park in honor of the Knoxville-born musicians who rose to fame in the 1950s. He’s currently raising funds to place a statue of Don and Phil Everly in the park.
Grieve, who is from Norris, Tenn., was a student in the first architecture class ever taught at the University of Tennessee. He had a private architectural practice here for 35 years and is a member of the board of directors of Legacy Parks Foundation; the advisory board of UT’s McClung Museum; and is an honorary member of the board of the Knoxville History Project.
So, please don’t use the “r-word!” He has a lot of work still on his to -do list and he and his wife, Marsha, have travel plans.
The “Inside of Knoxville” blog has a great tribute to him. And, to see photos from the non-retirement party, read on!
The party started at 4 p.m. This photo was taken 20 minutes in!
Duane Grieve, center, with Alan Carmichael, left, and Sam Maynard.
Ginny and Rick Weatherstone.
From left, Kristin Grove, Carey Parker, and Julie Dalby, all members of the Community Design Center Board.
Yep. No “r-word” here!
Guess what these are! The are cookies, if you can believe it! Aren’t they amazing?
More beautiful cookies.
Knox County CFO and Co-Chief of Staff Chris Caldwell, left, with Nathaniel Shelso and Alison Oakes, who is a board member of the Community Design Center.
Don and Carol Parnell.
Mary Linda Schwarzbart and Finbarr Saunders, who served with Grieve on City Council.
Ellen Bebb and Gary Bentley.
From left, Mark Heinz, Julia Bentley, and Alan Carmichael.
Chris Caldwell presented Grieve with a proclamation from Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs.
The staff and board created a scrapbook for him.
Later in the party, Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon presented him with a proclamation. (Photo from Mayor Kincannon’s Facebook page.)
Caterer Tracy Malone cuts the cake as Alison Oakes looks on.
From left, Wayne Blasius, City Council member Charles Thomas, and former Council member George Wallace.
Knoxville Vice Mayor Lynne Fugate and her husband, Scott.
Alan Sims and Leslie Bateman of the “Inside of Knoxville” blog. Bateman owns it now after purchasing it from Sims, who still freelances for it. She’s on the board of the East Tennessee Community Design Center.
Scott Busby and Mary Martin.
From left, Hollie Cook, Mary Holbrook, and Christine Cloninger. Holbrook is an emeritus board member of the Design Center.
John and Sandra Butler with Lisa Carroll, center.
Former City Council member Marshall Stair, left, and Charley Sexton.
Manya Pirkle, left, and Sharon Moore, a Design Center board member.
We ran into Nancy and Charles Wagner as we were leaving. They were just coming in.
Chuck Morris and Carol Evans.
Former Knox County Commissioner Dasha Lundy, left, and Tinah Utsman.
Alan Carmichael, left, and his Fulton High School friend Ronnie Collins in front of the satellite dishes of WATE.
And did I mention that nobody went away hungry??
Congratulations Duane! What a fabulous group–wish I could have been there. Thank you for all you have done for this City. You are one of the best!
Wanda: You hit the nail on the head!