From left, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, and state Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, at the party Tuesday night.
“What do you call a person who parties too much in medical school,” U.S. Congressman Tim Burchett asked Tuesday night from the microphone at the retirement party/roast for Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge. Burchett paused for a few seconds and then answered: “A pharmacist!”
The capacity crowd in the Oak Ridge Conference Center roared. McNally goaned. He’s a pharmacist.
That pretty much sums up the good-natured ribbing that permeated the dinner gathering that was packed with Tennessee movers and shakers from Gov. Bill Lee to Burchett and local luminaries including Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch, Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, and state Sen. Becky Massey (R-Knoxville).
Lt. Gov. Randy McNally speaking at the end of the evening.
McNally has tons of friends, as these photos will attest. And he’s earned it, having served nearly 50 years in the Tennessee General Assembly in both the House and Senate. He’s been Speaker of the Senate, also known as Lt. Governor, since 2017.
I personally admire him the most for his role in the undercover operation conducted in the late ’80s by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to uncover political corruption and bribes in the Tennessee legislature. A young legislator, McNally wore a wire and worked undercover in a move that took both courage and high ethical standards. It was called Operation Rocky Top.
He and his wife, Janice, both are stalwarts in East Tennessee healthcare fields and the dinner this week generated funds for a scholarship named for them at Roane State Community College, which recently built a state-of-the-art facility in west Knoxville to educate students in healthcare and related fields. Here’s a link if you’d like to donate to the Jan and Lt. Governor Randy McNally Health Science Scholarship Endowment.
OK, back to the party!
Veteran Knoxville journalist Georgiana Vines, left, is greeted by Janice McNally. Georgiana and I are friends and downtown Knoxville neighbors and we rode together to the event. Neither of us had been to the Oak Ridge Conference Center before, but we knew we were in the correct parking lot when we spotted law enforcement snipers on the roof of the building. Nothing says, “Party!” like a bunch of snipers!
University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd and Carey Whitworth, UT’s senior vice president for government relations, economic development and public service.
Congressman Burchett with Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen.
Former U.S. Congressman Zach Wamp (R-Chattanooga), left, and attorney Wayne Cropp.
State Sens. Dawn White (R-Murfreesboro), left, and Becky Massey (R-Knoxville).
President of Roane State Community College Chris Whaley and his wife, Cindy.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett and his wife, Dawn.
Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank.
From left, Susan Dakak, Tammy White, Gov. Bill Lee, and Susie Alcorn. White and Alcorn were two of three organizers of the event.
The third was Mike Magill, president of the Oak Ridge Corridor Development Corporation.
Scott Niermann, executive director of the Roane State Foundation, left, with Doug and Maggie Kimball. She is a daughter of Randy and Janice McNally.
Jim Dodson, left, and state Rep. Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville). “We are the only two Democrats here,” cracked McKenzie. “We were drawn together like two magnets!” Dodson is mayor pro-tem of the City of Oak Ridge. He ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for the Tennessee General Assembly in 2022.
Judy and Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch.
From left, Liz and Wes Stowers, Lou Moran III, and Jennifer Lingenfelter of Congressman Burchett’s staff.
Former WBIR journalists Gene Patterson, left, and Taz Painter. They both have big communications jobs in Oak Ridge now.
Former News Sentinel journalist David Keim and his wife, Ellen. He’s director of communications and community engagement at Oak Ridge National Lab now.
Former state Rep. David Coffey (R-Lenoir City), left, and UT President Randy Boyd.
From left, Scott Niermann, Jim Dodson, and Andy Spellman.
From left, Tammy White, former Tennessee state Rep. Jimmy Matlock (R-Lenoir City), and Susana Navarro.
Susan Williams and Sen. Paul Bailey (R-Cookeville).
At one of the Roane State tables, standing from left: Board of Regents Chair Flora Tydings, Chris Whaley, Sen. Ken (R-Kingston) and Malinda Yager. Seated, from left: former Tennessee Rep. Jim Henry (R-Lenoir City), Teresa Duncan, John Williams, and Cindy Whaley.
From left, Joan, Glenn, Stacy, and Matt Swift.
Former Knoxville City Council member Joe Bailey and Lindsay Hammill.
Town of Farragut’s attorney, Tom Hale, and his wife, Terri.
Barry Stephenson, left, with Jim Henry.
From left, Becky Dodson, Sam McKenzie, Gene Patterson, and Jim Dodson.
Knox County Attorney General Charme Allen and Sam Lee from her office.
Dick Williams, left, and Breezy Wynn.
Deborah and Tom Johnson.
Dinner was catered by Bistro By the Tracks. Loved, loved that chocolate pie!
Former Tennessee State Sen. Jamie Woodson was the evening’s emcee.
Some of the other speakers, clockwise from top left: former Congressman Zach Wamp, former Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, retired Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Bill Koch, and former state Sen. Bo Watson.
Retired Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Bill Koch and McNally family friend Molly Pratt performing a “Carnac the Magnificent” skit ala the late Johnny Carson.
From left, Woodson, Randy and Janice McNally on the stage.
Congressman Burchett presented Lt. Gov. McNally a flag that had been flown over the U.S. Capitol in his honor.
Congressman Burchett, famous for his fondness for taking selfies, got me!
Thank you so very much Cynthia Moxley! I treasurer the article and photographs. The roast was great fun.
Great night. Great photos. Thanks Cynthia.
How do you roast someone who is as well-liked as Randy McNally?
Randy: It was a fun night! Always love seeing you and Jan. Congratulations to you. (You really are a good sport!)
Gene: Fun seeing you, as always!
Alan: I know exactly what you mean!
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