In case you couldn't tell by the photo, I met Bill Frist at my college commencement--which was exactly 11 years ago today ... in 1997! (Yes, it took me five years to graduate--but I did transfer and worked a few jobs in addition to taking classes ... in addition to living life ... in addition to ...) The other guy in the photo is East Tennessee State University President Paul Stanton (he is also a surgeon, by the way--he went to Medical College of Georgia and practiced at Georgia Baptist (now Atlanta Medical Center)).I was excited that Senator Frist was our commencement speaker! As a member of College Republicans, I had actually helped campaign for him when he first ran for the Senate and was "just" known as a heart surgeon from Nashville. I think I still have a couple of the little cards we passed out at polling places. Anyway, I was glad that he spoke. I kept a copy of his address, which is in my graduation scrapbook. (I just saw it when I went to double check the date.)
Here's the story behind the photo: So before the ceremony, the graduates (including me) are all lined up downstairs in Memorial Center--aka "The Mini Dome." (Usually everyone lines up outside, but it was cloudy/rainy that day.) I happen to somehow see or know where President Stanton and Senator Frist are--not far from where I am in line. So I pop my head in the room and seize the moment. (Yes, I have my camera with me.) I say hello and ask for a photo, and they both oblige. :o)
University photographer and friend Larry Smith is also in the room, and he snaps a few photos as well. (Larry and his family go to my home church back in Tennessee.) Several weeks later, I am at work at a local newsroom when I receive in the mail a couple of photos from that morning--and they are signed by Senator Frist! I was so excited! I used to work in ETSU's Office of University Relations, and some friends there got the photos signed for me--wasn't that sweet?
It was an honor to meet Senator Frist--who, by the way, went on to become Senate Majority Leader. He also has done some humanitarian work with Samaritan's Purse. I was bummed that he didn't run for president--but there is always 2012. You never know ...
Hey Karen, I don't know if you live in Tennessee now, but look for Bill Frist to run for Governor of Tennessee in 2010. I am also a big fan of his. I did some volunteer work for him, and a friend of mine took a book that Senator Frist had written and asked him to autograph it for me, which he did. He is a terrific person and a great humanitarian. I plan on volunteering for him if he runs for Governor.
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