I have been researching my ancestors and many East Tennessee families for over 35 years. I have worked in consultation with the East Tennessee Historical Society and made contributions to the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection in order to preserve the work and contributions of Andrew K. Gregory to the establishment of the Smoky Mountain National Park.

My fondness for genealogical research and my interest in research methodology were some of the motivating factors in pursuing a PhD. This early research background served me well in my studies. My greatest passion, however, is the preservation and upkeep of historical cemeteries. It is important that these cemeteries are preserved for future generations, so that the story of our nations early pioneers can be told.

I am related to the following families:

Mother's Side: Flynn (Flinn), Gregory, Oliver, Hatcher, Stafford, Gann, Headrick, Carver, Burchfield, Thurman, Davis, and Hodge.

Father's Side: Huskey, Ogle, Trotter, Emert, McCarter, Ownby, Haggard, Reagan, and Koone (Koontz).

My wife, on the other hand, has a more impressive genealogy. She is a Chenery. She is a descendant of many of the first families of Virginia, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. In fact, she is related to the Chenery family who owned the Triple Crown winning horse, Secretariat. She is also a direct descendant of Roger Williams (through his daughter, Mercy Williams) who founded Providence, Rhode Island, and who is considered the father of the Baptist denomination in America. Also, she is related to great historical figures, such as Chief Justice John Marshall (through his brother, William Marshall) and President Thomas Jefferson. I have been fortunate that many of her ancestors have already been traced with extensive documentation.

Finally, I am personally dismayed that Find a Grave would refuse to list Penny Chenery as a "famous" memorial. After numerous attempts, Find a Grave administrators replied, "she is a local folk hero." Here is a woman who owned Secretariat and made huge contributions to the male-dominated sport of horse racing. Her impact on horse racing and the sports world is immeasurable. Apparently, having a triple crown and a movie whose character was played by Diane Lane; being inducted into the National Racing Hall of Fame in 2018; the first female president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders' Association; the first president of the Grayson Jockey Club Research Foundation; one of the founders of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation; and whose name is recognized throughout the sports world does not qualify her for this distinction.

I have been researching my ancestors and many East Tennessee families for over 35 years. I have worked in consultation with the East Tennessee Historical Society and made contributions to the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection in order to preserve the work and contributions of Andrew K. Gregory to the establishment of the Smoky Mountain National Park.

My fondness for genealogical research and my interest in research methodology were some of the motivating factors in pursuing a PhD. This early research background served me well in my studies. My greatest passion, however, is the preservation and upkeep of historical cemeteries. It is important that these cemeteries are preserved for future generations, so that the story of our nations early pioneers can be told.

I am related to the following families:

Mother's Side: Flynn (Flinn), Gregory, Oliver, Hatcher, Stafford, Gann, Headrick, Carver, Burchfield, Thurman, Davis, and Hodge.

Father's Side: Huskey, Ogle, Trotter, Emert, McCarter, Ownby, Haggard, Reagan, and Koone (Koontz).

My wife, on the other hand, has a more impressive genealogy. She is a Chenery. She is a descendant of many of the first families of Virginia, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. In fact, she is related to the Chenery family who owned the Triple Crown winning horse, Secretariat. She is also a direct descendant of Roger Williams (through his daughter, Mercy Williams) who founded Providence, Rhode Island, and who is considered the father of the Baptist denomination in America. Also, she is related to great historical figures, such as Chief Justice John Marshall (through his brother, William Marshall) and President Thomas Jefferson. I have been fortunate that many of her ancestors have already been traced with extensive documentation.

Finally, I am personally dismayed that Find a Grave would refuse to list Penny Chenery as a "famous" memorial. After numerous attempts, Find a Grave administrators replied, "she is a local folk hero." Here is a woman who owned Secretariat and made huge contributions to the male-dominated sport of horse racing. Her impact on horse racing and the sports world is immeasurable. Apparently, having a triple crown and a movie whose character was played by Diane Lane; being inducted into the National Racing Hall of Fame in 2018; the first female president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders' Association; the first president of the Grayson Jockey Club Research Foundation; one of the founders of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation; and whose name is recognized throughout the sports world does not qualify her for this distinction.