Draft:Hubert Dean Stone

Early Life
Dean Stone was born Sept. 23, 1924, to A. H. and Annie Stone in Maryville, TN on Sevierville Road, also known as U.S. Route 411. He was the oldest of 3 children, with his two younger siblings being sisters, Margaret and Barbara. Throughout his childhood and early teens, he attended Everett Elementary and High School in Maryville. While in High School, he became the sports editor for the school's newspaper, the Blue and Gray, was a member of the Beta Club, Glee Club, and was on the 1941 Bulldogs Football Team that went undefeated that year. Upon graduating from Everett, he enrolled at Maryville College while also enlisting to be a part of the U.S. Army Reserves.

World War II
By the time Dean had enrolled in Maryville College, the United States was embroiled in war due to the Attack on Pearl Harbor happening just months before. Following the end of his freshman year, he went on active duty from the Army Reserves. Stone completed his basic training at Camp Roberts, California, and was sent to join the 363rd Infantry Regiment of the 91st Infantry Division at Camp Adair, Oregon. Stone received further training in North Africa to prepare for combat in Italy.

Stone's unit entered combat on July 4, 1944, south of Pisa, Italy, and finished the war in the European Theater by being a part of the occupation of Yugoslavia where he helped raise the first American flag over the country. After the end of the war in Europe, Stone's unit was en route to return to the United States for leave before being sent to the Pacific Theater before being recalled due to the end of the war.

University of Oklahoma
After the end of World War II, Dean enrolled at Oklahoma University in Norman, Oklahoma in their journalism degree program. While enrolled, he became the assistant sports editor of the school's campus newspaper before becoming the school's correspondent for the Associated Press. He also served on the OU Student Baptist Student Union Council and founded the nation's first BSU annual.

The Daily Times
During his time at Oklahoma, he spent 2 full summers working for the Maryville-Alcoa Times doing various jobs. Stone was hired on Feb. 1, 1949, as the new Sunday editor soon after graduating from Oklahoma. Not long into his first year, he was promoted to managing editor of the newspaper with additional work as sports editor. He later became the vice president of the corporate organization and in 1988, he was named editor of the paper.

In 1982, he founded the Daily Times' Townsend Traveler, one of the first travel-oriented newspaper supplements in the nation.

While working for the newspaper, Stone has traveled to Europe while covering various topics over the years such as deployments of the 134th Air Refueling Wing, an Air National Guard Tanker Refueling Wings based out of McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in Blount County.

Philanthropy
In 1952, Stone partnered with T. Ned Lee to co-found the Empty Pantry Fund, whose goal was to make sure underprivileged families in Blount County receive the assistance they need. Each Christmas, they provided over 1000 families with food baskets that will cover a family of four for a week.

He created the Maryville-Alcoa Jaycee Classic, a holiday high school basketball event that raises money each year for youth projects.

After the death of his sister Margaret to MS, Stone headed the first Walk for Multiple Sclerosis, and after his open-heart surgery and one on his grandson, he started the county's first American Heart Association Walk.

Snapshots of Blount County
The snapshots of Blount county series are historical books on the various people, places, and companies of Blount County. The goal when creating the volumes was to find a way to properly preserve local history and heritage. All volumes were published by the Daily Times through Jostens Commercial Publications based out of State College, Pennsylvania.

Volume 2
Published in 2006, the second volume of the Snapshots book's main story focuses on the history of The Daily Times. The foreword for htis volume was done by then United States Congressman John J. "Jimmy" Duncan Jr. the representative of the Second District of Tennessee. The book follows the standard of additional coverage on different history trivia of blount county including

Volume 3
Published in 2007, the third itneration of the Snapshots book series main story is Looking Back on Stone's life and memories from growing up in the early 1920s to Serving in World War II to the 1954 Yellowstone earthquake. The foreword for this volume was done by former United States Senator Howard H. Baker Jr and unlike the other volumes, volume 3 has a tribute dedicated to Anna C. Irwin who was an integreal employee from the Daily Times that waas directly resopnsible for the preperation of the historical cobpy of the first 2 volumes.The book follows the standard of additional coverage on different topics in blount county such as Parham Hill, Blount County Public Library, Hillbilly Homecominng, Inegration in Blount County, William B Scott Sr Maryville's first black mayor, Babcock Lumber Company, Blount area communities: Origins of the names of 106 communities, Fool Killer, and Little River.

Volume 4
Published in 2008, the fourth volume of the snapshots book series's main story focuses on the life of Charles M Alexander a popular nineteenth-century gospel singer from the Maryville area. The foreward for this volume was done by longtime friend, Darrell Akins. The volume follows the normal standard of additional bount county trivia topics including

Volume 6
Published in 2010, the final volume of the Snapshot series focuses on the history during the first 100 years of the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA)) in Blount County and the history and stories of Tennessee seven warships. The volume also follows the others with additional history on different topics in Blount County. The foreword for strays from the others of having 1 person write, instead this book features 22 different of people ranging from former ALCOA Tennessee Operations Manager, Richard E. "Dick" Ray, Charles Hall founder of Charrless Hall Nuseum in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, Former OU President David E. Boren, John Rice Irwin Founder of Museum of Appalachia, and Bloue Ridge Parway Superitendent Phil Francis. The various other topics that the volume touches on includes Lumbering of the Great Smokeis Area of Blount County by Little River Lumber Co, Rocky Top, Tornadoes in Blount County, Structures on the Historical Registry, Polytechnic High School and Commerical College, State Historical Markers, and Slate Mines.

Handbooks
Newspapers: Making the Most of the News Department

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
In 1969, Stone initiated action to save the Job Corps site at Tremont inside the Park for use as an Educational Environment Center.

In 1970, he founded the Weekend-In-The-Smokies event, hosting writers nationwide to write about Blount County and the Smokies, which resulted in several hundred thousand dollars in publicity.

Stonecraft
Stonecraft is a small wholesale post card company which distributes his scenic views of the area.

Dean was a charter member of the following organizations
VFW Post 5154

Kiwanis Circle K Club at American College of Switzerland

Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains Association

Dean was a member of the following organizations
New Providence Masonic Lodge

Professional Photographers of America

American Legion Post 13

Society of Professional Journalists

Maryville-Alcoa Jaycees - Lifetime Member

Alcoa Kiwanis

Tennessee Historical Commission

Southeastern Regional Council of the National Parks Conservation Association

Dean was on the board of the following organizations
Maryville Utilities Board as Vice Chair

Foothills Land Conservancy

Passion Play of Townsend

Tennessee Associated Press Managing Editors Association as President

Blount County Chamber of Commerce as President

Chilhowee Baptist Association Committee as Chairman

United Way of Blount County as President and Campaign Chairman

Townsend Chamber of Commerce as President

Alcoa Kiwanis as President

Maryville-Alcoa Jaycees as President

Alcoa Educational Foundation

Blount County Educational Foundation

Laurel Lake Youth Camp as the Director

Tennessee Jaycees as the Treasurer

Alcoa Kiwanis as the President

Tennessee Great Smoky Mountains Park Commission as Chairman

Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center

Blount County Historical Museum

Sam Houston Schoolhouse Association

Little River Railroad Museum

Leadership Blount

Maryville College's 175th Anniversary Celebration Commission

City of Alcoa's 50th Anniversary Celebration Commission

Blount County Bicentennial Commission

National Hillbilly Homecoming

Awards and Honors
Mayor's Lifetime Achievement Award from the City of Alcoa.

Community Service Award from Blount Memorial Hospital

Outstanding Service award from Pellissippi State Community College

State Friend of Extension Award from Omega Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi

Blount County Soil Conservation District Award

50 years of dedication to conservation and Area II award from the Tennessee Association of Conservation Districts for his support of soil and water conservation

JayMac Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Oklahoma College of Communications

Received a joint State Senate and House Resolution presented by Senator Raymond Finney, Representative Doug Overbey, and Representative Joe McCord

Received a Professional Achievement Award from the East Tennessee Historical Society for his ongoing preservation of local history as Times editor and author of the Snapshots of Blount County volumes

First place award for feature reporting for small dailies at the Green Eyeshade Awards, which is run by the Atlanta Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists

Pride of Tennessee award from the Blount County government for his community service.

Appointed both a Kentucky Colonel and a Tennessee Colonel by multiple governors

Minuteman Award from the Tennessee Air National Guard, which is the highest award the TANG can award for his support of Guard units

The Dean Stone Excellence in Tourism Award was named after him by the Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau because of his longtime support of tourism.

Honorary member of the Blount County Commission

Senator for the Junior Chamber International

Blount County Senior of the Year (1961)

In 2010, he received a framed proclamation of appreciation from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, signed by then park Superintendent Dale A. Ditmanson, honoring his 22 years on the park commission.

Inducted into the Blount County Sports Hall of Fame

Inducted into the Daily Times Wall of Fame, which honors graduates of local high schools for their community contributions.

Received a plaque for Outstanding Community Leadership by the Maryville Church of Christ

Received a Special Award from the Director of the National Park Service

Death
[Details about the person's death, including date, cause, and any significant events surrounding their passing.]

Legacy
The Foothills Parkway bridge.

The Foothills Wildlife Management Area on Chilhowee Mountain was dedicated in his honor because of his help as chairman in the Foothills Land Conservancy's campaign to raise money to secure the land.

September 23rd in Maryville, Alcoa, Blount County, and Tennessee is known as Dean Stone Day.

Alcoa Kiwanis Club created the Dean Stone Journalism Scholarship.

Death
[Details about the person's death, including date, cause, and any significant events surrounding their passing.]

Legacy
Foothills parkway bridge

The Foothills Wildlife Management Area on Chihowee Mountain was deidcated in his honor because of his help as chairman in the Foothills Land Conservancys campaign to raise money to securee the land.

September 23rd in Maryville, Alcoa, Blount County, and Tennessee is known as Dean Stone Day.

Alcoa Kiwanis Club created the Dean Stone Journalism Scholarship