News
Former Tennessee Governor to
Receive Joe Kraft Award
Ned McWherter to be Honored at Eleventh Annual Event
Nashville, Tennessee – The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has named former Tennessee Governor Ned Ray McWherter the recipient of the eleventh Joe Kraft Humanitarian Award. The award, which will be presented November 16, 2004, was established by The Community Foundation after Kraft’s death in 1993 to recognize those who best exemplify Kraft’s commitment to community, home and hearth and individuals in need.
The award ceremony and luncheon will be held at the Hilton Nashville Downtown at 11:30 a.m. Reservations for the event are available by calling The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee at 615-321-4939. Tables are $500 for 10 seats; single tickets are $50.
“Former Governor McWherter could easily have continued down the path of civic leader and businessman,” said Jack Bovender, a Community Foundation trustee. “He could have multiplied his personal and financial success manyfold. But instead, he decided to give back to his community by dedicating himself to public service.”
As governor of Tennessee, McWherter created and enforced many state-wide programs that made a significant difference in the lives of many. Governor McWherter implemented the 21st Century Schools reform program which called for more equitable funding and raised academic performance standards. He provided health care for the poor, uninsured and uninsurable by replacing the Medicaid program with the TennCare plan. He also initiated a major highway road construction program, and a 95-county economic revitalization program that recruited new businesses and jobs from Japan, other Pacific Rim countries, Europe and the United States.
McWherter, a Democrat born in Weakley County, Tennessee, was the state’s 46th governor and served from 1987 to 1995. He now lives in Dresden, Tennessee, and is a businessman, farmer and investor. He was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1969 to1987, including a record seven terms as Speaker of the House.
“Joe Kraft had the vision, desire and motivation to make a difference in our community,” said Ellen Lehman, president of The Community Foundation. “We are honored to help keep his memory alive through this award.”
About Joe Kraft
Joe Kraft, whose parents were Russian immigrants, was a Davidson County native and graduate of Vanderbilt University. Prior to receiving his degree, Kraft put his athletic scholarship on hold to enlist in the Army Air Corps after the attack on Pearl Harbor. During the war, Kraft flew 31 missions over Italy, Germany and Czechoslovakia as a navigator on a B-17 bomber. He graduated from Vanderbilt in 1948, and received a law degree from what is now Nashville School of Law in 1958. Kraft then founded one of Nashville’s largest certified public accounting firms, Kraft Bros., Esstman, Patton & Harrell.
About The Community Foundation
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee oversees more than 450 charitable funds. In the past twelve years, The Foundation has distributed $216 million to community programs and institutions. Currently, The Foundation manages endowment, unrestricted and memorial funds totaling $300 million. It is located at 3833 Cleghorn Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37215. For more information, call 615-321-4939 or visit www.cfmt.org.
