Hometown Heroes: Tom Daughtrey’s road to Rotarian of the Year in Bearden
For his work with teens and children, Tom Daughtrey was named 2023 Rotarian of the Year by the Rotary Club of Bearden.
A club member since 2006 and a past president, Daughtrey spearheaded the effort, post-Covid, to resurrect the Interact Club, the teen version of Rotary, at West High School. “He went for it, and was so excited about the opportunity,” said his wife, Patty Daughtrey, who is also the Bearden Rotary’s secretary. “He made it his goal to get it restarted, and he was very successful. He found a student who was passionate about Interact and together they got 25 new members involved.”
Additionally, Tom Daughtrey found four students to attend a Rotary-sponsored youth leadership conference in Crossville and chaired a committee to identify West students to receive Rotary scholarships. He also regularly read aloud to students at Pond Gap Elementary School.
Currently Daughtrey is battling a glioblastoma brain tumor. When she was told her husband was to be recognized as one of Cityview’s Hometown Heroes, his wife said she looked up the definition of hero. “He has exhibited so much courage with this illness,” she said.
Both native Tennesseans, the Daughtreys have been married 47 years and have two children and five grandchildren. Tom has been involved in Rotary since 1999, when they lived in Indiana. Patty joined in Ohio in 1992.