Dr. Michael D. Calfee is our Hall of Fame Inductee who represents the Cleveland High School Class of 1987. Once a member of the Blue Raider football team who now spends his days in the operating room as an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Calfee exemplifies Raider pride.

Dr. Calfee’s most treasured memories from high school include the Fridays in the fall when his mom would cook lasagna and about half the football team would come over to eat and hang out before the game. He believes that the greatest impact his time at Cleveland High School had on his life was having people who believed in him. This was proven in the game where he started cornerback his sophomore year and got his first interception against Andy Kelly at Rhea County. Coach Yates picked up him by the shoulder pads on the sideline afterward and said, “I knew you could do it.”

Dr. Calfee has enjoyed a successful life of impressive accomplishments since he graduated from Cleveland High School. He graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville where he received the most prestigious award given, the Torchbearer Award. He attended medical school at the University of Tennessee at Memphis and went on to complete his residency at the Campbell Clinic in Memphis. Dr. Calfee has been an orthopedic surgeon for 19 years, also finding time to go on 14 foreign mission trips and performing over 100 hip replacements in Honduras. The greatest accomplishments of his life, however, are being married to his wife for almost 27 years and their three wonderful kids.

From the Class of 1980, our next Hall of Fame inductee is Mr. Cameron Fisher! Mr. Fisher is someone very well-known to most of our area, as he was instrumental in the planning and creation of our very own Cleveland Greenway.

Mr. Fisher spent his high school years on the football field with the marching band, on the stage with Thespians, and participating in activities with the Key Club and Interclub Council. He believes that there is nothing better than winning the Great Bands of Orange Bowl competition in Miami, and one of his best memories was marching in the Orange Bowl Parade.

The genuine concern of faculty and administrators toward excellence deserve the credit for the greatest impact of Cleveland High School on Mr. Fisher. He also greatly appreciates the lifelong friendships forged between fellow classmates who attended both CHS and his local church.

Since graduation, Mr. Fisher received his Bachelor’s in Communications from Lee University and a Master’s in Human Resources from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He worked twelve years in Public Relations at Lee University and an additional 23 years in Communications at the Church of God International Offices, where he currently serves as Communications Coordinator. He is very actively involved in our community, having served as President of the Rotary Club, Chairman of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce, President of the Cleveland Media Association, Chairman of the United Way of Bradley County, and a 13-year Chairman of the Cleveland/Bradley Community Greenway Board. Mr. Fisher has received numerous local and state awards including the Robert Varnell, Jr. Leadership Award from the Chamber, the William F. Johnson Award from United Way, Rotarian of the Year, Excellence in Communications Award from the Cleveland Media Association, and the Governor’s Volunteer Star from the State of Tennessee. Mr. Fisher is married to Donna and they have two children, Grant, and Amanda, and two grandchildren.

Ms. Vanessa Hammond is a member of the Blue Raider Class of 1987. Ms. Hammond is a long way from the football field sidelines where she spent many hours as a Blue Raider cheerleader. From a Blue Raider to a Flame, she now serves as a college administrator at our hometown university, Lee University.

Ms. Hammond represented CHS as a Model United Nations delegate, along with serving her class as SGA Class Representative. She was involved with National Honor Society and Anchor Club and played on the CHS Tennis Team. Her greatest memory from high school is participating in Raider school spirit activities such as Bradley Week, decorating late at night in the hallways with friends and dressing up during the day. She also recalls an important moment when re-reading Othello in Mrs. Schlaeger’s English class: the proverbial lightbulb came on for her as she discovered Shakespeare’s genius, and she has loved literature since that moment.

Cleveland High School played a key role in encouraging her to step outside her comfort zone, to try new things and stretch herself—socially, intellectually, athletically, and in leadership—with classmates of all different types.

In the years since her graduation from Cleveland High School, Ms. Hammond earned degrees in English Literature from Lee University and Wake Forest University. She has contributed professionally to programs that have a meaningful impact on students at Lee University, along with learning from exceptional people who serve non-profits in our community as she has had the privilege to volunteer alongside them. Ms. Hammond currently serves as the Director of Grants and Foundation Relations for Lee University and is married to Dr. Jerome Hammond. Together, they have raised two CHS graduates, Will and Graham (both Class of ’16) and have two more on the way, Ella (Class of ’22) and Lia (Class of ’25).

Dr. Debbie Bryson Ingram is our Hall of Fame Inductee who represents the Class of 1974. Once the editor of the CHS yearbook, currently a UC Foundation Professor of Physical Therapy, Dr. Ingram makes her home in Ooltewah, Tennessee.

Dr. Ingram was involved in almost everything CHS had to offer. She was President of Anchor Club, on the Executive Committee for Student Government, Beta Club, National Honor Society, Drama Club, Thespians, Pep Club, Leadership Council for the teen March of Dimes program, Senior Honor Student, Girls State Delegate, danced in talent shows and musicals, and was a DAR Good Citizen. She received numerous awards, including the Scholastic Achievement Award in the Cleveland Junior Miss Competition. Her greatest memories from high school include Bradley/Cleveland week and dances. Her worst memory was spilling sulfuric acid all over herself in chemistry, which in turn ate holes in her favorite outfit. She refused to climb under the sprayer because it would get her hair wet. Dr. Ingram credits the greatest impact of Cleveland High School to be the teachers. She had great teachers who prepared her for college, teachers such as Mrs. Sheila Schriver, Ms. Alice Hamilton, Ms. Martha Wattenbarger, Ms. Wilma Cross, Ms. Sylvia Coates, and Mr. Jim Kerr.

Dr. Ingram’s career in physical therapy and medical education is an illustrious one. She was the 2007-2008 University of Tennessee National Alumni Association President, spending a year traveling across the country speaking to 382,000 alumni. She earned the highest honor given by the American Physical Therapy Association, the Catherine Worthingham Fellowship, served as vice president of the national organization of physical therapy licensing boards, and served as the national chair of Physical Therapy Clinical Education. Dr. Ingram is a member of the founding faculty of UTC’s first doctoral program, an Outstanding Graduate of UT Educational Leadership Department, Hall of Fame Member of Tennessee Physical Therapy Association, has served as a UTC graduation speaker, and is a member of the numerous committees at UTC.

Dr. Ingram now spends her time teaching as a UC Foundation Professor of Physical Therapy at UTC. She has been married 40 years to David, and they have one daughter, Alexandra, who earned her PhD from UT in 2019.

Ms. Janice J. Wilson graduated from Cleveland High School in 1971. A former high school French teacher, Ms. Wilson is currently enjoying a second very successful career as the Executive Director of the George R. Johnson Family Foundation.

In her time at CHS, Ms. Johnson was a member of the French Club as well as the Debate Club, FHA, National Honors Society, and Beta Club. She was President of the Foreign Language Club her senior year.

Among many fond memories of friends and teachers, a unique story stands out as Ms. Johnson’s greatest memory from high school. The football team was headed to play the Oak Ridge Wildcats, who at the time were the #1 team in the state. The entire student body walked out of the gym to line the sidewalk to the team bus in the driveway-- in total silence. Team members ran down the sidewalk onto the bus and headed out, all in silence. They won an exciting game and knocked Oak Ridge out of first place. That probably was the first and last silent pep rally in the history of CHS.

Mrs. Johnson states that the teachers at CHS had a great impact on her and her choice of a career. Mrs. Pesterfield, Mrs. Tilson, and Mrs. Tittsworth were strong role models for her, and she believes it was their excellence and influence that made her decide during her senior year to eventually become a high school teacher.

Out of many great career accomplishments, Ms. Johnson’s greatest accomplishments are her three wonderful daughters and her former students who are now making their own contributions to society, some as teachers, including even French teachers. She is proud of the work that the non-profits that they support through the Family Foundation are doing to help people in our area find their own path to success in life.

Mr. Mark Johnson is our Hall of Fame Inductee who represents the Cleveland High School Class of 1974. Once a band captain who currently serves our community as a highly respected businessman, Mr. Johnson exemplifies Raider pride.

Mr. Johnson was a member of the Cleveland High School tennis team during his time at CHS. He participated in Key Club, Interact Club, Beta Club, and Junior Achievement. In addition to his other accolades, Mr. Johnson was also the band captain. His greatest memory from high school is his senior trip to Daytona Beach and Disney World.

Mr. Johnson identified as the greatest impact of high school the fact that he received a well-rounded education and lifelong friendships. These two things were his best preparation for college and life after high school.

Mr. Johnson went on to graduate from University of Tennessee at Knoxville, then became a CPA. He is a recipient of the coveted MC Headrick Free Enterprise Award. Mr. Johnson is also co-owner of J and S Restaurants, Inc, which owns and operates Hardee’s restaurants in the surrounding area.

We are proud to honor Ms. Lauren Phillips, member of the class of 1995, as our next Hall of Fame inductee. Ms. Phillips drew from her educational experience at Cleveland High School to become a master educator in the public sector. She is currently an art teacher in Atlanta, Georgia.

Ms. Phillips was a very involved student in her time at Cleveland High School. She participated in the concert band, Anchor Club, and National Art Honor Society. Her athletic career was significant, as she was a member of the JV and Varsity Girls Soccer team. She was also involved with the theater department and competed in Class Playoffs.

Watching the football team in the state championship three times in a row figure prominently in Ms. Phillips’s greatest memories from high school. She also fondly remembers learning how to paint with oils in art class, soccer practices, Class Playoffs, being a big sister to Blythe Avenue students, and graduation. She believes that her time at CHS, plus her family, friends, and dedicated teachers who pushed her to work hard, have all influenced her life to this day. Ms. Phillips believes college was easier for her because she had such a strong foundation from her time at Cleveland High.

Past president of the Georgia Art Education Association, Ms. Phillips is a highly awarded educator and humanitarian. She holds two degrees from the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. from Georgia State University in art education. She has won teaching awards at the local and state level, presented at numerous conferences all over the country, and has published many articles. However, Ms. Phillips is most proud of her research on how teachers use the arts to encourage caring behaviors in children and how the arts can spark creativity and innovation in STEM fields. Her students have helped many people through their art, having created artwork in service-learning projects that have raised thousands of dollars for Atlanta-area food banks, mental health services, and organizations that fight human trafficking.

Our next Hall of Fame Inductee is Ms. Julia Johnson Scoggins, Class of 1977. Today Ms. Scoggins is employed in our local community as the President and Chief Operating Officer of J and S Restaurants, Inc/Hardee’s, a career for which she was prepared at Cleveland High School.

A participant in many activities during her high school career including the Art Club, Anchor Club, French Club, Drama Club, Math Competitions, and National Honor Society, this Raider tennis player also found time to serve in the Blue Raider Marching Band and Raider Yearbook Staff.

As for her greatest memory of high school, Ms. Scoggins fondly remembers marching under the direction of Crill Higgins in the Blue Raider Marching Band in the Bicentennial Parade in Washington, D.C., in July of 1976 and then getting their picture on the cover of Time magazine. Ms. Scoggins feels that the support and encouragement of teachers and band directors led her to gain confidence in the ability to succeed. She learned at CHS that if she studied hard, worked hard, and stayed organized, she could accomplish whatever she set out to do.

Ms. Scoggins has had a tremendous impact on the business community of Cleveland/Bradley County and surrounding areas. She was the co-owner/operator of Honda of Cleveland Motorcycle Dealership for 12 years. She is the Co-owner and Operator of J and S Restaurants, Inc, which operates 44 Hardee’s in Cleveland, Athens, Chattanooga, North Georgia, and surrounding areas. This Secretary of the Independent Hardee’s Franchise Association is also the recipient of the MC Headrick Free Enterprise Award. She has been married for 40 years to her high school sweetheart, Dale, and they have three children, Rachel, Brad, and Erica. They are also the proud grandparents of Walker, Autumn, and Brooke.

No stranger to Cleveland or Cleveland High School, Reggie Tucker is a member of the 1993 graduating class of Cleveland High School. He is also our very own Coach Tucker, CHS Boys’ Head Basketball Coach!

Coach Tucker began his preparation for his career in education and coaching in the classrooms and on the basketball courts of CHS. During his years as a student, he was a member of FCA, a Blue Raider basketball player, was named All-District twice, District MVP in ’93, and led the team to the 3rd best record in school history. Coach Tucker treasures to this day the bond that he had with his teammates and coaches and the impact that teachers and coaches made on his life while at Cleveland High School.

In the years following his graduation from CHS, Coach Tucker was a two-year starter, team captain, All Conference, Top 5 Junior College Point Guard in the nation, and led his team to the JUCO National Tournament at Hiwassee College. He went on to Louisiana State University where he was a starting point guard and made the Dean’s List twice. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. His professional basketball career included time with Orlando Pro-Am, ABA-Kansas City, WBA- Cleveland Magic, and international play in Switzerland, Mexico, France, Germany, and Poland. He has directed many former NBA basketball camps and is a trainer in basketball skills development.

Coach Tucker’s greatest blessing/accomplishment is becoming a father to his daughter, Leilani Marie Tucker. He is deeply involved with his community and coordinates annual events with his family such as the Back2School Backpack and School Supplies Giveaway, Single Mother Appreciation Breakfast, Feeding the Homeless, Father/Son Basketball Camp, Tying the Knott (collecting shoes for kids in need), Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway, Christmas Gifts from the Heart, and Fast Break Basketball Club.

We are looking forward to a fabulous season this year with Coach Tucker at the helm for the first time as CHS Boys’ Basketball Head Coach!