2022 ALUMNI HALL OF FAME BIOGRAPHIES

Armstrong

LAWRENCE ARMSTRONG

From the Class of 1985, the Hall of Fame inductee is Mr. Lawrence Armstrong! Mr. Armstrong is very well-known to our community, as he serves as President of both the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and President of the 100 Black Men of Bradley Country.

Mr. Armstrong has enjoyed a long and storied career in business and manufacturing. After graduating from Cleveland High School, Mr. Armstrong attended technical school and became certified in computer technology from Computer Processing Institute in Paramus, NJ. He has been employed with Olin, Arch, Lonza, Sigura, Innovative Water Care/Solenis Inc, LLC since December of 1997. He has served in manufacturing, customer service, logistics, and supervisory roles. He has also worked with Sandra Hosiery Mill, Tennessee Valley Authority, Nielson Media Research, and Biocraft Laboratories.

Mr. Armstrong has received many community and volunteer organization awards through his involvement with organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples, where he currently serves as President. He also serves as the President of the 100 Black Men of Bradley County. Mr. Armstrong is a supervisor at Solenis Inc LLC, located in Charleston, TN. He is married to Valoria and they have one son, Travaar, and 3 grandchildren: Zahria, Trayson, and Se’lah.

benton

BRAD BENTON

Mr. Brad Benton is our Hall of Fame Inductee who represents the Cleveland High School Class of 1980. Once the CHS student body vice-president, he currently serves our community and others as a highly respected businessman. Mr. Benton exemplifies Raider pride.

Mr. Benton was a four year member of the Cleveland High School football team during his time at CHS. He participated in SGA, Interact, and wrestling. In addition to his other accolades, Mr. Benton was also voted Most Popular and Mr. CHS. His greatest memory from high school is the camaraderie and closeness of the Class of 1980. About his time at CHS, Mr. Benton states, “The teachers and staff created such an exceptional environment and culture that it made you want to come to school each day. These were the best years of my life.”

Mr. Benton went on to graduate from University of Tennessee at Knoxville, then became owner and operator of multiple businesses including the Cleveland Shoney’s for 22 years, 4 Baskin Robbins locations, and 2 Nestle Toll House Cafes. He is a recipient of the coveted Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year Award as well as Shoney’s Franchise of the Year and other awards and committees. Mr. Benton serves our community as a Sunday school teacher, President of the TCPS Board, and a member of the Chamber of Commerce Board. He is married to Wendy, and he has three children, Neeley, Luke, and Parker.

colonna

SARAH COLONNA

From the Class of 1998, our next Hall of Fame inductee is Dr. Sarah Colonna. Dr. Colonna is very well-known to the medical community through her expertise in breast cancer research and care, most recently tapped to lead efforts to expand and improve breast cancer care for veterans at VA’s nationwide. Dr. Colonna spent her high school years on the basketball court for the Lady Raiders where she learned that “working hard feels good and is usually easier than finding ways to avoid the work”. Many of Dr. Colonna’s keys to success were learned here at CHS, including the fact that “people and relationships are the most important thing, all the time, always” and that different kinds of people make the world a fun and interesting place.

Dr. Colonna holds degrees from Lee University (B.S.), ETSU (M.D.) Wake Forest (Residency), Vanderbilt (Fellowship), and the University of Utah (Fellowship and M.S. in Clinical Investigation). Dr. Colonna is a published researcher and writer, earned an award for best teacher in a specialty area for the internal medicine residents (training doctors), and is currently the administrative chief of hematology/oncology at the Salt Lake City Veterans Administration.

As the wife of a trauma surgeon and Lieutenant Colonel in the Army reserves, Dr. Colonna has proudly supported her husband through 4 deployments (3 to Afghanistan, 1 to Iraq). He returns to Iraq soon for his 5th (and hopefully final) deployment. Dr. Colonna also served on Ensign Elementary School’s school community council and coached baseball. Dr. Colonna is the wife of Dr. Alexander Colonna and the mother of Gabriel Lorenzo, Claudia Eva, and Theodore Conrad.

elliott

JEFF ELLIOTT

Dr. Jeff Elliott, Class of 1989, is well-known to the Cleveland City Schools community. Dr. Elliott has 28 years of educational experience, all in Cleveland City Schools. From the beginning of his career as a 6th grade teacher at George R. Stuart Elementary until today in his role as Chief of Staff for the school system, Dr. Elliott has poured his heart and energy into Cleveland City Schools. During his high school years, Dr. Elliott was very involved in the arts. He was in band all 4 years of high school and served as an officer his senior year. He also participated in jazz band for junior and senior year. Dr. Elliott was a regular on the stage of the Little Theater during Class Play-Offs as well.

Dr. Elliott earned his B.S. and M.Ed. degrees from UTC and then obtained an Ed.S. from Lee University and a Doctorate from UTC. He has served Cleveland City Schools in the roles of teacher, assistant principal, principal (Dr. Elliott was the first CHS graduate to become a Cleveland City Schools principal), Secondary Education Supervisor, Directory of Curriculum and Instruction, Chief Academic Officer, and most recently was named Chief of Staff in 2022.

Dr. Elliott has been honored with many awards throughout his career, and he has worked as a trainer with the State Department of Education in addition to presenting at national conferences. He is involved with various community organizations, serves his church in multiple roles, and takes pride in his connection and service to Cleveland City Schools and its people. Dr. Elliott is dad to Carol Lynn, a CMS 6th grader, and he is married to Emily Elliott.

marcum

ROBBY MARCUM

Once a CHS standout soccer player, today an investigator for the Department of Justice, our inductee from the Class of 2009 is Mr. Robby Marcum. Mr. Marcum represents Cleveland High School honorably in the world of federal investigations.

Mr. Marcum gained a foundation for his future career through his high school involvement in academics, numerous clubs, and student organizations. He fondly remembers his time at CHS, in particular the people and the places and times shared. Mr. Marcum states that, “While life has taken me away from CHS and Cleveland in general, I often remember the strong foundation they represent in my life. I am proud whenever I hear good news out of CHS, whether in academics, athletics, or otherwise.”

After graduation from CHS, Mr. Marcum earned a degree in political science from Lee University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law. Mr. Marcum practiced energy law for three years in Houston, Texas, before joining the U.S. Department of Justice, where he has been since 2019. There, he investigates violations of federal law and threats to national security. Mr. Marcum is married to Leslie.

tipton

TUCKER TIPTON

Major Select Tucker Tipton, CHS Class of 2009, is our next Hall of Fame inductee. An active duty Air-to-Surface Test Flight Commander, he once spent his time as quarterback on the football field in a Blue Raider uniform and today he wears a United States Air Force uniform and serves our nation.

Major Select Tipton says that Cleveland High School sparked his interest in engineering and ignited his passion for learning. He credits his incredible parents, friends, teachers, and mentors who took the time to invest in his life and teach him to love others well, and he has tried to develop a leadership style that makes all of his employees feel valued and appreciated. Upon leaving CHS, he became the first person in a five-year span to complete a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering while also competing in Division I football all four years at the Air Force Academy. After graduating from the Air Force Academy, Major Select Tipton was selected to attend the Air Force Institute of Technology to earn a master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering, eventually becoming the nation’s lead engineer on foreign fighter aircraft and weapons. Major Select Tipton was later chosen to attend the United States Air Force Test Pilot School where he flew 24 different aircraft and learned to test the nation’s newest weapon systems.

A highly decorated serviceman, Major Select Tipton has earned 17 military awards in his 9 year career. He was named the National Air and Space Intelligence Center’s engineer of the year and volunteer of the year. He mentors high school students as a YoungLife leader in addition to volunteering as the quarterbacks coach for a local high school football team for three seasons. Major Select Tipton currently works at the 780th Test Squadron, where he is responsible for the developmental test of all new Air Force weapons that are released from aircraft to attack targets on the ground. He is married to Emilee Tipton and they have one daughter, Harper.

tucker

DAVID TUCKER

This Cleveland Blue Raider can now be found with his work being highlighted in software development efforts and groundbreaking projects. From the Class of 1999, Mr. David Tucker is a software engineer and founder of Mind Mill Media, LLC. Mr. Tucker fully immersed himself in the life of a Raider during his time at Cleveland High School. CHS played a central role in enabling Mr. Tucker to accomplish the incredible work of his career. After graduating in 1999, Mr. Tucker became an entrepreneur and software engineer who focused his career on technology that improves people’s lives.

Mr. Tucker has consulted with many different industry leaders, from FedEx to Sony Music to AT&T to Comcast. He is a published author, an industry event speaker, and has won several awards including the Webby Award and Adobe Max Master Award.

Mr. Tucker serves as a mentor for middle and high school age boys, leads small groups, speaks to parents and teachers about technology safety, and has participated in many service projects in our local area as well as his own community. He is heavily involved with charities and NGO’s in South Asia. Mr. Tucker is married to Shannon, and they have three children: Kaden, Keegan, and Brenna.