Roane State Community College

Bruce Cantrell and Dr. Jason Eble

Dec. 8, 2015

A professor and the student he once taught are Roane State Community College’s 2015 Outstanding Alumni.

The recipients are biology professor Bruce Cantrell and Dr. Jason Eble, physical therapist and clinical director for Champion Physical Therapy in Harriman. 

“To get the award and have one of your students getting the same award at the same time is just a great honor,” Cantrell said. “It shows you that what you do might make an impact.”

After graduating from Harriman High School in 1969, Cantrell enlisted in the Navy and served in Vietnam. He came to Roane State in 1973, and in 1975, he was part of the college’s third graduating class.

“When I came to Roane State I was right out of the military,” Cantrell said. “I wanted to do everything.  I was in student government. I was on the debate team. I got involved with the newspaper. One day, the debate coach, Bill Yates, pulled me aside, and he said ‘Bruce, you can’t do everything. You’ve got to pick and choose and do what you want to do, and do it well.’  That advice from Bill, through the years, has been a guide.”

Yates’ advice, and Cantrell’s work ethic, led him to focus on three areas – service, science, and teaching. Cantrell graduated from Tennessee Tech in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in biology.  He joined the U.S. Army and served for 15 years, rising to the rank of major.

During his second stint of military service, Cantrell attended a variety of schools including Air Assault School, Security Management, Terrorism Counteraction, and Nuclear and Chemical Target Analysis. He led a team that provided specialized training in nuclear, chemical and biological weapons defense. Agencies that Cantrell’s team trained included the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Secret Service and the CIA. Cantrell is a regular guest lecturer at the Defense Intelligence College.

Cantrell also earned his master’s in biology from American University. As a graduate student, he participated in a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research program studying ocean dumping and marine pollution. Cantrell’s love for marine science, which traces back to his Navy service and his coursework at Tennessee Tech, is a passion he shares with his students.

A certified divemaster with multiple specialty certifications, Cantrell has taken students to Key Largo, Costa Rica and Honduras to give them field experience in marine science. Many students who participate have never seen an ocean. In fall 2014, Cantrell and colleague Jessica Fain lived underwater for 73 days, setting a new world record while educating people around the world about the importance of the oceans.

Cantrell began teaching at Roane State in 1992, pausing briefly to serve in the state legislature, and he remains heavily involved in community service. 

“Roane State is probably one of the biggest blessings that Roane County has ever had,” Cantrell said. “It opened up postsecondary education to so many people who would never have gotten it.  Over the years, we have expanded that. Every year, we are bringing education to the people. The more we grow, the more people we get to serve, and the faculty will go wherever we are needed.”

Jason Eble, Cantrell’s former student, is among those the college has served. A 2005 graduate of Harriman High School, Dr. Eble graduated magna cum laude from Roane State in 2007 with an associate degree in biology.

Dr. Eble transferred to East Tennessee State University, where he graduated summa cum laude in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. Dr. Eble played baseball at Roane State, and his career path blends his background as an athlete and his interest in medicine. As an undergraduate at ETSU, Dr. Eble worked with the college’s athletes and decided to pursue physical therapy. He earned his doctor of physical therapy from ETSU in December 2012.

“Roane State was a great experience for me,” Dr. Eble said.  “I was able to stay at home. I was able to stay close to my family and friends while getting an education. Roane State offers a lot of opportunities. You have one-on-one relationships with your teachers and smaller classes. For me, it was a better learning experience, and it really set the foundation for me at the next level.  I think that’s why I was so successful at ETSU because I got a good foundation here.”

Dr. Eble said professors such as Cantrell helped him establish a good academic foundation and positioned him for success on the challenging road to becoming a doctor.

““When I started out, my first few grades were not exactly what I wanted them to be,” he said. “My teachers were all on site. They were all accessible. They taught me how to study, how to prepare for eight-chapter tests, things I wasn’t capable of doing at the time.”

Dr. Eble uses his knowledge of physical therapy to serve his community. He provides injury prevention programs to area schools and offers free injury screenings to high school athletes. Dr. Eble has provided community seminars on injury prevention and on concussions. He supports organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club and area athletic programs.

Dr. Eble also provides internships to Roane State physical therapist assistant students and participates in career days to raise awareness of opportunities within his field.

“I had a great time when I was here,” Dr. Eble said. “It was tough in that I had to grow up a little bit faster than I wanted to, but I am glad that I chose this path instead of a four-year university because I know that I wasn’t ready for that. Roane State was a perfect opportunity and stepping stone for me.”

Roane State is a two-year college providing transfer programs, career-preparation programs and continuing education. Founded in 1971, the college has campuses in Crossville, Harriman, Huntsville, Jamestown, Knoxville, LaFollette, Lenoir City, Oak Ridge and Wartburg. 

Tennessee’s Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. All colleges in the system offer associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit tncommunitycolleges.org.