Roane State Community College

Jody and Marilyn (Kurtz) Sherrill met as a result of both committing to serve in the United States Air Force. By fate, both were stationed at Fort McCord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Washington and by chance, as Airman Jody was working a side job at the base movie theater, he met Marilyn Kurtz, an Airman 2nd class and a combat radar reader, as she went to the movies with friends. Eventually, they married and went on to raise four children.

Jody continued to serve until he retired from the Air Force after a 21-year career, in which he had many different posts, but most significantly, serving a year in Vietnam and his last seven years as a Major on the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. Upon retirement, Jody and Marilyn moved to Jody’s hometown of Crab Orchard, TN, where their children finished their K-12 education. All of their children went on to obtain a variety of college degrees.

Both Jody and Marilyn believed education was critical to developing knowledge, skills, and abilities to become a productive contributor to society. They also acknowledged that education alone is not enough to be fully productive. They believed hard work along with education is what makes one able to achieve peak performance.

Through their hard work, education, commitment to faith, and service-above-self, many positive outcomes were created. They instilled these values in their four children who have passed this work ethic on to their children and grandchildren. The cycle continues, and collectively, out of the fateful meeting of Jody and Marilyn at an Air Force base movie theater, a large number of highly productive, good people are contributing in a positive way in the communities in which they live.

To honor the Sherrills, a scholarship endowment was established in their name.