| Sources |
- [S144] Phone Record.
Name: Terry Lagrande Maddox
Also Known As: Terry Legrande Maddox
Residence Date: 14 Sep 2006
Residence Place: Gatlinburg, Tennessee, United States
Birth Date: 16 Dec 1949
Phone Number: (423) 436-4334
Phone Number Recorded Date: 06 Aug 2008
Address: 115 Park Headquarters Rd
Address Continued: Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738
Address Date: 14 Sep 2006
2nd Address: 853 PO Box
2nd Address Continued: Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738
2nd Address Date: 01 Apr 2000-01 Dec 2002
3rd Address: 4750 Townsend Dr
3rd Address Continued: Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738
3rd Address Date: 01 Dec 1992-12 Jul 2001
4th Address: 220 E Hancock St
4th Address Continued: Decatur, Georgia 30030
4th Address Date: 01 Sep 1986-12 Jul 2001
Possible Relatives: Marie M Maddox, Robyn E Maddox, Roselyn Marie Mangum Maddox, Shannon L Maddox, Steven E Maddox, Sue L Maddox, Shannon Maddox
Record Number: 70918538
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 3 Nov 2015.
Longtime park association director to retire
JULI WATSON NEIL
NATIONAL PARK – Terry Maddox can remember the graphic design on the first T-shirt Great Smoky Mountains Association ever sold.
The year was 1997, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park allowed the nonprofit association to offer the design after years of not permitting such merchandise. Now, clothing sales make up a substantial portion of the monies that help the nonprofit be able to help the park.
The detailed description of one T-shirt design and the evolution of retail sales are among many stories told by Maddox, who is set to retire as the association's executive director at the end of December.
Hired in 1989, the North Carolina native had been in search of a job in the mountains.
"It was that time in life when you're asking what it is you really want to do," Maddox said. "I had worked for 20 years, and I wondered where I might really like to be."
Maddox grew up in what he called the great swamp area of North Carolina.
"The ground looked like black coffee," he said. "I grew up on the coast. There's no such thing as a rock in eastern North Carolina. It's all sand. To see rocks was fascinating to a little boy."
He enjoyed vacationing in the Smoky Mountains, along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and throughout other mountainous areas as a youth. As he neared his 40th birthday in 1989, he decided he wanted his next job to be a mountain job.
When the time came to job hunt, Maddox quickly became discouraged. His search was in the days of newspaper ads in the "help wanted" section – there were no Internet sites to visit for online applications.
"I was getting somewhat discouraged," said Maddox. "Unless you liked a job in retail, restaurant, lodging or amusement attractions, there weren't too many jobs. There weren't a lot of what I call 'normal' jobs. I didn't think I was going to find something that excited me."
A job listing in an Atlanta newspaper changed his mind. It also changed his life. Maddox knows the exact date that he mailed his cover letter and resume, and he has a copy of the original ad scanned and saved to his computer.
"I even misspelled 'Smokey' because that's how it was spelled in the ad," Maddox said as he pulled up the ad from 'Great Smokey Mountains Natural History Association' on his screen.
"This was back in the old days," he said. "I did my cover letter and mailed it. Didn't know a person here."
Twenty-five years later, Maddox plans to stay in the community after he retires in December.
"We're not moving," Maddox said. "My wife and I love to call this home. If I'm needed occasionally, I'm only a ten-minute drive away."
Three candidates were interviewed for Maddox's position last week, and a decision on his replacement is expected soon. He explained that the association hired an executive search firm to assist in the recruiting and hiring process.
Maddox is receiving praise for his 25 years on the job. "Terry leaves an impressive legacy of park stewardship through his 25 years of service with Great Smoky Mountains Association," said park Superintendent Cassius Cash.
"Through his leadership, the Association has developed lasting, unique opportunities for park visitors at places like Clingmans Dome and the Gatlinburg Welcome Center that will serve us well into the future."
It will likely be tempting for the new executive director to reach out to Maddox for his expertise. The numbers posted during his tenure are impressive.
In 1990, the association had 595 members. It now has more than 28,000 on its rolls. The number of store locations has grown from four to nine.
The amount of money raised by the association and given in aid to the park has grown, as well. Just over $1.9 million went from the organization to the park during the 1953-1989 period. That figure for the 1990-2015 period overseen by Maddox was more than $33.8 million.
Of the sources of income for the association, Maddox said that retail sales are important and that publications account for approximately 40 percent of sales. The other 60 percent is from clothing and food sales.
Maddox talked fondly of the park's river otter and elk programs that reintroduced the animals to the nation's most-visited national park.
"Bringing the elk back was pretty special," Maddox said. "Just wait until they find Cades Cove. That's elk heaven."
He explained that the elk were reintroduced first in 2001 in more remote areas of the park so that they can avoid being overwhelmed by human encounters until after the herds are more settled.
The legacy Maddox is most proud of is the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, North Carolina. The association constructed and donated the center at a cost of approximately $3 million.
It is the first visitor center built within park boundaries since the 1960s, and it is the first full-service visitor center on the North Carolina side of the park.
"There had always been a vision of two visitor centers," Maddox said. "Even back in the 1930s, there were plans for a natural history center and a cultural history center. Sugarlands (Visitor Center) was built in the late 1950s. That took care of the natural history."
Maddox expressed dismay that it took so long for the cultural center to take shape. "Here you have the most visited national park, and you can't figure out how to build a visitor center on the North Carolina side?"
He referred to the structure as "practically perfect," and said the accomplishment is pleasing on many levels.
"Since North Carolina is my home state, it's satisfying. It's an added-pride factor for the people in North Carolina. The whole world gets to see this and use it for many, many years. It'll be used by millions of people."
A retirement party honoring Maddox will take place Nov. 20, 6-8 p.m., at Brookside Conference Center, 463 E. Parkway, Gatlinburg.
Contact Lisa Duff at lisad@gsmassoc.org by Nov. 13 to make reservations or register to make a presentation about Maddox. The event is free; heavy hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be provided.
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Groom's Name Bride's First Name Bride's Maiden Name County Date of Marriage File #
MADDOX TERRY L SUE LEATH SEVIER 06-19-1997 37778
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
261337 TERRY LEGRANDE MADDOX SUE LEATH ARTHUR
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