Achieving statehood in 1796, Tennessee reportedly earned its nickname “The Volunteer State” during the War of 1812, when 3,500 men enthusiastically answered a recruitment call by the General Assembly for the war effort. These soldiers, under Andrew Jackson’s command, played a major role in the American victory in the Battle of New Orleans, the last major battle of the war. “The Volunteer State” moniker was solidified in 1848, when President James Polk called for 2,600 Tennesseans to serve in the Mexican-American War, and 30,000 stepped forward.
That volunteer spirit of service to others can be seen in the stories of some of Chattanooga’s early families as they helped shape a vibrant community through an agency that would become the United Way of Greater Chattanooga.
Brock, Caldwell, Chapin, Chamberlain, Lupton, McCallie, Montague, Ochs, Probasco, Raoul, and Street are just a few of the names connecting Chattanooga’s history of achievement and service with today’s progress. Each of these families made a commitment early on to serve the less fortunate in the community. For men and women alike, their stories tell of courage, inspiration and honor that carry on with today’s generation.
Thomas Hooke McCallie, son of a Scottish immigrant, was audacious, proud and hard-working. He left his Blount County home with 75 cents in his pocket, joined and managed a mercantile firm in Rhea County, and in 1841 took a flatboat of merchandise, a new wife and dreams toward a future in Chattanooga. Becoming a community leader, merchant and education advocate, Thomas, his wife, and their relatives laid a foundation for a city that would become a thriving commercial hub as they fostered a spirit of philanthropy and volunteerism. Franklin McCallie, distinguished educator, Chattanooga booster and United Way volunteer, is today one of the family’s many gifts to the community.
On Sept. 11, 1922, when the city was ravaged by flooding, disease and death, Franklin’s great-grandfather, Dr. Thomas S. McCallie, joined a group of leaders to establish the Community Chest, which later became the United Way of Greater Chattanooga. The original avowed purpose to “strengthen and make effective the spirit of human helpfulness in Chattanooga; to afford its citizens an opportunity to contribute to human welfare work through a Community Chest and to coordinate the work of benevolent and charitable institutions” has remained true as the organization enters a second century serving the community and neighbors.
Members of the McCallie family have served in many leadership roles over the last century as their volunteerism has become a model that encourages others to do likewise. Today, Franklin McCallie, wife Tresa, cousin Eleanor McCallie Cooper and cousin-in-law Mel put “Love thy neighbor as thyself” into practice through their advocacy, volunteerism and friendships in numerous ways.
Franklin McCallie unapologetically refers to the racism he saw in his parents while a youngster and reflects on personal growth that led him to join his friend, Chattanoogan Moses Freeman, in protest marches. Franklin pauses with emotion when describing his father’s complete change and his subsequent leadership in integrating the Kiwanis Club in 1970. After his father admitted he had been originally wrong about integration and his four children were right, Franklin responded that “you all taught us the philosophy, we’re just implementing it.” Franklin and Tresa joined with cousins Eleanor and Mel Cooper to build on the mantra to “Love thy neighbor as thyself” as they host gatherings through “Chattanooga Connected,” a project dedicated to break down barriers between Blacks and whites and promote good race relations.
Does your community have a park that needs work, a school that needs support or a project that needs people? The United Way of Greater Chattanooga will celebrate a century of service with two days of service in September and is recruiting projects now. Do you have a “Volunteer” spirit? In 2020, almost 7,000 volunteer opportunities were filled by your friends and neighbors that changed lives and landscapes throughout the community. Thousands of Chattanoogans serve every year, working with their friends, family and neighbors in a shared mission to improve places and the lives of people. As we look toward the next 100 years of service, the United Way of Greater Chattanooga invites you to become a volunteer.
Visit iHelpChattanooga.org online to register as a volunteer, suggest a project or register your club or group for this year’s Day of Caring in September.
Jennifer Ley Crutchfield, a Chattanooga native, is an author and educator with a passion for connecting national history to local landmarks for students and families. Join her online at ChattanoogaAdventures.org.