The ETSU Foundation and ETSU recognized two regional leaders – Richard “Dick” Green and Tim P. Jones – with the prestigious Margin of Excellence Award during the Distinguished President’s Trust annual dinner on Feb. 15.
The Margin of Excellence Award was established in 2002 to acknowledge individuals who “go above and beyond the call of duty” in supporting the mission of ETSU and the Foundation.
Green is president and CEO of General Shale Brick, one of the largest brick and exterior building materials manufacturers in the United States with more than 2,000 employees in 11 states.
Born and raised in Johnson City, he has worked most of his life in East Tennessee.
His association with ETSU is a lifelong Green family affair – his mother and father, as well as other members of his family, graduated from the university.
He met his wife, Karen Carden Green (’71), while attending ETSU before his graduation in 1973.
Currently a member of the ETSU Foundation Board of Directors, Green was a driving force behind the establishment of a sculpted brick wall for the Alumni Gallery in the Culp Center which honors ETSU’s Outstanding Alumni.
The new ETSU Natural History Museum and Visitor Center at the Gray Fossil Site bears the General Shale Brick name, reflecting the importance of ETSU’s partnership with the company in fully developing the site into the major attraction. It has already become a major educational attraction for tourists and schoolchildren, as well as scientists and educators from throughout the United States and the world.
Jones, who was vice president and general manager of Press Inc. until the sale of that media group by his family, has always been a leading force in the Johnson City community through volunteerism and support of civic issues.
He and his family were instrumental in making the Johnson City Public Library a reality. They have advocated other initiatives beneficial for the city’s downtown area.
Jones has also exhibited outstanding commitment and devotion to ETSU, serving as Foundation chairman from 2003-07.
During his tenure, alumni and friends of the university gave more than $69 million to the Foundation, almost $28 million of which was designated for scholarships and other endowments.
In 1997, the ETSU Alumni Association named him as an “Honorary Alumnus.

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