2024 ORDER OF THE RED TRIANGLE
LAWSON ALLEN
Long-time YMCA of Middle Tennessee advocate and volunteer Lawson C. Allen has been named the 2024 recipient of the Y’s highest volunteer honor, the Order of the Red Triangle. The award recognizes significant contributions to the YMCA of Middle Tennessee by a volunteer who has invested their time, leadership and resources to advance the nonprofit’s mission.
Liz Wilson, CFP, Managing Director & Private Wealth Advisor with Rockefeller Capital Management and a former YMCA Board Chair, presented the award to Lawson during the Association’s board meeting held June 17. "I am truly honored to present this award to Lawson Allen," she said. "Our YMCA is indeed blessed to have Lawson’s friendship, his leadership and his support, and I can think of no one more deserving of this honor."
Allen has been a dedicated volunteer with the YMCA for 26 years. His first involvement was at the YMCA Joe C. Davis Outdoor Center (home of Camp Widjiwagan), where he joined the advisory board in 1999 and served nearly a decade, including a stint as board chair from 2005 until 2008. Allen's time as chair came during a monumental time in Camp Widjiwagan's history, when a successful capital campaign culminated with the addition of resident camping facilities at the Outdoor Center, which had previously only offered day camp programs.
Following Allen's time supporting camp's growth, he began the first of two consecutive terms on the YMCA of Middle Tennessee's Association Board in 2011, and was named Chairman in 2021. His leadership once again came at a significant time in the Y's history as it embarked on the construction of the newly expanded Downtown YMCA.
Lawson Allen is President and Chairman of Lee, Danner & Bass, Inc., a Nashville-based investment management and financial advisory firm. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, and holds a degree in Public Policy Studies with an Economics emphasis. In addition to his YMCA involvement, he has served on the board of directors and as past president of the Nashville Society of Financial Analysts, on the President's Council of the Association for Investment Management and Research, as well as on the Nominating Committee for the Southeastern Presidents Council. He is also a member of the CFA Institute.
The Order of the Red Triangle was first given in 1964, to one of the most influential figures in the history of the YMCA of Middle Tennessee—H.G. Hill, Jr.
2024 H.G. HILL JR. PHILANTHROPIC AWARD
BRIAN TAYLOR
It’s not often that the mayor makes time in his busy schedule to show up and help recognize the extraordinary impact of a YMCA of Middle Tennessee volunteer, but for Brian Taylor, he did just that.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell helped the YMCA Foundation of Middle Tennessee recognize Taylor with the prestigious "H.G. Hill Jr. Philanthropic Award" for 2024.
"Brian continues to provide leadership for many of our community’s organizations," Mayor O’Connell said. "His current leadership roles serving the city as vice chair of the Metropolitan Nashville District Energy System Advisory Board, chair of the Metro Nashville Beer Permit Board and a member of the District Nashville Downtown, as well as a founding member of other important organizations in our city, has been invaluable."
And so, has his service to the YMCA of Middle Tennessee.
Taylor's generous financial support as well as his extensive service as a YMCA Association board member and chair of the Y's Annual Giving Campaign for 2024, made him the perfect recipient for this year's top honor.
“Brian demonstrates the enduring spirit of service that is so valuable to the Y’s mission in building communities where everyone can thrive,” said John Mikos, president and CEO of the YMCA of Middle Tennessee. “His unselfish volunteerism, generous financial support and outstanding leadership not only benefit our organization but the city of Nashville as a whole.”
Taylor’s commitment to the Y is deep-rooted. In addition to the H.G. Hill Philanthropic Award honor, he was recognized as the YMCA “Volunteer of the Year,” in 2017 and received the “Community Impact Award” in 2022 from the Green Hills Family YMCA.
Taylor seems to effortlessly balance the demands of his real estate firm, Progent Commercial, while actively serving the Nashville community across various organizations and boards, including as immediate past chair of the Green Hills Family YMCA advisory board. Further, he is a founding member and past advisory board member of the Nashville Emerging Leader Awards program, a co-founder and past chair of YP Nashville Advisory Board, a former board chair of Young Leaders Council and a former board chair and current member of The District Nashville Downtown. Taylor is a founding member and former board chair for the Nashville Parks Foundation, and founding member of The Phoenix Club of Nashville.
Created in 1995, the H.G. Hill, Jr. Philanthropic Award is sponsored by the H.G. Hill Realty Company, and perpetuates Hill’s memory, who served as chairman of the YMCA Board of Directors from 1950 to 1953 and again from 1965 to 1967, and was an instrumental volunteer leader of the YMCA of Middle Tennessee for more than 50 years.
- 1964 — H.G. Hill Jr.
- 1965 — Clifford Love Jr.
- 1966 — Edmund W. Turnley Sr.
- 1967 — Mark Bradford Jr.
- 1968 — Roupen M. Gulbenk
- 1969 — Harold U. Buchi
- 1970 — George H. Cate Jr.
- 1971 — Russell W. Brothers
- 1972 — James M. Hudgins M.D.
- 1973 — Robert L. Freeman
- 1974 — D. H. Vardell
- 1975 — Thomas E. Baldridge
- 1976 — Homer B. Gibbs Jr.
- 1977 — James M. Ward
- 1978 — Charles L. Cornelius Jr.
- 1979 — A. Battle Rodes
- 1979 — William C. Weaver Jr.
- 1980 — William Henderson
- 1981 — Sydney F. Keeble Jr.
- 1982 — J. P. Foster
- 1983 — W. Ridley Wills II
- 1984 — Walter Knestrick
- 1985 — Dortch Oldham
- 1986 — Jack Elisar
- 1987 — Robert L. Bibb Jr.
- 1988 — James L. Harper
- 1988 — William B. Wadlington M.D.
- 1989 — William Wilson
- 1990 — E.M. “Bert” Haywood
- 1991 — Nelson Andrews
- 1992 — Sandra Ford Fulton
- 1993 — William E. Turner Jr.
- 1996 — Margaret H. Maddox
- 1997 — H. Lee Barfield
- 1998 — John Ed Miller
- 1999 — Rebecca Thomas
- 2000 — Cal Turner Sr.
- 2001 — Senator Douglas Henry
- 2002 — James A. “Jimmy” Webb III
- 2003 — Anne E. Ragsdale
- 2004 — Florence Davis
- 2005 — Ron F. Knox Jr.
- 2006 — Jacquelyn Draughon Guthrie
- 2007 — Bill DeLoache
- 2008 — Cal Turner Jr.
- 2009 — Wood S. Caldwell
- 2010 — Rep. Brenda Gilmore
- 2011 — Frank F. Drowota III
- 2012 — George L. Yowell
- 2013 — Marty G. Dickens
- 2014 — Leilani S. Boulware
- 2015 — Bill Lee
- 2016 — Liz Wilson
- 2017 — R. Walter Hale III
- 2018 — Jimmy Granberry
- 2019 — David Wilds
- 2020 — John Gromos
- 2021 — Tony Wall
- 2022 — Phyllis Hildreth
- 2023 — Chip Howorth
2024 Impact Award Winners
The YMCA of Middle Tennessee celebrated the volunteer service of six individuals selected by area YMCA locations and programs with the distinguished Community Impact Award. This annual recognition honors those who have given of their time, talent and financial resources to advance the Y’s charitable mission of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The award recognized their volunteer efforts during the 2024 fiscal year.
“There are no volunteers more dedicated and deserving of recognition than those who serve with the YMCA of Middle Tennessee,” said John Mikos, President and CEO. “They cling proudly to our mission of serving others and are ready to lend a hand in meeting any task – whether big or small. The generosity of time and their expertise go a long way in helping us realize our vision of building healthy communities where all learn, grow and thrive.”
Hannah Pechan has been advisory board chair for the Margaret Maddox Family YMCA for three years and has devoted much of her time mentoring others. She has been a dedicated volunteer devoting time and resources in support of the center’s Tomato 5K race, its therapeutic garden, and providing cause-driven tours as well as engaging Y staff and members.
"Hannah is always focused on doing things that better our earth and community," said Judi Winfield-Ferri, District Executive Director of the Margaret Maddox Family YMCA. "Her altruism is one of the ways she is able to make a difference in the lives of others. A quote by Mother Teresa gives a hint of who Hannah is behind the scenes: 'If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.’”
Scott Clinton, District Executive Director of the Downtown Y, said both volunteers led the center's work during significant periods of the Y's renovation process. Teresa Broyles-Aplin served as advisory board chair during the design phase, and Stephanie Coleman during the construction phase.
"Both of them helped the board maintain its focus on serving the community and to not get distracted with the construction," Clinton said. "In addition, they were both instrumental in our center’s Capital Campaign."
Kathy Raglin, District Executive Director of the Sumner Family YMCA, said Jaquell Fitts, who currently serves as the center's advisory board chair, has demonstrated a "never-ending commitment to our Y."
"He is always stepping up to help, no matter what the request is, and he does such a wonderful job listening to our members and checking on our staff," Raglin said. "We are so blessed to have had his leadership these past two years. He loves our YMCA and that is truly evident in all the ways in which he shows up for us every day."
Kathy Raglin, District Executive Director of the Sumner Family YMCA, said Cal Gentry’s service has also been instrumental to the Y with his efforts in setting up meetings with local agencies and leaders to help facilitate a clear understanding of what the Y should do to prepare for potential growth, if needed funds are raised.
"Cal is always ready to step in and help wherever he can be of service," Raglin said. "Both of these gentlemen tend to shy away from any recognition for their volunteer efforts, but they both deserve to be acknowledged for their help. We truly appreciate all they have done for us."
In retirement, Paul Anderson now devotes much of his time to volunteering in the community. Bev Revo, Executive Director of Y-CAP, said Anderson's support has been significant to the Achievers Scholarship Committee, an effort he has volunteered time with for the last eight years.
"In addition to his board service, Paul’s volunteer work with the Achievers Scholarship Committee has been invaluable as he has spent many hours reading and scoring essays to help determine student awards," Revo said. "The impact of that work, along with his financial support to the scholarship fund, has benefitted so many students."