2022 ORDER OF THE RED TRIANGLE
DR. PHYLLIS HILDRETH
The YMCA of Middle Tennessee presented its highest volunteer honor—the Order of the Red Triangle—to Phyllis Hildreth. Our 2022 recipient is a long-time board member, volunteer, and community leader.
The Y acknowledged Hildreth with this honor for her instrumental work with the YMCA’s HBCU Alliance, which developed following a series of community dialog sessions co-led by Hildreth, aimed at identifying ways in which the Y could convene other organizations and resources to best meet the needs of the community and chart a more sustainable future.
Hildreth is former Director for Lipscomb University’s Institute for Conflict Management, and currently serves as the Vice President of Strategy and Chief of Staff at American Baptist College.
When the Y had conflict in its midst, Phyllis answered that powerful four-letter word “help,” and said “yes.”
She helped to lead the YMCA through a series of Community Dialog Sessions that ultimately resulted in a public Request for Proposal (RFP) for partners for the Northwest Y, which was eventually awarded to establish a newly formed consortium of Nashville’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). After getting to know her and seeing her work first-hand, she was invited to join the Y board, and she continues to serve.
A graduate of Harvard University with a degree in biology, Hildreth went on to obtain her law degree from the University of Maryland in Baltimore, where she and her husband, Dr. James Hildreth, current president of Meharry Medical College, spent the early years of their career—and where she served as both deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Justice and as the very first managing director of the Baltimore Juvenile Justice Center.
Hildreth has not only led dialogues for the YMCA, but on the heels of a series of incidents involving Nashville police and young people of color, Hildreth was also called on to lead the “Real Dialogues,” a series of conversations addressing policing, criminal justice and race relations. More than 1,000 community members were given voice through that process, and gave rise to the city’s first Community Oversight Board. She’s also served two terms on the Human Rights Commission and as a member of the Nashville Centennial Conservancy.
- 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 Impact Award Winners
"Vern is an awesome supporter of our Y. He is an extremely generous giver, and he helps us to raise money every year for our Annual Giving Campaign. He is the first to volunteer for any event at our Y, and he is so positive to everyone he encounters. He is always supporting us with his time, talents and treasures. He constantly lends a listening ear and an encouraging word to members and staff."
"Mr. Gentry has distinguished himself by his advocacy of the Northwest Family Y and his positive contributions, specifically actively supporting projects critical to our growth and sustainability. He exemplifies our core values, and lives in a manner which inspires respect and admiration."
"He has devoted hours upon hours of introducing me to various members and leaders in our community. He has made it his mission to have our goals met by coordinating and implementing a successful campaign with community, staff and board members. The knowledge and energy that he brings to the table makes my role as the executive seamless. It is my honor to acknowledge his leadership, strength and love for the Franklin YMCA."
"Brian has served as our board chair through our renovation project and was very instrumental in helping us secure capital donors. He’s given so much time and talent to our Y."
"Ms. Marion is the 'Queen' of the North Rutherford Family YMCA. Each year, she has led volunteers in campaign dollars raised. Over the past two years, she has secured more than $3,000 during each community campaign. She is an advocate for the YMCA inside and outside of our walls."
"Tom is committed and enthusiastic about the YMCA mission and values. He has worked diligently for the past two years to lead the charge in strengthening this community by fearlessly telling the story and asking donors to join him."
"Margaret Maddox Y is honored to recognize Katie Struzick as our Volunteer of the Year for 2022. Her dedication and selflessness have made a significant impact on our organization and the community we serve."