Alumni Spotlight: James "Jim" Gann
James Gann, better known as Jim, is a distinguished resident of Roane County and a proud alumnus of Oliver Springs High School. He was born and raised in the community of Dyllis–just outside the limits of Oliver Springs. During his high school years at OSHS, he was involved in Future Farmers of America. When asked what was the biggest impact Oliver Springs High School had on him, he stated “...I think… with it being a smaller school that I was able to interact with the teachers and other staff and pick up some help when I needed that I would’ve not been able to have got somewhere else, and I think coming from that background it gave me an appreciation of community and appreciation of other people and how to work with them much more than if I had been… just a small part of a big school.” After graduating in 1966, he went on to earn an Associate of Arts at Hiwassee College and a Bachelors of Science with a major in accounting at Tennessee Technological University.
When he was working his way through college, he worked a number of odd jobs including growing cucumbers and even washing light bulbs at a hosiery mill. His “first real job” was working at the state comptroller's office in the state audit division. During his time there, he worked his way up from a junior auditor all the way up to a senior auditor. However, this was not to last. Tired of the constant state of travel his position put him in, he then moved on to work at what was at the time Harriman City Hospital. Starting out as an accountant, he advanced his way up to business manager and eventually chief financial officer (CFO) for the hospital. After a number of years in that position, he left to work for Fort Sanders Regional Hospital, which at the time was operating a number of small, rural hospitals. One of which was Loudon Medical Center, in which he worked as the Assistant Administrator. After three years, he relinquished that position to work as administrator for Roane County Hospital, where he worked until it's Harriman location closure in 2012.
Over the years, he has held many leadership positions within the community including President of the Kiwanis Club, member of the Rotary Club, and board member and eventual President of the Roane Alliance. He is now retired, and enjoys spending his days traveling around in his RV with his wife, Donna, and taking care of their puppy, Finley. When asked for some words of advice for high schoolers now, he said, “I would certainly advise them that coming from a small high school does not limit you. In many ways it’s an advantage. You learn how to achieve while you’re in high school and you continue to do that when you get out into business and the work environment, and as long as you apply yourself and draw on your roots, anything is open to you.”
Kommentare