J. Richard Carroll

"Today can be a great day for you if you want it to be."

J. Richard Carroll, 78, Kingsport, passed away on Saturday, December 8, 2018. Richard was born in Kingsport on January 29, 1940 to J.B. and Daisy Carroll. He graduated from Ketron High School in 1958, received his BS from ETSU in 1966 and his MA from Union College in 1974. He was a teacher, coach and administrator for Sullivan County Schools (Kingsley, Ketron, Sullivan North) from 1966-2013. At Sullivan North, he served as Athletic Director from 1985-2001 and Principal from 2001-2013.

Richard served as Sullivan County Commissioner for 8 years. He received the National Federation of State High School Associations Citation Award in 1998, the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association State Award of Merit and was inducted into the TSSAA Hall of Fame in 2003. Sullivan North Gym was named in his honor.

In addition to his parents, Richard was preceded in death by his brothers, Bob and Tom Carroll and brother-in-law, Harold "Sarge" Childress.

Richard is survived by his sister, Helen Childress of Kingsport; sisters-in-law, Eula Carroll and Dot Carroll, both of Kingsport; nephew, Mike Carroll and wife, Judy of Kingsport; nieces, Vicki Carroll Manning and husband, Ed of Nashville, and Becki Carroll and husband, Pete Stene of Minneapolis, MN; several great-nieces and great-nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, December 15, 2018 at Sullivan North in The J. Richard Carroll Gymnasium with Dr. Gale Hartley and The Rev. Marshall Steinle officiating. The eulogy will be given by Jonathon Fields. . The family will receive friends in the gym following the service.

The graveside service will be held on Sunday at 1:00 pm at East Lawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the animal shelter of one's choice.

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