Mr. Chesney was our principal, teacher, coach and friend. He knew all of us by name. He was often the first person we saw when we arrived at school and the last person we saw when we left in the afternoon.
He promoted discipline with fairness and challenged all of us to achieve our full potential. We, the class of 1950, were fortunate to have our lives influenced by this remarkable man. Our classmate, Rev. Wayne Provence, conducted Mr. Chesney's funeral service.
Mr. Chesney's teaching career began at Karns High School in 1930. After about four years he left Karns for a teaching and coaching job at Gibbs High School. In 1944 he returned to Karns High School as principal and held that position until 1957. Until his retirement in 1969, he taught a year at Central High School and was a member of Superintendent Mildred E. Doyle's staff.
Frances Elmo Walters was a student at Karns High School in the classroom of the young teacher, Mr. Chesney. After Elmo graduated from high school, they began to date. They were married February 4, 1933 in Middlesboro, Kentucky. Daughter Eleanor says they often told the story of riding to their wedding in Middlesboro in the rumble seat of a Ford roadster in spitting snow.
Their daughter, Eleanor, married John Sergent. Eleanor and John have two children, Greg Sergent and Pamela Sergent Rhodes and a granddaughter, Chelsea Sergent.
A scholarship fund has been started in Mr. Chesney's memory. It will be awarded in 2001 to a Karns High School senior. Contributions can be sent to: The C. B. Chesney Memorial Scholarship Fund, Knox County Teachers' Credit Union, 301 Gallaher View Road Suite #118, Knoxville, TN 37919.
