C10 . THE JACKSON SUN . SUNDAY,SEPT.1,2013 ,.n : i' i igtrfidi Weststar alumni attendedatontinuing e.ducatlon prggr.am Aug. 9 in Germantown. Members representing Madison attending lornty the special session included (from left) Martin Jelinek, diqital and social media manageiat the Jackson Sun, WestSta evelopment Corporition, WestStar Class of 20'12; Deidia Beene, d'irector of the Uliversity of tt Dahlstrom, general manager of Trenton Light administrator-of Southwest- Tennessee De ro couRTEsy oF ur MARTTN THE JACKSON SUN ' SUNDAY, SEPT. 1, 2013 Former South Side High football star directs JEA Customer Service Center By David Thomas "I worked for Coca-Cola Con- N.C., dgthomas@jacksonsu n com I learmed tearmworh, and whem a solidated in Charlotte, and went to Albany, Ga., as an Long after his football play- custolner cglnes im ooe offer thern accounts manager before re- ing days at South Side High the proper tone and treat thern turning to Tennessee." School had come to an end, Ted The Austins moved to south Austin recalled the time he and the orsay u)e wnnt to be treated." Georgia and Avis was six pregnant his former head coach Bobby TED AUSTINT Jackson Energy Authority. months with their Wilson crossed each other's daughter, Morganne. path. Morganne Austin graduates "My wife and I have one from the University of Mem- child, a daughter," Austin said. phis with a degree in social "When I saw Coach Bobby, I work in December. told him that I had told her ergy Authority's Downtown WEB EXTRA With a promise to Ted Aus- about the things about life he Customer Senlice Center at 351 For a video, visit tin's parents and in-laws that and the other coaches taught Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. www.jacksonsu n.com the family would return home, us.tt Drive. they got as close as Nashville Austin's list included char- "The key is things break It was the first time South Side with Coca-Cola in field market- acter. and go wrong,"- Austin said. was going to the playoffs." ing. "He asked me, 'Ygu believed "But you fix them. If it's cable To no surprise, Austin still With their heart in Jackson, all those things we told you?"' or the Internet, you work to get credits his offensive line 35 the Austins headed for home Austin said. "I told him,'Every it resolved . get them restored years later. when Ted decided to fly solo. one of them."' that day if they have a problem. "The hole opened quickly, "I got out on my own and Austin also mentioned team- "I learned that on the foot- and Pete Richardson was tried my hand at my own busi- work was part of the process. ball field. You want the guy (blocking) in front of me," Aus- ness," Austin said. "I sold med- The process has witnessed next to you to say, 'Job well tin said. "The next thing I knew, ical equipment as an indepen- Austin go from one of the area's done."' I'm on top of Pete and the team dent contractor ... a sanitation top running backs to someone Austin laughs whgn asked is on top of us." machine all hospitals use to who helps run interference as about the job he did in one of Austin continued playing clean instruments." the manager of the customer South Side's most memorable football at the University of Learning the American care center at Jackson Energy games a 12-6 overtime win Tennessee at Martin and fol- Heart Association was search- Authority. over rival- North Side High Iowing graduation, h9 changed ing for a director for the Jack- "I was fortunate," Austin School in 1978 his sophomore his position as a defensive back son market, Austin held the po- said. "I learned teamwork, and season. - to a position with the Boy sition for about three years. when a customer comes in we Austin provided the final Scouts of America Chickasaw Encouraged to look into a po- offer them the proper tone and . margin when he scored the Council in Memphis. sition with Jackson Utitity Di treat them the way we want to winning touchdown. A job with Coca-Cola tempo- vision now Energy Authority be treated." "That was one of the best rarily returned him to Jackson. Austin- was introduced to Austin and his staff work games I ever played," Austin "We got bought out after - with customers at Jackson En- said. "That game did it for me. about two years," Austin said. See AUSTIN, Page 84 telephone, electricity, nat- Wilson, his high school Austin ural gas, propane, water football coach, who told and wastewater services. him to give his best and Continued from Page B5 "We moved to a new lo- great things will happen. cation across from the "But there are few Jim Watson at JEA and be- post office on Dr. Martin coaches who stand out came an employee in 2001. Luther King Jr. Drive," more than Andy Rushing "Jim was the senior Austin said. "But we offer during my sophomore vice president of custom- the same service we did at year," Austin said. "He er service," Austin said. the previous location." asked me, 'Ted, do you "And I interviewed L2 For Austin, it's always think you could do years ago." about somebody else or a more?"' And I asked my- During that time, Aus- team. self, 'What is it going to tin has worked as the su- "Teams I work with take?"' pervisor of the call center, come with intent of doing Rushing is now the golf manager of customer ac- a great job and having fun coach at Union Univer- counts, senior manager of while looking forward to sity. marketing working with offering our services," "But he was instilling EPlus TV6 and develop- Austin said. "My parents, in me to never settle; you ing pricing for the tele- brothers and sisters can always do more," Aus- communications division taught me all the right tin said. before becoming the man- things to do and they were ager of customer care. not shy to tell me when I David Thomas, 475-9637 The roster of products was wrong." includes cable, Internet, He thinks of Bobby SUNDAY, SEPT. ,I ,2013 . THE JAcKsoN 5UN- .ffi.d*5sril;M "w$ j]e*{€ffiE 11* Ji.djd!ts"€gt Ted Austin manages Jackson Energy Authority's customer care center at 351 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. DAVTD rHoMAs/rHE rAcKsoN suN Dr. Toh Payne, chairman of the Dunagan chair of Excellence in Banking, presents Holt Pritchett (left) with his certificate of completion from the Mid-South School of Advanced Agricultural Lending at the University of Tennessee Martin. The MSAAL was co-hosted by the Dunagan Chair of Excellence in Banking and the Parker Chair of Excellence in Agriculture (Food and Fiber). The school was held Aug. 3-7. Pritchett works for First South Bank in Brownsville. pHoro couRrEsy oF ur MARTTN Chmielewski promoted Graduates ROTC course Richard Chmielewski H. A.my Cadet Kenneth L. leadership potential, deci- Jr., the son of Richard and Mccord has graduated from sion making and collective Joan Chmielewski ol Union the Army ROTC (Reserve team cohesion. City, has been promoted Officers' Training Corps) The cadets receive train- to the rank of lieutenant Leader's Training Course ing in fundamental military colonel in the U.S. Army at Fort Knox, Ky. skills, Army values, ethics, Reserves. The four-week course is Warrior ethos, basic rifle Friends and were family a leadership internship for marksmanship, small arms on hand to witness the cadets that can lead to the tactics. weapons training, promotion ceremony, held ultimate goal of becoming drill and ceremony, com- May Parade 4 on Brown an Army officer. College munications, combat water Field at Ft. Huachuca, Ariz. students experience and survival training. rappel- Col. Gerald Miller and Sgt. examine the Army without Iing, Iand navigation Major Brian and Harris offici- incurring an cfoligation to squad-level operations ated the ceremony and lst serve in theArmy Lt. oTROTC field training. Marc Washington read and are eligible to receive Mccord graduated the order of promotion. in two-year college scholar- 2Ol0 from Union City Lt. Col. Chmielewski's ship offers and former unit, attend the High School and is a stu- the 5ll04th Advanced ROTC Course dent Military Intelligence at the Universitv of CHMIELEWSKI at their college. Tennessee at Martin. Training Battalion, 80th Cadets are observed and He grandson Command, under the com- the ROTC program is the at the evaluated during classroom of James and Mable mand of Lt. Col. Robert University of Tennessee at and field training exercises Groenevled of Union City. Wilkinson, was in atten- Martin in 1990. After his to determine their dance officer at the ceremony. graduation from UTM in potential in leadership abil- Chmielewski's Lt. Col. 1993, he was commissioned ities and skills. The caders mother and his wife, Jen, as a 2nd lieutenant in the are trained to pinned have a sound the shoulder board Army Reserve. His mili- understanding of tradition- rank on his dress uniform tary career has focused on al leadership values during while his father pinned the area of military intelli- the challenging, motivat- the rank on his beret. Mrs. gence, though he has served Chmielewski presented in military police, trans- her husband with a cer- portation and civil affairs emonial army officer sabre, commands. As a captain, engraved with his name. Lt. he commanded the 304th Col. Chmielewski also had Military Police, BN HHC helps improve the cadets' in attendance two friends from Nashville 2003 in self-confi dence.