Dentistry Alumni Awards
The University of Tennessee Dental Alumni Association recognizes alumni annually in two categories: Outstanding Alumnus Award and Distinguished Early-Career Alumnus Award.
2026 Award Winners
James Carlton Ragain, Jr., DDS ’84, MS, PhD
Chip Trammell, DDS ’12
About The awards
Outstanding Alumnus Award
The highest award given by The University of Tennessee Dental Alumni Association recognizes a graduate of The University of Tennessee College of Dentistry and member of the profession of dentistry who has distinguished himself/herself in community service, leadership, teaching, research, and/or service to the University. Past award recipients are ineligible to receive the award. Posthumous nominations will not be considered.
submit a nominationDistinguished Early-Career Alumnus Award
Recognizes an outstanding early-career graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry who, through extraordinary achievements, service, and contributions, has been an outstanding ambassador to his or her alma mater, profession, community, state, and nation.
Submit a nominationpast award winners bios
Waletha Wasson, BS, DDS, MPA, MS, MAGD (AGD Emeritus)
past alumni award winners
Outstanding Alumnus Award Recipients
2025 Joseph J. Safirstein, DDS
2025 Waletha Wasson, BS, DDS, MPA, MS, MAGD (AGD Emeritus)
2024 Gerald R. Karr, DDS, MS
2024 Henry E. McKay, III, DDS
2023 James Kendall Dillehay, DDS
2022 Danny Weiss, DDS
2022 B. D. Tiner, DDS, MD, FACS
2021 Terryl A. Propper, DDS
2020 C. L. “Leeby” Greenblatt, DDS
2020 G. Norris Howell, Jr., DDS
2019 J. Stansill Covington, III, DDS
2018 Jeannie Beauchamp, DDS
2017 DeWayne B. McCamish, DDS, MS
2017 Carl L. Sebelius, DDS
2016 Justin D. Towner III, DDS
2016 Philip A. Wenk, DDS
2015 W. Mark Tucker, DDS
2014 William O. Coley, Jr., DDS
2013 Rebecca A. Barton, DDS
2012 Fred C. Heros, DDS
2011 Wallace Lail, DDS
2010 Tommy Roebuck, DDS
2010 Jimmy Albright, DDS
2009 John H. Sullivan, DDS
2009 James B. Summitt, DDS, M.S.
2008 William Powell, D.D.S
2008 James Vaden, DDS
2007 Harry H. Mincer, DDS
2006 J. Perry McGinnis, DDS
2005 E. Mac Edington, DDS
2005 Danny R. Haynes, DDS
2004 Robert L. Jolly, Sr., DDS
2003 Fayette C. Williams, Jr., DDS
2002 Morris L. Robbins, DDS
2001 Riley H. Lunn, DDS
2000 Stacey A. Garner, DDS
1999 David K. Rowe, DDS
1998 Billy W. McCann, Sr., DDS
1997 James M. Powers, DDS
1996 Curtis R. Page, DDS
1995 John R. Nelson, DDS
1994 J.D. Johnson, DDS
1993 Bill C. Terry, DDS
1992 Gary Rainwater, DDS
1991 James Arthur Phillips, DDS
1990 Joe Hall Morris, DDS
1989 Robert M. Williams, Sr., DDS, MS
1988 Major General Bill B. Lefler, DDS
1987 Robert M. Overbey, DDS
1986 Gibbs M. Prevost, Sr., DDS
1985 Kirby P. Walker, Jr., DDS
1984 Hugh Moseley, Jr., DDS
1983 E. Jeff Justis, DDS
1982 Richard J. Reynolds, DDS
1981 Harry W. Bruce, DDS
1980 Joseph W. Looper, DDS
1979 Frank H. Anderson, DDS
1978 Robert P. Denney, DDS
1977 William H. Jolley, DDS
1976 John M. Faust, DDS
1975 Herbert C. Butts, DDS
1974 Marshall W. Fortenberry, DDS
1973 Frank P. Bowyer, Jr., DDS
1972 Winfield C. Dunn, DDS
*bold italicized denotes deceased recipients
Recent Alumnus Award Recipients
2025 Dory Sellers Gaston, DDS
2024 Whitney Howerton, BS, MDH, RDH
2023 Julia A. Prince, DDS
2019 Christina Rosenthal, DDS
2017 Nathan Cory Glenn, DDS
Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipients
2025 S. Barrett Sexton, DDS
2023 Joseph F. Rainey, DDS
2021 LT Demario Walls, MDH, RDH
2018 Robert H. Lewis, Jr., DDS
2017 William F. Alfonso, DDS
*bold italicized denotes deceased recipients