JOHNSON CITY - East Tennessee State University and the ETSU Foundation recognized two outstanding community leaders with the Margin of Excellence Award during a formal dinner for the university's top contributors.
The award was established to acknowledge individuals who go above and beyond the call of duty in supporting ETSU and the Foundation. Margin of Excellence Award recipients this year are Janette "Janey" Campbell Diehl and John Howard Poteat.
According to ETSU Foundation President Tim P. Jones, in addition to their financial gifts, both honorees have exhibited true loyalty to every aspect of the mission of the university as well as the Foundation.
ETSU President Dr. Paul E. Stanton Jr. agreed, saying "Janey Diehl and John Poteat have each shown continuing commitment to the university in so many areas on so many levels that it is really difficult to name just a few highlights."
Commented Dr. Richard A. Manahan, executive vice president of the ETSU Foundation, "It is very fitting that we take time to recognize these two outstanding individuals for their dedicated support of East Tennessee State University and its educational mission and outreach."
A native of Jonesborough, Janey Diehl completed high school at age 16, and graduated from the then East Tennessee State College in 1950 with a double major in business education and health and physical education. She returned home to marry Richard Diehl after teaching and coaching at Sweetwater High School.
With just two trucks purchased from Richard's father, she and her late husband established Richard Diehl Inc., which has grown over the 43 years since then into a fleet of 30 tractor-trailers. She credits the success of the business to "a lot of hard work and luck," and she continues to work daily alongside sons Chris, Jared and Joe.
In 1996, the ETSU Alumni Association selected Diehl as the year's Outstanding Alumna for her dedication and service to ETSU. And, the Southern Conference honored her in 2003 as one of that athletic league's first "Outstanding Supporters."
She has journeyed to numerous countries as a member of alumni tours, some of which included travel with ETSU music student performers, and she actively supports various ETSU music groups.
A member of the ETSU Foundation where she serves on the board of directors, she is also a long-time member of ETSU's Pirate Club for athletic boosters, regularly sponsors activities for the local Boys' and Girls' Club, teaches Sunday School at Jonesborough United Methodist Church, has been on the board of directors for Holston United Methodist Home for Children in Greeneville, and is currently on the board of trustees for the Mountain States Health Alliance Foundation.
She and her family have established ETSU scholarships for student-athletes, the James H. Quillen College of Medicine, the Roan Scholars Leadership Program, and a general scholarship in tribute to her late son, J. Richard Diehl Jr., among several other scholastic endeavors.
John H. Poteat was born in Bakersfield, N.C., at the end of 1912. An alumnus of the former State Teachers College, where he completed his pre-med coursework in three years, he began studies at the University of Tennessee medical school in Memphis. But, due to lack of funds for food and schooling, he was forced to leave Memphis during his first year to seek employment back home. He subsequently landed a job at Tennessee Eastman in Kingsport for 27 cents per hour.
The former dairy farmer with strong entrepreneurial skills has repeatedly recognized business opportunities, taken action, delivered a quality product with outstanding service, and beaten his competition. His various successful ventures over the years include door-to-door milk delivery, homemade hand-dipped ice cream sales, retail and wholesale oil operations, and ultimately, banking.
Poteat and another prominent Kingsport businessman, W.B. Greene Sr., started the Bank of Tennessee with six employees. Today, Poteat serves as director and honorary vice chairman of the board for the Bank of Tennessee and BancTenn Corp.
Actively involved in church and community service, he has a strong, closely knit family that includes two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He also continues his interest in his alma mater by helping deserving students at ETSU. Drawing on his banking expertise, he has taken a leadership role in the financial support and successful development of the John H. Poteat Chair of Banking in the ETSU College of Business and Technology.
Although now age 92, Poteat still looks forward to meeting challenges in farming, banking, and real estate development. | 
