Daniel Harley Fite

Farrar Funeral Home 411 W. Broadway Blvd. Jefferson City, TN 37760 Phone (865)475-3892 Fax (865)475-9916 OBITUARY: DANIEL HARLEY FITE, age 101, of Jefferson City, Tennessee, died December 31, 2003. He was born in Wilson County, Tennessee February 24, 1902, the son of Daniel Ernest Fite and Brilla Jennings Fite. A graduate of Auburntown High School, he earned his Bachelors degree at Middle Tennessee State University, where he was recipient of Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1963, and received Masters and Doctoral degrees at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. He taught in Tennessee public schools four years, became Dean, Austin Peay State University, taught at Peabody College, was Chairman, Education Department, North Alabama State University, and Education Officer, Tennessee Valley Authority. Harley Fite began his tenure as President of Carson Newman College in October, 1948 and retired twenty years later. Under his leadership, Carson Newman doubled its enrollment, constructed 24 new buildings, created 26 new programs and added eight majors. After retiring, he became Vice President, Morristown Savings and Loan Association for eleven years. His service to professional education groups and Baptist organizations include: President, Southern Association of Baptist Colleges in 1956 and 1963; President, Tennessee College Association, 1957; Member, Board of Trustees, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, five years; Member, Education Commission, Southern Baptist Convention, five years; Member, Advisory Committee on Teacher Education in Tennessee, eight years; Member, National Advisory Committee of Teacher Education in Tennessee, two years; Member, Fulbright Committee to select students for foreign study, five years; Member, Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee, four years. Among non-professional experiences, Dr. Fite was a deacon in Baptist churches over sixty years; Member, White House Committee on Aging in 1971; helped organize Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce, served as President fourteen years and was recipient of Chamber of Commerce Man of Year Award in 1978. He was named Jefferson Countian of Year, 1978 by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of Civitan Club nearly fifty years, served as President, Jefferson City Civitan Club, 1954 and 1972; was Lieutenant Governor, Appalachian District, Civitan Club, 1958 and 1972; recipient of Distinguished Service Award, 1959 and 1963; Chairman, Jefferson City Industrial Development Board, twenty years and Chairman, Health and Facilities Board, 1978 and 1998. Dr. Fite authored several books and contributed many articles to professional and denominational publications. He was listed in Who?s Who in American Education, Who?s Who in the South and Southwest and Who?s Who in America. He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Esther Robinson Fite on June 6, 1980; daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Fite, in early childhood; sisters, Pauline Becton and Erma Spurlock; brothers, Albert and W. B. Fite. He is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Lila and Bill Roden of Deland, Florida, Esther and Will Rabenstein of Talbott, TN, Bettye Ruth and Jim Forney of Jefferson City, TN; grandchildren, Paul Roden of London, England, Charlotte Blackburn of Orlando, Florida, Stan Roden of Knoxville, TN,Nancy Bland of Winter Park, Florida, Steve Wright of Alpine, Texas, Robin Wright of Conway, South Carolina, Kathy Mitchell of Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Russ Rabenstein of Wilmington, Delaware, David Forney of Reston, Virginia, Susan Rhodes of Palm Beach, Florida; twenty great grandchildren; brothers, McKnight Fite of Jefferson City, TN and Dewey Fite of Lebanon, TN. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, January 4, 2004 at the First Baptist Church of Jefferson City with Dr. Calvin Metcalf, Dr. James Netherton, Dr. Cordell Maddox, Dr. Moncrief Jordan, Dr. Roy Lloyd, Dr. Gene Wilder and Jim Dampier officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the W. W. Bass Sunday School class and the members of the Jefferson City Civitan Club. The family will receive friends following the service in the Friendship Fellowship Hall of the church. Family and friends will gather at 1:45 p.m. Monday, January 5, 2004 at Prosperity Baptist Church Cemetery in Wilson County, Tennessee for a 2:00 p.m. graveside interment service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Esther Robinson Fite Scholarship Fund or to the D. Harley Fite Scholarship Fund, c/o Carson Newman College, Jefferson City, Tennessee 37760. Arrangements by Farrar Funeral Home in Jefferson City, TN (865) 475-3892 www.farrarfuneralhome.com