CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – We’re lucky to live in a community that veterans value as a desired location to retire when they leave the service. And we’re especially lucky when they make a lasting difference in the community they call home.
In that spirit, here are 10 Clarksville veterans (in alphabetical order) who have made a difference this year. We appreciate all they’ve done for our community, both before and after their time in the military.
1. Phil Calcese
Phil Calcese is the director of international operations for Aerial Recovery Group and a veteran of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment at Fort Campbell. His team went to Florida after Hurricane Ian made landfall in order to provide disaster relief, first aid and search and rescue operations. While in Florida, the team conducted 258 search and rescue missions, 197 health and wellness checks, evacuated 65 people in flooded areas, distributed aid to 1,068 people, and tarped 16 roofs for people who had lost theirs.
2. Buck Dellinger
David “Buck” Dellinger has been president and CEO of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council since June 2021, helping to bring jobs and new industries to the community. He was previously chief development officer and chief operating officer of Nashville’s Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency. He previously served as garrison commander at Fort Campbell and as chief of staff for the 101st Airborne Division. Under the EDC’s supervision, Clarksville has had several large industrial projects recently announced or under construction. These include two Microvast battery plants, a FedEx distribution center, and an Amazon order fulfillment center, for a total of 1,750 jobs.
3. Jason Hodges
State Rep. Jason Hodges, is the outgoing District 67 representative in the Tennessee General Assembly. An operations manager for the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System and a US Marine Corps veteran, he served as a Montgomery County commissioner from 2014 to 2018, when he was elected to state office. A Democrat, he was re-elected in 2020 but decided not to run for a third term in 2022. Among the highlights of his terms: He pushed for the state to accept Medicaid funding and to cap on spending on insulin, and he successfully advocated a statewide 10-point grading scale for schools.
4. Rich Holladay
Rich Holladay was named executive director of Leadership Clarksville in June 2021. He was previously co-owner/manager of Waterdogs SCUBA and Safety. In addition to his career in the US Army, he’s held managerial positions in the defense sector and in public affairs in the banking industry. He graduated from the US Army Sergeants’ Major Academy. Since taking his role with Leadership Clarksville, he helped start the Clarksville-MoCo Non Profit Alliance, which holds quarterly luncheons to foster collaboration, coordination and education among local nonprofit organizations.
5. Stacey Hopwood
Stacey Hopwood has worked as the assistant director of the Montgomery County Veterans Service Organization for over 15 years, helping local veterans get the benefits that they’ve earned. A veteran of the Marine Corps, she is also the group adjutant for the local chapter of Women Veterans of America. She told Clarksville Now in 2020 that Women Veterans of America provides camaraderie, sisterhood and helps to preserve the traditions of women who have served in the military.
6. Mark Kelly
Mark Kelly became chairman of the Board of Directors for the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce in July 2022. He served in the US Army from 1975 to 2001. In 2002, he began his career in real estate with Keller-Williams Realty as an investor-owner. At the same time, from 2002-2009, he served on the Montgomery County Commission. He has served in several other community leadership roles, including the Clarksville-Montgomery County Regional Planning Commission and Citizens for Fort Campbell.
7 and 8. Joe and Cathi Maynard
Joe and Cathi Mayard met while serving in the US Army. Both now retired, Mr. Maynard is co-owner of ECHO Power Engineering, with customers such as the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), the Tennessee Valley Authority and NASA. Mrs. Maynard is CEO and owner of Shelby’s Trio, a new restaurant under construction across from the F&M Bank Arena. The Maynards are well known for their community involvement in Clarksville. Named Austin Peay’s 2020 Philanthropists of the Year, the Maynards have given generously to the university since 2017, including improvements to the baseball field – now named Joe Maynard Field – and the softball park – known as Cathi Maynard Park.
9. Tangi Smith
Tangi Smith served 21 years of active-duty service before retiring from Fort Campbell in 2017. She is the founder of Pi Mu Phi Military Sorority Inc. and Women Elevated, which operates women veteran transition homes in several states, with two in Clarksville. In 2018, she decided to remain in Montgomery County to fulfill her obligation as county commissioner for District 8, and she was uncontested in her bid for re-election in August 2022.
10. Oneal Wiggins
Oneal Wiggins retired from the US Army in 2005 after 23 years. After retiring, Wiggins discovered a need for transportation for those with physical and mental disabilities. In 2010, he became part of the Clarksville business scene as owner of Wiggins Medical Transit. Wiggins describes his business as a non-emergency transportation company. The COVID-19 pandemic shut down their services in October 2019. But since then they are back on the road with three vehicles rolling constantly.