Union County native Patricia McKelvey has spent most of her life sharing her knowledge and aiding the students of Union County. A college graduate at the young age of nineteen, McKelvey viewed her future as a chance to give back. Raised in Union County by a widowed mother of three who was also a teacher, McKelvey is no stranger to hard work.

“I started working right out of high school at American Clothing Company making $20 a week,” said McKelvey. “Once all of us kids were out of the house, my mother went back to school and got her degree in Education.”

Once McKelvey finished college at LMU in 1951, she began teaching at Horace Maynard High School. Six years later, she was promoted to Supervisor of Instruction serving twenty-seven schools in Union County. Her career spanned the years of eight superintendents; and for one-hundred days in 2001, McKelvey found herself in the hot seat.

“We were between supervisors from March to August in 2001 and I was appointed Interim Director of Schools for Union County,” said McKelvey. “My job was to keep everything together until a permanent superintendent could be appointed. That’s when the doctor started me on blood pressure medicine. The time was both challenging and frustrating.

Even so, I’m thankful that members of the 2001 School Board considered me worthy enough to ask me to serve as interim.”

McKelvey attended UT to get her Administrative Certificate then continued her education at Union College, earning her Master’s degree and more than forty-five hours of continuing education.

Since day one of working in the school system, McKelvey has been referred to by peers and students as Miss Patricia. Once an avid cyclist, McKelvey rode her bike to school at Sharps Chapel one school day just for fun.

“The principal let everyone come out to see me,” she said. “Everyone was so excited to see Miss Patricia riding the bike you would have thought the president was paying a visit.”

A large proclamation plaque presented to her by the State of Tennessee General Assembly holds a prominent place on one of McKelvey’s walls. The plaque lists many of her accomplishments, including serving in a leadership role overseeing the consolidation of schools to four elementary schools, one middle school, Union County High School and Adult High School, receiving the Order of the Rose from Delta Kappa Gamma and being named 1999 Educator of the Year by the Union County Business and Professional Association.

The plaque lists McKelvey as the perfect example of someone totally committed to quality education and the highest ideals of public service, and epitomizing the spirit and commitment that is characteristic of a true Tennessean.

As a descendent of Samuel Sharp, McKelvey belongs to First Families of Tennessee and still resides in her home on the family land. She says serving in Union County and working for the school system has been her life.

“One of my favorite things I took part in was working with Kathleen Graves heading the Bi-Centennial Celebration and as a volunteer for the 1986 Homecoming.

McKelvey says Ruth Gentry Raley was instrumental in setting her on the right path for serving Union County.

“She was such a strong person who took care of everyone,” said McKelvey. “If anyone came in her office and needed anything, she would stop whatever she was doing to help them. She encouraged me in every way.”

McKelvey says she has two favorite memories. One is from elementary school and one from when she taught high school.

“Bill Loy taught me to tie my shoes in first grade,” she said. “To this day when I see him he always asks if I’ve learned to tie my shoes. Then there was Carlos Carter. He wanted into my PE class in high school but it was girls only. He’s still upset about that.”

In what little free time she had, McKelvey’s hobbies were fishing and biking. These days, McKelvey stays off the bikes and the water choosing instead to spend time with her nieces and nephews in the Monroe family and her three borrowed families, the Holloways, the Bowmans and the Russells. Her faithful canine Molly Elizabeth keeps her company as well.

“The people here have given me so much. I was grateful to be able to give back to the county what the county gave to me,” she said. “I consider being employed by Union County Schools for fifty-eight years a great honor.”

When asked what the future holds, McKelvey didn’t hesitate.

“I plan to try and stay healthy and enjoy my freedom.”