Five Hometown Heroes who dedicated their lives to caring for children’s needs were honored Friday by the Child Advocacy Center and the Child Protective Investigative Team. 

Award winners were Rutherford County Schools Director Don Odom, La Vergne Police Chief Mike Walker, Rutherford County Department of Children’s Services Team Coordinator Shannon Romans, Child Advocacy Center Board President Terry A. Fann, and the late District Attorney General Guy R. Dotson, Sr.

Child Advocacy Center director Sharon De Boer presented awards before the Hometown Heroes Walk for Children.

“Each of these Hometown Heroes is a passionate advocate for children,” De Boer said. “They are servant leaders who have dedicated their careers to making our community a better place for children to live and grow up.  We are grateful for their service to our community.”

The awards were given during the Child Abuse Prevention Month event.

Don Odom has dedicated his 50-year career to educating children at the Rutherford County Schools system as teacher, principal, attendance supervisor, assistant superintendent, and schools’ director. 

Under his leadership, the Rutherford County Schools maintained some of the highest scores and rankings in Tennessee and the nation, exceeded the state and national averages with 95.3 percent last year, and earned the highest state schools’ designation as the “Exemplary District” in 2012 and 2017.

“Don Odom is an educational leader of unquestioned integrity who has never been afraid of getting in the trenches nor has he ever shied away from work.  He has given his life to helping children and youth and to improving education across Rutherford County and across Tennessee.  This entire region is better because he has walked among us,” stated Murfreesboro City Schools Director of Schools Dr. Linda Arms Gilbert. 

Chief Mike Walker worked his way up as a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper to become the top-ranking colonel. After his retirement, he became La Vergne’s Police Chief seven years ago. He is a member of the Child Protective Investigative Team that improves the community response to child abuse.

He and his wife, Vicki, have eight children, including one son they brought into their home while he was in high school. Walker spent years coaching his daughters in softball. When a softball player was diagnosed with cancer, he helped raise funds for her medical expenses.

“It is a pleasure working with this Hometown Hero and he deserves to be commended for his outstanding service to the La Vergne community and his dedication to justice for our community’s youngest and most vulnerable crime victims,” De Boer said.  

Shannon Romans started at the Rutherford County Department of Children’s Services as a CPS worker before rising to CPS supervisor, Placement Family Services Worker, Social Services Team Leader, and Rutherford County Team Coordinator.

She is passionate about caring for the welfare of child abuse victims, child sexual abuse victims, and drug endangered children in her career and as a member of the Child Protective Investigative Management Team.

Romans has worked tirelessly to protect children by training her staff, serving as an advocate for them, and building morale. She is available to her staff during emergencies around the clock.

“Shannon Romans is a true social worker,” De Boer said. “Everyone is immediately impressed with the strength of her convictions and how genuinely concerned she is about child abuse victims, child sexual abuse victims, and drug endangered children.  Her passion about protecting children is contagious and she has the best DCS staff in the State of Tennessee.”

Terry A. Fann is a partner in the Waldron, Fann & Parsley law firm with his practice primarily in worker's compensation, personal injury, criminal defense, and employment law.  

He enjoyed coaching youth sports and has been a youth baseball, basketball, and soccer coach in Murfreesboro.  He was the founder and Commissioner of the Murfreesboro Competitive Baseball League, and brought the USSSA World Series Tournament to Murfreesboro in 2003. 

Fann has served on the Child Advocacy Board for 15 years, serving as president the past three years. He helps children by sponsoring needy families for Christmas, filing motions, and giving legal advice to the Child Advocacy Center.

“The most impressive thing about this Hometown Hero is that he is a strong leader who does not need or desire recognition for his work on behalf of children,” De Boer said.” The work he does is often behind the scenes in ways that he receives no public recognition.”

Retired District Attorney General William C. Whitesell Jr. presented the last Hometown Hero Award in memory of former District Attorney General Guy R. Dotson Sr.

General Dotson was a “personal hero to me,” Whitesell said. He was district attorney in the mid-1980s when the Tennessee Legislature enacted the legislation that created the Child Investigative Protection Teams state-wide. Although the concept of Child Advocacy Centers did not come to fruition during his tenure, he was a strong advocate for children who were the victims of abuse.

“His most important commitment was to his family and he was a great teacher and example to his children and grandchildren as well as anyone privileged to know him,” Whitesell said.

“General Dotson made our community a safer place for children and families,” said De Boer.  “The Child Advocacy Center will forever be grateful to him for his outstanding service.”

Plans are beginning now for the 2019 Hometown Heroes Walk for Children.  Contact Kristina Troglen at the Child Advocacy Center if you want to get involved in next year’s event 615-867-9000.