Annual Southern Gentleman® Issue
Photography by Kristina Armstrong | Shot on location at Chanticleer Inn
While every Southern gentleman walks a unique path, an underlying dedication and determination fuels each journey. A variety of people, principles, and passions come together to influence us along the way. In their own words, four men share the experiences and values that have guided them to where they are today.
John Stroud
My wife, Merrile, and I met on a blind date 40 years ago. Our mothers had a mutual friend who set us up. Then, in 1995, we moved to Chattanooga and got involved in a church, where we remain connected today. Our first of four daughters started kindergarten at CCS in 1996, and after 52 years of tuition, I now have the privilege of working there part-time. I am also privileged to do foundation work with friends I have known for decades.
Along the way, relationships like these have continued to shape our lives. In early 1996, I joined a small group with several men one Friday morning, and it is something I still look forward to every week! These relationships, and so many others we have formed over the years, have made all the difference in our lives. Without them, where would we be?
I know these relationships did not happen by chance. They were given to us by a loving, gracious Father. You might say He is the perfect gentleman. Thanks be to God for His amazing gifts!
Being born in Albany, Georgia, in the early ‘60s gave me a firm foundation for life. I was surrounded by people who loved, supported, and nurtured me. My parents, family, and extended family gave me a safe space to develop and grow. After graduating from high school, I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. The discipline, honor, and camaraderie with fellow military members reinforced the values instilled in me in South Georgia. While stationed in Beale AFB, California, I met my best friend and wife, Laura. She is a huge influence on how I view the world and my role in our family and our community. Since retirement from the military, we are committed to ensuring our children, grandchildren, and extended family members know that paying it forward is not an option; it’s who we are and what we do.
I grew up in North Philadelphia and moved to Knoxville at 14 to live with my aunt. At 17, I made my way to Chattanooga to attend UTC. I came here for college, but over the years, Chattanooga became home. My earliest examples of service came from my parents. Whether cleaning our street, helping someone apply for a job, or simply showing up when a neighbor needed help, they believed in caring for people. My dad often told me, “Son, take care of your community because one day you may need your community to take care of you.” I’ve carried those words with me, and they remain at the foundation of how I think about community service. I’ve been fortunate to have great mentors, personally and professionally, who challenged me, advocated for me, and held me accountable. Those relationships have reminded me that none of us gets very far on our own and that we have a responsibility to invest in others, just as others have invested in us.
I was raised by loving parents who taught me that anything worth doing was worth doing the right way. I learned to approach life with grit and determination, a hardworking attitude, and a desire to live a life that makes others proud. I started my legal career almost 20 years ago, and I quickly learned that – in addition to those qualities – I would need heavy doses of dependability, wit, humor, trustworthiness, genuineness, compassion, and the ability to portray calmness amidst the chaos of life and work. Early in my career, one of my mentors unwittingly gave me perhaps the best advice when we were faced with a new problem. He simply told me that I needed to “figure it out” and not “screw it up.” I’ve continued to approach life’s challenges with that mantra, and all the while have tried to remember to bring joy, have fun, and not take myself too seriously.
