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Gymnastics' Ted Rose: Where Are They Now?

He was a state gymnastics champion from Pennsylvania who came to Lipscomb because of his father's encouragement. He finished his senior year as a team captain and a member of the trampoline team that finished 3rd in the nation, and Ted Rose has continued his accomplishments. He's a nationally known artist and author who has influenced the field of arts for nearly 50 years and taught in higher education for more than 35. He's also a recipient of the Joe W. Giles Lifetime Achievement Award for Tennessee, presented by the Tennessee Arts Academy. We learned plenty when he sat down this week with LipscombSports.com.
 
 
What years did you compete for Lipscomb?
I was on the Gymnastics team from 1965-69. Tom Hanvey was our coach, and it was really pretty miraculous -- he did everything on his own. He was nationally recognized as a gymnastics coach and had plenty of opportunities to coach other places, but he stayed at Lipscomb. In addition to coaching the specifics of gymnastics to us, he brought an entire showmanship to our program because of his background as a circus performer.


What teammates were most memorable?
I was fortunate that three very special teammates were on the team my senior year: Dave Fennessey was a junior from Maryland who was incredibly talented and very disciplined. Ray Adams was a wrestler and weightlifter from Ohio who had no gymnastics background but an incredible work ethic. Coach spotted his talent and turned him into a rings specialist who finished 4th in the nation, just .05 from being named to the All-American team. Robin Hargis was a trampoline specialist from Miami who would do or say just about anything, but he did really great work on our team and placed 6th in the nation in 1969.


What degrees have you earned?
I finished Lipscomb in 1969 with a B.A. in Art Education, and I added a master's degree in Art Education from Edinboro State University while teaching high school art in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, my home town. I later added a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Tennessee.


Why did you attend Lipscomb?
When I was very young, my dad was a coach who started an exhibition gymnastics team at Bearden High School in Knoxville. Coach Hanvey knew of him through gymnastics circles, and many years later when I won the Pennsylvania state championship in trampoline, he called dad to see if I would be interested in coming to Lipscomb. I had offers in both baseball and gymnastics at other schools, but dad wanted me to come to Lipscomb because "you'll graduate." He had seen other athletes who went to school but never went to class, and I was only 17 years old and he wanted better for me. Larger schools were appealing, but in the end, I know my father was right: Lipscomb was the best place for me.
 
In addition, I look back and realize I have close relationships to this day with teammates and classmates I met at Lipscomb. I've worked in higher education almost all my life, and I assure you: that's not the norm. Lipscomb has a quality of people that is higher and better grounded that most places, and that's made a difference to me over the years.


What is your favorite athletic memory at Lipscomb?
I have several behind-the-scenes memories that, now as I look back, were probably near-death experiences. People loved our Homecoming halftime shows, and they were fun for us, too … although they might have been more dangerous than our competitions.
 
The first involves Randy Wilson, who was a senior rings specialist in 1968. He performed this funny rings routine wearing some enormous clown shoes.  At the end, he was to act as though his giant shoes were stuck in the rings as he did a controlled fall to the pad below. However, on this occasion one shoe DID stick in the ring, so he dangled helplessly before we could run over and rescue him. The crowd loved it!
 
At another halftime show we stretched a cable from the balcony of McQuiddy Gym to a coupling on the floor. During a "Batman & Robin" chase and rescue routine, my teammate playing Robin was about halfway down the cable when it broke, dropping him eight feet to the gym floor. This time I think the crowd realized it was unplanned, but Robin survived and the crowd applauded loudly.
 
And finally, finishing 3rd in the nation in trampoline was just astounding. I'll never forget it.


Who influenced your athletic career at Lipscomb?
Coach Tom Hanvey was my greatest influence. In addition to being an excellent fundamentals coach and an incredible showman, he taught us life skills that were invaluable. He took student-athletes from all types of backgrounds and beliefs and molded us into men who have made a difference in our world.
 
For a number of reasons, after my first quarter I stayed home and planned to enroll in school in Pennsylvania. Coach called me every day, and eventually it dawned on me I was being selfish and the best decision – for me and for my family – was to return to Lipscomb. That spoke to me of the quality of man Coach Hanvey was. He wasn't calling on behalf of the team or the school. His interest was in the welfare of my future, and that made a strong impression on me.


What do you remember about Lipscomb campus life during your time here?
Please understand that I and many of my teammates came from a completely different culture, just like students frequently do today. Our first impression was the Freshman Mixer, when Ray Adams and I wandered around looking for the band. There were other cultural, geographical, and socioeconomic differences that we eventually adjusted to, however, and in time we learned what the school was all about and we all fell in love with Lipscomb and the city of Nashville.


What is the most valuable lesson you learned in your time at Lipscomb?
I learned this because of the relationships I found and built at Lipscomb: a person must value friends, family, and a relationship with God. Beyond that, nothing else really matters. So many individuals are caught up in earning money or achieving accolades, but I am convinced: if I focus on those three key relationships – friends, family, and God – and keep those relationships strong, I will be well-rounded, happy, and fulfilled. 


Who were your favorite professors & why?
I really enjoyed John Hutcheson in the Art department, James Lee McDonough and Dr. Robert Hooper in the History department, and Dr. John Willis in the Bible department.


Where did you grow up?
That's difficult to say, but essentially my middle and high school years were spent in northwest Pennsylvania.
 
 
What do you do now?
I'm still an artist and an art instructor. I'm a professor and chair of the art department at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee. I've taught for more than 35 years at a number of universities, including Lipscomb, Abilene Christian University, Union University, and William Carey College. 
 
 
Tell us about your family:
I married Coach Hanvey's second daughter, Kathy, in 1985 and we're still going strong. We have three children: Mason, Clayton, and Anna. We also have one grandson and one granddaughter.
 
 
FAST FINISH: 
  • Favorite food: Shrimp
  • Favorite TV show: Frasier
  • Favorite Bible scripture: John 3:16 – "For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
  • Favorite sports team: Steelers, Yankees, Cowboys, Tennessee and Texas Tech
  • Pet peeve: Those who fail to value real quality of life
  • Person I most admire: My father and Coach Hanvey
  • Person I'd most like to meet: Woody Allen
  • Rather ride or drive? I'd rather walk!
  • Pick one – salad or dessert: I prefer one, but I need the other.
  • Dream vacation spot: Area 51, Bora Bora or Dubai
  • Early morning or late night person? Early morning 
 
You can reach Ted via email at tkmarose@aol.com
 
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