Sports Autographs,

Collectibles Among

Hundreds Of Items;

Even A Pie Safe

More than $60,000 was raised by the Boys & Girls Club of Greeneville & Greene County at the ninth annual Celebrity Auction, which was attended by a large crowd.

State Rep. Eddie Yokley, D-11th, of Greene County, the event's co-chairman, said this year's auction total was the most net income that the club ever had.

Nata Jackson, the event's co-chairman, said, "We sold over 600 items this year and we were very pleased with the generous bids received during the auction. The generosity of the attendees and the hard work from our volunteers and staff is the reason that our event was such a success."

This year's auction featured 600-plus items including local business items, sports cards and items autographed by celebrities, entertainers, athletes and other notables.

The event was held at Trinity United Methodist Church.

The principal sponsors were EcoQuest International and Summers-Taylor Materials Co. The other major sponsors of this year's event included: C & C Millwright, Modern Woodman and RPC/ProCote as the dinner sponsors, the bid tables were sponsored by Forward Air, Takoma Regional Hospital, the Orthopedic Center of Greeneville and Vulcan Materials. EcoQuest Printing & Publishing provided the event's program.

There were hundreds of items to choose from, ranging from University of Tennessee football game tickets to a pie safe.

Items ranged from photos and scripts to sports equipment, books and CDs.

Also, many area restaurants, stores and other businesses donated certificates for goods and services. The top-selling item was a Pete Rose autographed baseball bat that went for $700 to Eben Jones.

A Dale Earnhardt autographed Simpson racing helmet went for $600, a Pat Summitt autographed 2008 NCAA Champions autographed basketball went for $575, the Mystery Box that included an autographed Jason Witten football and many pictures went for $500, a vacation getaway at Rudy's Peachtree Plaza in the Smoky Mountains went for $475, a 5,000-count box of baseball cards donated by Skeeter Swift went for $475, and two chairs from Tennessee's basketball arena renovation went for $450.

Tickets to the Tennessee-Alabama football game went for $450, a football signed by this year's Bob Kesling Celebrity Golf Classic players went for $425, a package of Tennessee Lady Vols tickets donated by the Capps went for $425.

A handmade pie safe by Tom Dubois went for $425, a Carrie Underwood autographed Grand Ole Opry poster went for $400, a framed poster from the movie " Broken Bridges" autographed by Kelly Preston & Toby Keith went for $390, a box of ABA and NBA basketball cards donated by Skeeter Swift went for $325, and an autographed Peyton Manning picture went for $300.

One evening in the luxury suite at a 2009 Greeneville Astros game went for $300, a football autographed by Jonathan Crompton went for $275, a handmade quilt made by Wilma Ricker went for $250,tickets to Walt Disney World went for $250, a football autographed by UT Coach Phil Fulmer went for $250.

Other items of great interest were: a bedding collections set, a Mike Singletary autographed football, a Kevin Harvick autographed mini helmet, a Longaberger gift basketball from Shellie Hankins-Brown, a Judith Plucker signed print, a Cal Ripken Jr. autographed picture, a mini movie poster of "Love Me Tender" autographed by Debra Paget, an uncut sheet of 1992 Topps baseball cards, a Bruce Pearl autographed basketball, a signed script from Law & Order, a Washington Redskins football autographed by Joe Jacoby, a movie script from "The Princess bride" signed by Rob Reiner, and a box of 5,000 football cards.

Also, bought were a Super Bowl football autographed by Joe Jacoby, an autographed picture of Pete Rose, The Civil War tape set autographed by Ken Burns, Tennessee Vols football tickets donated by Randy and Carolyn Brown Capps, a picture of Pittsburgh Steeler Hines Ward autographed, a Passions script & picture autographed by Juliet Mills, AN Adidas Shoe autographed by Bruce Pearl, a uncut sheet of 1990 Topps rookie cards, a UT Vols custom stroller from Central Drug Store, a picture of Jimmy and Roslyn Carter and a package of UT basketball tickets.

Scott Bullington, executive director of the club thanked the many volunteers that helped to make this year's event a success, especially Yokley, Wayne Bettis and Scott Wills who volunteered as the evening's auctioneers.

He said event volunteers and club staff members who helped with this year's event were: Nata Jackson, Eddie and Carolyn Yokley, Mark and Laura Pendleton, Carla Bewley, Kelly Burrell, John Pendleton, Rustin Jones, Michael Sauls, Rebecca Tipton, Jenna Rader, Heather Jackson, Jordan Tipton, Nicki and Chris Sentelle, Paige Metcalf, Randy and Carolyn Brown Capps, Steve Mears, Cathy Osborne, Josh Quillen, Robin Quillen, Sangela Blue, Courtney Leifert, Becky Leifert, Bridget Brannan, Broderick Gillespie, Termaine Gash, Randy Tilson, Lindsey Brown and Phelan Story.

Membership at the Boys & Girls Club is $5 per child, per year and $90 for the entire summer program.

The Boys & Girls Club is open to all school-age youths who reside in Greene County. The club has various programs for youth development including: character and leadership development, arts, sports fitness and recreation, education and career development and health and life skills.

For more information on the Boys & Girls Club, stop by at 740 West Church Street, call 787-9322 or 787-9334, or visit the club's Web site at www.ggcbgc.org.