During the course of our lives, on very special occasions we encounter people who inspire us to not only see the best in others, but to ultimately realize the best in ourselves. They are the individuals who believe and understand that everybody, regardless of station, has a dream and a purpose to offer this world. I have been fortunate to know many such mentors in my life and have again been blessed to meet another such role model, the now former general manager of the multi-award winning Clarion Willow River, Mrs. Catherine May.
Third of her agrarian parents’ 6 children, Catherine Smith was born in Knoxville on July 9, 1927. In September of 1940, she accompanied her family to the dedication ceremony of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by President Roosevelt. Later, her father, Rufus H. Smith Sr. became the builder of the Y-12 and K-25 facilities at Oak Ridge. As key parts of Franklin Roosevelt’s “Manhattan Project,” the development of the nuclear bomb, Y-12 was originally used for electromagnetic separation of uranium and K-25 is where uranium was enriched by the gaseous diffusion process. As children, Catherine and her brother Rufus Jr. were taught to read blueprints, mix mortar and lay bricks by their father during the construction of these important historic buildings.
Before graduating from Central High School in 1946, Catherine began working for the Southern Bell phone company as a long distance operator at age 14. Within two years, she became a supervisor and went on to enjoy a management career lasting a dozen years. During that time, she wanted to go to the University of Tennessee to study mechanical engineering, but regrettably allowed her superiors at the phone company to change her mind and continue her work for them.
In 1947, Smith met Fred Kyle May at church on Mother’s Day and the young couple married the next year. During their 5 decades together, which ended with Kyle’s passing on Thanksgiving Day 1998, they raised 2 daughters, managed a welding company, bought and sold a dairy farm while founding and operating Copper Kettle restaurants in Knoxville, Athens and Sweetwater, TN.
In 1985, at age 58, Catherine May set upon her present profession, as she embraced a career in hotel management when she became the general manager of the Grand Hotel in Pigeon Forge. She later became the general manager of the Clarion Inn Willow River in Sevierville when she was hired by the Wade family in October 1995. Beginning with supervising the construction, until about 3 weeks ago, Mrs. May was the only general manager the beautiful ante-bellum style property had known since it’s opening on May 2, 1997.
During her remarkable tenure, the Clarion Inn Willow River earned Choice Hotels “Inn of The Year Award” in 2000, 2006 and again in 2008. She and her excellent staff secured 10 Gold Awards, 2 Platinum Awards and were also named Choice Hotels “Best of the Best” in 2006. Finally, the US Department of Commerce recognized them as “Best of Sevierville” in 2009.
Despite the many accolades, some of her favorite memories of being the manager of the Clarion Inn are of cooking for her staff each year for the annual Christmas parties and Thanksgiving lunches. As a result of her leadership and compassion that Mrs. May provided her staff, the majority of her crew has been with the hotel from 6-12 years. A reality most Sevier County hotels do not enjoy.
While Catherine May’s days as a property manager may be behind her, she is by no means retired and is available for consultation. As hotel managers, many of us can learn much from her management style, intellect and team building skills. I know I have.
Although it may not be a common practice in the Smokies, in other places hotels are revered like ships and are named accordingly. So, when you next visit my beautiful Fairfield Inn & Suites at Sevierville 407, you will find “Catie May,” inscribed the day we opened on a not too obvious stone facing the magnificent mountains before her.
Today, we may be celebrating what seems to be the end of an era, but I can assure you that Catherine May will seriously consider retirement no less than 20 minutes after the good Lord calls her home. Hopefully, as long as she has a useful reason to wake up every morning, that call won’t be coming anytime soon.
Henry Piarrot is the general manager of the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott at Sevierville 407. Please send all story recommendations to hpiarrot@yahoo.com
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