Darlington's Board of Trustees recently appointed its first female chair, Linda (Grizzard) Owens ('79), and welcomed three new members.
Owens succeeds Jere Drummond ('57) as Board chair. A native Roman, she has been a dedicated supporter of the school for many years. Most recently, Owens chaired the Head of School Search Committee, which led to the appointment of Brent Bell, and served as Commencement speaker in 2014. She has also led the school's strategic planning process; served on the Second Century Campaign Cabinet, chairing both the Life Trustees Campaign and the Extra Mile Campaign; chaired the Advancement Committee, and served as an active volunteer for the Annual Fund. Owens is president of Southeastern Mills Inc., a fourth-generation food company headquartered in Rome, Ga. She and her husband, Jim, are the parents of Parrish Owens ('04) and Mary (Owens) Ethridge ('06).
Kim McConkey ('73, LD '12), new Board member, is an audit partner at Habif, Arogeti & Wynne LLP. A resident of Atlanta, he is an active volunteer for Darlington. He has spoken at Career Day, volunteered with the Annual Fund, and hosted alumni events. Most recently, McConkey chaired the Advancement Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee. He and his wife, Cathy, have two children, Patrick and Stephanie.
Gordon Smith ('71), executive director of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), returns to the Board of Trustees after serving previously from 1999 to 2003. A resident of New York City, Smith is a Distinguished Alumnus, a Visitor Emeritus and a former class agent. He and his wife, Jane, have three children, Gordon, Kimbrell and Fielding.
Bill Smith ('72), CEO of Capital City Bank, returns to the Board of Trustees after serving previously from 2000 to 2009. A resident of Tallahassee, Fla., Smith has been an active volunteer for Darlington, serving as a past treasurer of the Board of Trustees, Annual Fund volunteer, and host of alumni gatherings. He and his wife, Paula, have two children, William and Jennifer.
Board members who will extend their service on the Board of Trustees due to specific roles and/or appointments include Jere Drummond ('57) of Atlanta, Ga., who will serve one year as immediate past chairman; Dick Cornwell ('67) of Charlotte, N.C., who will continue to serve as treasurer; Lt. Col. John Ware of Cave Spring, Ga., who will serve one year as head of the school's diversity initiative; Jeff Gardner of Little Rock, Ark., who will represent the boarding parent constituency in the school's strategic planning process; and Rocky Tillery of Cedartown, Ga., who has been elected to serve a second three-year term.
Retiring trustees include Ed Watters ('83) and Rita Griffin, who have each served two consecutive three-year terms.
