By: Eliana Morales
Philip “Garv” Garver, a former Collegedale city commissioner and dean of Southern’s physical education program, passed away on Sept. 2 at age 79.
Garver served Southern for 37 years, including 26 years as dean of what is now the School of Health and Kinesiology, making him the “longest-serving professor in the field at Southern,” according to a memorial email released by the Office of President Ken Shaw. During that time, Garver developed and implemented three majors at Southern: Corporate and Community Wellness, Sports Studies and Vegetarian Culinary Arts.
“His leadership transformed the program, culminating in the formation of the School of Physical Education, Health and Wellness in 1996,” the email stated.
Garver also raised funds and provided the vision for Hulsey Wellness Center, according to Robert Benge, Garver’s successor. Unfortunately, after Garver raised the money, the president allocated the funds to a different project.
“To have something like that happen to any other dean would surely have caused them to quit or resign,” Benge stated in an email. “But not Garv! Talk about courage in the face of adversity! He never lost sight of his vision for Southern’s faculty, staff, students and community to enjoy the health benefits of having a facility for recreation. He remained steadfast in his resolve to see his dream come true. The Southern and Collegedale community has lost a true visionary with the passing of Dr. Phillip Garver who dedicated his life to the health and wellness field.”
Garver’s influence extended well beyond the workplace for Benge.
“Garv was like a second dad to me,” he said. “His interest in me helped shape what I became in life. God looked down on me with favor for putting Garv in my life. I trust his counsel, advice and anecdotal wisdom he offered me will continue to guide me.”
“There’s no way that a little brief discussion could encapsulate everything that Garver has meant to me or this department or this community,” said Judy Sloan, current dean of the School of Health and Kinesiology. “The impact that he’s had is enormous.”
Sloan repeated Garver’s commonly used phrase, “get ’er done,” and recalled witnessing that phrase in action during her first week of teaching at Southern back in 2001. Her classroom was equipped with a chalkboard instead of a whiteboard. To her, a chalkboard was impractical and outdated, so she told Garver she needed a whiteboard.
“What’s a whiteboard?” he had replied. Expecting nothing to change, Sloan bought a case of colorful chalk that night. The next day, a new whiteboard stood where the chalkboard had been.
“From that moment on, I’m like, ‘Oh my word, this is the guy to work for,’” she said. “He’s the kind of person that when you say your word or shake your hand, you know it’s a done deal.”
Sloan believes Garver’s passion for helping others was largely due to his relationship with God.
“He didn’t overly talk about God or his relationship with God, but it came out in how he lived his life, and you could see it,” she said.
Lorraine Ball, School of Journalism and Communication professor, was once Garver’s high school P.E. student.
“He was one of the most optimistic people I can ever remember,” she said. Ball recalls him wanting to buy an RV so he could travel to academies that needed help with repairs. Garver and his wife, Betty, would also invite students to their house on Friday nights for hot chocolate and brownies.
“[Garv and Betty] were always thinking about ways of helping, giving, working with students and wanting to give back,” she said.
“To colleagues, students, and friends, Dr. Garver was more than a leader—he was a powerhouse of energy and ideas, a mentor who believed in others, and a friend whose presence made a lasting difference,” according to the email from Shaw’s office. “His legacy lives on in the programs he built, the facilities he envisioned, and the countless lives he inspired.”
Garver was born in Oregon and raised in Texas. In 1970, he graduated from Southern with a Bachelor of Science degree in health, physical education and recreation. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1966 and served as a medic in Vietnam for 11 months. In 1976, after receiving his master’s degree in P.E., Garver returned to Southern to teach physical education, health and wellness. He became head of the Physical Education department in 1987 and earned a doctorate in health education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1988.
Garver was also influential in the surrounding Collegedale community. He served as a Collegedale City Commissioner from 2014 to 2022. He also served as the post commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1697 from 2014 to 2016. VFW is a national nonprofit that supports veterans who served overseas.
Bryan Hardy, current commander of VFW Post 1697, said, “When I was nominated and elected as the post commander in April 2024, Phil was one of the first to put his full support behind me, even with ideas that would change the way we had been doing events and supporting our community. Phil loved the VFW, our nation’s veterans and the youth in our community. He showed this through the friendship and mentorship of everyone he met and the patriotism he displayed.”
Garver was also a member of the American Legion Desmond T. Doss Post 257, a local chapter of the nationwide veterans’ service organization.
Dennis Smith, commander of the post, said Garver was a “driving force” in the development and construction of Collegedale’s Veterans Memorial Park. At past Veterans Day celebrations in Collegedale, Garver was publicly recognized for his service and given a standing ovation.
“Every year we do something, and it reminds us that Phil worked hard to establish the park,” he said. “We’ve always taken a moment to thank Phil.”
This year, that recognition will take on a new form. The band will play “Taps,” the traditional bugle call sounded at military funerals.
“He’ll continue to be recognized,” Smith said.
To honor Garver’s memory, a memorial has already been set up at Collegedale Veterans Park, according to Chattanoogan.com.
According to the email from Shaw’s office, a memorial service will be held on Sabbath, Sept. 20, from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Collegedale Church sanctuary, with visitation from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Church’s South Atrium. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Learning Tree Elementary School, 300 Tibbs Rd, Dalton, GA 30720, or online at learningtreeschool.org.
While Southern and the Collegedale community pause to remember him, Benge summed up the hope shared by many: “I look forward to seeing him in heaven.”
