Celebrating the Influence and Legacy of David and Tracie Shannon

How does a university say goodbye to a president who once questioned whether he was the right person for the job but would go on to become one of its most beloved leaders?

With two proclamations — one from the state of Tennessee and another from the town of Henderson. With a special chapel service, an afternoon celebration in the campus commons, complete with popcorn, cotton candy and his favorite drink, Mountain Dew. And finally, with a farewell dinner that concluded with a surprise fireworks display.

Held in early May, the celebration of David R. Shannon Day honored nearly a decade of leadership by David and Tracie Shannon, whose presidency reshaped the university through relationships, servant leadership and an unwavering commitment to students.

“God was filling our cup with blessings that would overflow,” Shannon said.

A Different Kind of President

Former Board of Trustees Chairman John Law remembers those early conversations with Shannon in 2017. “He was totally resistant to the idea,” Law said. “Under no circumstances did he believe that his being president was what was best for the university.”

Yet the very qualities Shannon questioned would become some of his greatest strengths. FHU Vice President David Clouse described Shannon's presidency in a single word: “Transformational.”

Administrative Assistant Donna Steele recalled Shannon’s arrival on campus. “This man came in with more energy than anybody I had encountered in quite a while,” she said.

That energy quickly became evident throughout campus. “I remember walking into chapel one day with a visitor about three months after he became president,” Clouse said. “You could already tell the culture was different.”

The Honorable John DeBerry, FHU alumnus and former advisor to Governor Bill Lee, is one of many to recognize Shannon during a special chapel presentation.

Building Relationships

Throughout the celebration, speakers repeatedly returned to one theme: relationships. Whether meeting prospective students, connecting with alumni, encouraging faculty or simply spending time with students on campus, Shannon believed leadership happened through people.

That philosophy inspired initiatives such as the Presidential Trek, which strengthened relationships with churches across the country while helping increase enrollment and alumni engagement. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced campuses across the nation to separate, Shannon looked for another way to bring people together.

Working with then-student Bailee Pegg, he launched the “Crowd-In” web series, inviting students, faculty and alumni into conversations filmed across campus.

“Although we couldn’t physically be at a table together,” Shannon often said, “we could virtually crowd in.”

Shannon’s relationship-focused leadership was matched by significant campus growth. During his presidency, FHU expanded academic programs, renovated key buildings and invested in learning spaces designed to better serve students. Those improvements reflected his commitment to strengthening the university’s future while staying rooted in its mission of faith, scholarship and service.

FHU students and visitors enjoyed treats, games and activities during an afternoon party in the commons.

Leading Through Faith

Those closest to Shannon said his leadership style never changed, regardless of the setting. Vice President of Student Services TJ Kirk described him as “a godly leader at work, at home and in the community.”

His faith shaped the way he approached decisions, cared for people and served the university. Speakers throughout the day described a leader marked by humility, compassion and a genuine desire to help others succeed.

That servant-hearted approach resonated throughout campus and helped create a culture where students felt known, faculty felt supported and alumni remained connected long after graduation.

Henderson Mayor Terry Bell thanks Shannon for his many services to the local community.

“They Make a Good Team”

Although the day honored David Shannon’s presidency, it became equally clear that many viewed it as a celebration of the Shannons together. Time after time, speakers reflected on Tracie Shannon’s kindness, hospitality and personal investment in students and employees.

Steele recalled one small but memorable moment when Tracie stopped what she was doing simply to help a student who needed a bandage. It was a simple act but one that captured the way she approached every interaction — with compassion, generosity and genuine care.

Together, David and Tracie transformed not only how the university was led, but also how it felt, supporters said. For the man who once believed he wasn’t the right choice to become a university president, the answer became evident in the gratitude of those gathered to celebrate him.

His legacy will not be simply measured by buildings, enrollment or accomplishments, but by the relationships he built, the culture he helped shape and the countless lives forever changed because he answered a calling he almost declined.

An evening fireworks display lights up the night sky over the Bucy Bell Tower.