TSSAA says goodbye to two long-time employees

Lynne Sutton and Trina Melton, who each worked over 30 years for TSSAA, retired in the spring of 2023. Lynne has served in the role as assistant to Gene Menees since his arrival at TSSAA in 1991. Trina was responsible for volleyball, tennis, cheer & dance, and sanctioning. It goes without saying that both Mrs. Sutton and Mrs. Melton will be truly missed by not only the staff who worked with them for so many years, but also by the administrators, coaches, and anyone else who had any dealings with them throughout their many years at TSSAA.

“Trina Melton and Lynne Sutton have been an integral part of the TSSAA family for more than three decades,” stated Mark Reeves, TSSAA Executive Director. “Our regular interaction will be missed not only by those in this office but by hundreds of others who they have had the opportunity to develop relationships with in our member school and officiating communities. The strength of our association rests with our ability to cultivate these relationships as we work toward a common goal of servicing our schools. Trina and Lynne exemplified this in their respective roles. We wish them both the best as they begin a new chapter of their lives.”

Lynne Sutton began her career at TSSAA in March of 1986 as an Administrative Assistant. She has assisted Gene Menees since he came to the office in 1991. She helped him to oversee basketball officials, baseball umpires, and camps for officials. She also handled TSSAA’s office equipment, processed the mail and served as the facilities manager.

Lynne graduated from Watertown High School. She met and married her husband, Jim Sutton in 1984. She has two step-sons, nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren. They attend First Church of the Nazarene in Nashville.

“Lynne is a very unique individual,” said Bernard Childress, former Executive Director and a TSSAA staff member since 1995. “She is one of the nicest people I had the privilege of working with during my 42 years in education. She has a love for people that is simply impeccable. Lynne held many responsibilities in the state office and was outstanding in everything she did. Most offices have an individual who knows where everything is and how to get everything accomplished and Lynne was that person in the TSSAA office. I do not know how the staff will go about replacing her kindness and knowledge of how everything should work. It will not be easy.”

Trina Melton joined the TSSAA staff in 1990. In addition to overseeing cheer & dance, volleyball, and tennis, she was also heavily involved in the organization of the annual state-wide Athletic Director’s conference since it began, as well as the Cheer Coach’s conference. Trina was responsible for the sanctioning of all tournaments and jamborees as well as handling all tickets for various sports and state championship events. She booked all hotel meetings and reservations for officials, staff, TSSAA Board of Control and TSSAA Legislative Council and workers at special meetings and state championship events. She served a four-year term on the NFHS Citizenship & Equity Committee.

“Trina’s way of going about her job responsibilities was beyond reproach,” added Childress, reflecting on Melton’s contributions to the association. “She was very knowledgeable of her areas of responsibility and took each one seriously. One of the qualities I liked most about Trina is the fact that you could ask her to do something and never have to worry about it again. You could guarantee it was going to be taken care of to the best of her ability. That type of individual is hard to find in today’s society. She will truly be missed by the staff at TSSAA and all of the individuals she dealt with outside of the office to make sure our events and meetings went smoothly.”

Trina graduated from Jackson Christian School in 1985 and received her B.S. Degree from Middle Tennessee State University in 1990. Trina and her husband Mark reside in Murfreesboro. They have three sons and one grandson.