The Share America Foundation, Inc. announced its first 2011 scholarship
winner recently at its Sacred Sounds Fridays concert featuring the Watkins Family and Mountain Cove Bluegrass Band at the Ringgold Depot in Ringgold, Ga.
The events help fund the organization’s Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship. Pearl and Floyd Franks are the late parents and former entertainment managers of actor/entertainer Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night.” The scholarships honor students excelling in the Appalachian musical arts.
“I know my parents would be excited to see the latest recipient perform,” Franks said. “With his dedication, interest and fostering of the music with a youth group, I know that is exactly what would have put them in his corner. He is a great talent and deserving of this encouragement.”
Cody Harvey, 18, of Signal Mountain, Tenn. graduated from Signal Mountain High School and plans to attend University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
“Since I began playing the banjo, I had always dreamed to have a bluegrass band of people my age,†he said.
He said he actually taught some fellow students and found others who played until the Mountain Cove Bluegrass Band was formed. “Although music is a great passion of mine, I am not looking to make it my profession,†he said.
Cody said she plans to use the $1,000 scholarship towards his educational needs to get a degree in nursing and then plans to attend graduate school for anesthesiology.
“Music will always be part of my life, and I will use it to praise the Lord and thank Him for allowing me to have such a wonderful thing in life and share it with everyone I meet,†he said.
He sings lead and other parts and plays banjo with the Mountain Cove Bluegrass Band. For more information, visit www.mountaincovebluegrass.com.
Cody is the son of Mike and Yvonne Harvey of Signal Mountain, Tenn. He is the grandson of Charles and Charlotte Harvey of Signal Mtn., TN and Anna and the late John W. Austin of New Albany, In.
He continues a family legacy passed from his late grandfather John Austin, who played mandolin and bass. His father, Mike plays banjo. His mother Yvonne plays piano.
Share America Foundation Board members include Franks, president; Joe Turner, chairman; Gene Lowery, vice chairman; James Pelt, secretary and Jerry Robinson, Sr., vice president and Adam Cathey. For more information about the organization and its programs, contact Share America, P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755 or visit www.shareamericafoundation.org. For more information about Randall Franks, visit http://randallfranks.com/.
Photo: ShareHarvey,CodyAward: Cody Harvey (second from right) receives the 2011 Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship from Randall Franks (right), Share America Foundation president; and SAF Chairman Joe Turner (second from left) and SAF Secretary James Pelt.(Share America photo)