The Kingsport Spirit

Here is J. Fred Johnson's explanation of the "Kingsport Spirit" from the book "Kingsport: The Industrial CIty" by the Rotary Club of Kingsport, Tennessee. Copyright, 1937

"This little book is the response to the oft-repeated request of visitors to Kingsport for a concise story of the origin, development and present status of this somewhat unique industrial community. An earnest attempt has been made to keep it free from any trace of the bombastic and to portray a bit of the real romance which it is believed exists in the hitherto untold stories of business.

Frequently we are asked what motivating spirit has been most apparent in the building of this city of industries, schools, churches and homes. Were I to undertake to define the spirit underlying every step in the growth and development of Kingsport, from the days of its humblest beginnings until now, I could not avoid the assertion that the spirit, if it be a spirit, is one of mutual helpfulness and a willingness to submerge selfish interests beneath the individual effort to assure the greater good for the greater number.

Rotary has a slogan "Service above Self he profits most who serves the best." Without attempting to eulogize, it is my firm conviction that those words truly epitomize what may be said to be the spirit of Kingsport. It matters not what we endeavor to accomplish, in the words of a one-time visitor to Kingsport "the humanics are more important than the mechanics."

So it has been and will continue to be with Kingsport if it is not good for the community, it is not good for the individual or for the business activity within that community in that we have a fundamental truth."

J. FRED JOHNSON

Kingsport,
February 15, 1937