An Elizabethton man who was widely recognized as a dedicated public servant during his lifetime was posthumously honored on Wednesday by the Tennessee General Assembly for his “impeccable character.”
Wednesday morning, State Sen. Rusty Crowe and State Rep. John Holsclaw presented Charlotte Dugger with a joint resolution from the Tennessee State Senate and Tennessee House of Representatives honoring her late husband Carmon E. Dugger Sr., who passed away in March of this year.
“Johnny and I were really proud to honor Carmon,” Crowe said of his and Holsclaw’s work to get the resolution passed. “We were really sad to hear he had passed away. He really cared about his community.”
Holsclaw echoed the sentiment voiced by Crowe.
“Everybody in Carter County knew him,” Holsclaw said. “He was true to his family values, which is something we are losing.
“He leaves behind a great legacy,” Holsclaw added. “This is just a small token for all the things he did.”
Crowe offered high praise of Dugger, saying he had “lived his life with courage and conviction.”

Carmon E. Dugger Sr. was a veteran of the Korean War who served in the U.S. Marines. After being released from service, he went on to sign to play AA baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals and later played in the independent leagues.
In 1966, Dugger became the first ever Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Elizabethton. He began his program in the old Lynn Avenue School — creating recreational parks, ball parks, tennis courts, playgrounds, picnic areas and a variety of other projects. He renovated an old farm house on Perry Street and converted it into the community’s first Senior Citizens Center and also converted the old National Guard Armory on Mill Street into the City Recreation Center.
Dugger was instrumental in bringing the Minnesota Twins organization into Elizabethton for the Appalachian League baseball program and he made the agreement with the organization with a simple handshake. He and his crew constructed the field and built the dugouts and stadium that is still home to the Elizabethton Twins.
“They didn’t have any tools so he used his own tools from home,” Charlotte Dugger recalled on Wednesday.
Charlotte Dugger described her late husband and dedication to his community and dedication to building recreational opportunities.
“In the Summer I wouldn’t see him,” she recalled. “He’d get up early and wouldn’t come home until the lights were out.
“He never asked anyone to do something he wouldn’t do,” Charlotte Dugger added. “He loved to give and do for others.”
In addition to his commitment to baseball, Carmon Dugger also enjoyed hunting and fishing and was an avid golfer. He helped organize golf tournaments for the Elizabethton Municipal Golf Course including the Buck Van Huss and Charlie Bayless annual tournaments.
Carmon Dugger left a lasting legacy on the community according to many who knew him.
“Everything he’s done here had been great,” said Deacon Bowers, who recalled being 13 years old and meeting Dugger for the first time.
“He was dedicated about what he done, there was no nonsense about him,” recalled Junior Stanley. “Carmon was a one-of-a-kind.”
Carmon and Charlotte Dugger were married for 64 years. The couple had five children — Carmon E. Dugger Jr. and wife Linda, of Johnson City, Catherine D. Harper, Christine G. Dugger, Curtis P. Dugger and wife Lisa, and Charles F. Dugger and wife Diane, all of Elizabethton. They also had seven grandchildren — Martha Dugger, Christin Dugger, Adam Dugger, Brian Dugger, Ellie Dugger, the late Kimberly Harper and the late Curtis James Dugger — and four great-grandchildren — Karlei, Maggie, Ashton and Helaiyna.