Former TTU First Lady Margaret Prescott passes away

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (May 11, 2006) – Tennessee Tech University mourns the loss of former First Lady Margaret Prescott, wife of Wallace Samuel Prescott, who served as interim president of the university from 1985 to 1987.

She died on Wednesday afternoon, May 10, in Cookeville. Her funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 13, at First Baptist Church in Cookeville. Visitation will be on Friday, May 12, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Hooper, Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home and at the church on Saturday one hour before the service begins.

Prescott was a TTU alumna, earning both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the university. Before she ever served as TTU’s first lady, she was another kind of “first female.” As a student, Prescott was the first female Student Government Association president.

Prescott’s other extracurricular activities included serving as editor of the Eagle campus yearbook and president of the Tech Christian Association.

As a student, TTU alumna Jill Webster lived in the same residence hall as Prescott. When Webster returned to live in Cookeville after many years away, the pair’s friendship deepened. Prescott became not only an inspiring neighbor and friend to Webster, but a dependable weekly bridge player too.

“She approached her bridge games the same way she approached life,” Webster said. “She looked at every scenario in order to find the best possible angle. She was an exceptional person. I can’t say enough good things about her. She is going to be missed by many.”

After earning her degrees, Prescott taught both kindergarten and high school levels in Illinois schools before returning to Putnam County to teach elementary level students at the former Tech Campus School.

She worked as the supervisor of instruction for K-12 in the Putnam County school system for 16 years, until she retired in 1985. During her career, she also taught English and served as a librarian at TTU.

Prescott won the Alumni Association’s Outstanding Service Award in 1996, based on her extensive activities in a variety of campus and community organizations.

She has been a member of the Tech Faculty Women’s Club and a board member and president of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra Guild. She and her husband were members of the President’s Club Tower Society, and a university scholarship for freshmen has been named in their honor.

Prescott tutored international students for many years and taught Sunday school at First Baptist Church, where her funeral will be held.

She and her husband have two daughters, Sara Penelope Hudgens and Marnie Walsh, both of whom are also TTU graduates.

--Tracey LeFevre
This information posted 11 MAY 2006