DSCC Alumni Association President Maleia Lee congratulates Outstanding Alumni Glen Barr of Dyersburg. [Click to enlarge]

Dyersburg State Community College Alumni Association President Maleia Lee presented Outstanding Alumni Awards to Glen Barr of Dyersburg and Ed Presley of Finley at the college's Fall Update on Monday, Aug. 18.

Barr was honored for his work in the Dyersburg Jaycees, a group that was instrumental in making Dyersburg the home of one of the first community colleges in the state, as well as his support of the college over the past four decades.

Before moving on to other radio jobs, Barr's first job was a late-night DJ for WDSG. He also worked as advertising director for The State Gazette.

For the past 12 years, he has worked as the director of the Jackson Center for Independence, a disability organization funded by the U.S. Department of Education. This agency serves people with disabilities and the deaf in West Tennessee.

During 20 years of his working career, Barr attended Dyersburg State. He received his associate of science degree with a business concentration in 1995.

While at Dyersburg State, Barr was a member of the Baptist Student Union.

What Barr liked the most about Dyersburg State?

"The people," said Barr. "An organization is only as good as its people, and I remember the faculty and fellow students being a good bunch of people."

Barr lives in Dyersburg with his wife, Mazie. He has two sons, Greg and Eric Barr, and one daughter, Carla Jowers.

Barr has also been honored with an Outstanding Service Award from the Tennessee Department of Human Services, Division of Human Services.

Ed Presley graduated in 1995 with an associate's degree, with a concentration in allied health.

While on the DSCC campus, Presley served as an ambassador and a Student Support Services tutor. He was also a member Phi Theta Kappa. At his graduation, Presley was named DSCC's outstanding chemistry student.

He cites the faculty and staff's willingness to help him while he was a student as a part of his success.

After leaving Dyersburg State, Presley attended the University of Tennessee at Memphis and received his bachelor's in physical therapy. He studied therapeutic massage at the Body Works School of Massage.

In 2004 Presley was certified as an Orthopedic Manual Therapist through his studies at Maitland Australian Physiotherapy. He is currently studying for his doctorate in physical therapy at Texas Tech University.

Presley has worked in physical therapy at the former Dyersburg Methodist Hospital, Tracy Caulking Physiotherapy Associates, and Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.

In 2005, he opened Physical Therapy of Dyersburg, and earlier in the year he opened a beautiful new facility to house this practice.

Presley now lives in Finley with his wife, Penny.