Speaker Friday, May 16, 2025
Award-winning author Andrew Maraniss has mastered the art of telling untold stories that matter. From civil rights pioneers to Olympic athletes, his work illuminates the moments when individuals stand up against injustice, often at great personal risk. What began as a student research project at Vanderbilt University grew into a national bestseller, reshaping how Americans view the intersection of sports and civil rights. Maraniss’s journey from campus journalist to bestselling author demonstrates the long-lasting impact of following one’s curiosity. His work connects Nashville’s own history to larger national conversations about race, courage, and leadership—making this an essential story for anyone who values community, character, and the power of truthfully told history.
The Green Hills Rotary Club invites members and guests to join us on Friday, May 16, 2025, at 7:15 AM at the Boy Scout Service Center for a conversation with Andrew Maraniss, New York Times bestselling author of Strong Inside: Perry Wallace and the Collision of Race and Sports in the South. Maraniss’s acclaimed biography tells the story of Perry Wallace, the first African-American to play college basketball in the Southeastern Conference, and the personal and public challenges he faced breaking racial barriers in the 1960s.
Maraniss attended Vanderbilt University on the prestigious Fred Russell-Grantland Rice Scholarship for Sports Journalism. His work as a student journalist led to a decades-long journey culminating in national recognition, multiple awards, and additional published works, including Games of Deception, Singled Out, and Inaugural Ballers. Maraniss’s writing has earned honors from the American Library Association, the Robert F. Kennedy Book Awards Foundation, and the Lillian Smith Book Award.
Do not miss this opportunity to hear a nationally recognized author and Vanderbilt alumnus as he shares insights on history, storytelling, and the lasting impact of Perry Wallace’s courage.
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Recent and Future Speakers
| 4/10/26 | Steve Bland, CEO WEGO Public Transit | ||
| 4/17/26 | William Jeffries, Executive Director, African American Music Museum | ||
| 4/24/26 | Eric, Editor in Chief, Nashville Business Journal | ||
| 5/1/26 | Jim Easter, Healthcare trends in 2026 | ||
| 5/8/26 | Yuri Cunza, CEO Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | ||
| 5/15/26 | Christiane Buggs, Bob Kucher, of PENCIL CEO | ||
| 5/22/26 | District Governor, John Christopher Williams | ||
| 5/29/26 | Laurel Creech and Casey Davis, The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee | ||
| 6/5/26 | Nashville Opera, Keri Alkema, Chief Strategy & Ops Officer |