Sutcliffe and Cheek share grand marshal title for parade

Each year, Rotary Club of Sparta, the host of the annual Christmas parade, chooses a grand marshal to lead the parade and help kick off the holiday celebration. This year, they couldn’t decide – so they chose two.

The grand marshals of the 2022 Sparta Christmas Parade are Ernie Cheek and Jim Sutcliffe. It is fitting the pair will lead the county’s largest parade of the year together. Cheek and Sutcliffe, both of whom are avid car collectors and supporters of all things White County, have been fast friends for more than two decades.

Here’s what the Sparta Rotary Club had to say about this year’s pair of grand marshals:

Ernie Cheek

Ernest M. Cheek (Ernie) was born in Sewanee, Tennessee, on Jan. 12, 1939.  He graduated from Castle Heights Military Academy, in 1957, and attended the University of the South, 1957-1961, graduating in 1961.  He played football for the University of the South, commonly known as Sewanee, serving as co-captain his senior year with Jody Gee.  His undefeated and untied team was inducted into the Sewanee Hall of Fame, in 2009.

Although Ernie was not from Sparta, he came to know and love Sparta after meeting a local girl, Carolyn Andrews, in 1960.  She was the daughter of Dr. Harold Andrews.  Ernie was in town visiting his aunt who worked for Dr. Andrews.  That opportunity lent itself to him meeting Carolyn.  He fell in love with that beautiful red headed lady and married her in 1961.  He and Carolyn Andrews Cheek had three children: John (Jongee) Cheek, Courtney (David) Vaughn, and Julie (Mike) Anderson. They were able to move back to Sparta, in 1968.  Ernie was an insurance agent who decided he wanted to open his own business via the independent agent channel.  He first bought a partnership from J.D. Holder, forming Holder & Cheek Insurance.  He later purchased the business from Holder, forming Cheek Insurance Agency Inc. He retired after 40 years in the business but still serves as an honorary agency consultant. Ernie has five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

 Ernie grew to love and serve Sparta and White County after setting up roots in Sparta.  He was president of the Sparta Jaycees, national director of the Jaycees, named Young Man of the Year for White County by the Jaycees, United Fund Chairman, Lions Club President, Chamber of Commerce President, President of the White County Quarterback Club, Baker School PTA President, Girl Scout Liaison, Sparta First United Methodist Church Trustee, Caney Fork & Western Railroad Board Member, Highland Cemetery Board of Directors, Sparta Housing Authority Board, Insurers of Tennessee, and Founder and president of the Upper Cumberland Insurers.

 He has been an avid sports fan for his White County teams since 1968.  His blood runs maroon and gray for the Warriors when it isn’t purple for the Sewanee Tigers.  He is a regular and appreciated fixture at basketball and football games.  Players know him by his white hair and famous whistle.

 Ernie is well known for his love of parades and vehicles.  A most notable fun fact about Ernie is that he has had an entry in the Sparta Christmas Parade since at least 1981.  One year, Ernie’s antique car, a 1929 Ford Model A known as the Widow, was still under renovation at parade time.  Not to be deterred, Ernie put a sign on it that read “Under Construction” and participated in the parade as if that were the plan all along. 

 Ernie met his good friend, Jim Sutcliffe, through his interest in antique cars and Sparta First United Methodist Church. He and Mr. Jim have collaborated on many projects and taken many trips to car shows.  One of their projects they enjoyed was building a teardrop trailer out of wood.  They enjoy pulling the trailer with a 1958 Rambler station wagon.

Jim Sutcliffe

James Aaron Sutcliffe (Jim) was born in Ionia, Michigan, on Feb. 13, 1922, to the Rev. Ewert Lenton Sutcliffe and Erma McCormick Sutcliffe. He graduated from Hillsdale High School, Hillsdale, Michigan, in 1940. Subsequently, he attended Cassidy Technical School and from there was employed by Stinson Aircraft.

In 1943, Jim was granted a six-month deferment due to his work in the aircraft industry and used that opportunity to marry Ola Smith, of Clarkrange, Tennessee. Jim has said that he fell in love with Tennessee shortly after he fell in love with a beautiful and bright farm girl from Fentress County.  However, it took over 50 years and many life experiences before he was able to live in Tennessee. 

He entered the Army, in November 1943, landed in France as part of the Ninth Infantry and was captured in Belgium, on Sept. 4,1944. Jim spent the remainder of the war as a POW held in Germany and was liberated on May 1,1945.  Jim left the Army, on Nov. 22, 1945, at the rank of corporal.                 

 After the war, Jim and Ola set up housekeeping in Wayne, Michigan, and had two children: Rita and Barry. Jim again worked for Stinson Aircraft and then became an independent contractor in home construction.  In 1960, he was hired by Wayne-Westland school district as Superintendent of Transportation and later became Superintendent of New Construction. He retired in 1980. 

Jim and Ola were active in the Wayne United Methodist Church, and Jim volunteered on numerous committees and projects. He also made four mission trips to Haiti and one to Jamaica, helping to construct community centers that would serve as schools and churches.

 In 1995, Jim and Ola purchased a house, in Sparta, Tennessee, fulfilling a lifelong dream to move to his wife’s native state.  They joined Sparta First United Methodist Church and became active members.  Jim has volunteered in various community charitable projects, including Christmas in April.

Jim is an avid collector and restorer of antique cars and currently owns a 1939 Plymouth, 1938 Buick, and 1960 Triumph.  Through this interest, he met his good friend, Ernie Cheek, and they have collaborated on many antique car projects and taken many trips to car shows. They recently completed their annual trip to the AACA Hershey Meet, billed as biggest car show and flea market in the world.

Sparta’s Christmas Parade will kick off at 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10. The parade floats, cars, trucks, and horses will all follow Cheek and Sutcliffe, along with the White County High School Marching Band, down Allen Drive, over to Hampton Drive, and around to Bockman Way. The parade will follow Bockman Way until they reach Liberty Square and White County Courthouse. After the parade, children of all ages can stop by the square for a quick visit with Santa at the American Legion Building to let him know what they are hoping to have under their tree on Christmas morning.