Graham Locke '90 and Kristin Stegall Locke '92

Last summer F. Graham Locke ’90 was in Boston finishing his residency in endodontics (a dental specialization in root canals). But he and wife Kristin Stegall Locke ’92, a pharmacist, were in a hurry to get back to Nashville by mid-August. The reason? Their son, Ben, was ready for kindergarten, and having their children attend Harding was always an important goal for the Lockes as they built their life together. Says Graham, “It’s everything that we’ve been working for.”

 

The Lockes, who have known each other since Graham was in third grade and Kristin was in first, are people who meet their goals. Kristin attended Colorado State University for her undergraduate degree and then the University of Tennessee in Memphis for her professional degree. She enjoys the variety involved in working as a pharmacist, from taking phone calls from physicians and filling prescriptions, to mentoring the technicians she works with and interacting with customers, for whom she may be the first line of access for their health questions. She says, “It’s great to be able to help others.”

 

Graham attended Lipscomb University, then the University of Tennessee in Memphis, and finally Boston University for his endodontic training. A family business, dentistry suits Graham perfectly because he likes working with his hands, problem solving, and providing relief for patients with dental issues. Notes Graham, “I like the instant gratification I get. I take an X-ray, I see a problem, and then an hour later I fix it.”

Both Kristin and Graham, who began dating before they began their professional degrees and who were married in 2002, say that Harding had a tremendous impact on them. Kristin describes herself as “a quiet student” who loved sports and participated in dance and cheerleading all through middle school. She calls Harding “a loving environment and a safe place to learn.” Personal attention and encouragement from Latricia Phillips, the reading teacher at the time and now director of testing and educational planning, and many others helped Kristin to flourish. She says, “Giving you the tools that you need as an individual to succeed is so important.”

 

Winner of the art award at graduation, Graham also praises Mrs. Phillips, and says Carol Chambers, lower school art teacher, was “very instrumental” to him, as were science teachers Ken Folger and now retired Mary Hande. He notes, “I can remember being in college and premed and predental classes—and ultimately in professional school—and using things that I learned there from them.”

 

Of course Harding is also important because it was where their friendship began. Graham states, “I remember in fourth grade I wrote ‘I love you’ in our fourth grade yearbook.” Quips Kristin, “But I think we need to see how many of those you wrote!”

 

The Lockes, who enjoy camping, swimming, waterskiing, and other outdoor activities with their children, like having Harding back at the center of their lives. They loved having Patti Wright, their former PE teacher, as their son’s kindergarten teacher! In addition to Ben, now a first grader, they have a three-year-old daughter named Mckenzie. Says Graham, “It means a tremendous amount to us to know and feel confident that our children will be exposed to the same things that we were, and be in that safe environment.”