Gearl Gene Asher Sr., age 78, of Oak Ridge, passed away Aug. 13, 2013.

He was born in Barbourville, Ky., on Aug. 15, 1934, to parents Wilke C. and Arizona Asher. He was a graduate of Barbourville High School and attended Union College in Barbourville, Ky.

He received a scholarship to the University of Louisville in Louisville, Ky., for undergraduate and graduate studies. As a student at U of L, he was president and business manager of the Division of Bands, head athletic trainer for major sports, president of Phi Kappa Omicron [Music Fraternity] and member of Phi Alpha Delta [Law Fraternity]. While attending U of L, Mr. Asher created and introduced “COLONEL CARDINAL, the original University Mascot.”

He moved to Oak Ridge after his father’s death in the late ’50s, joining his uncle, Garrett Asher, as sales agent with Ridge Realty Co. While with Ridge Realty, he was directly involved with the planning, submission, and approval of “The Oak Cliff PUD,” Oak Ridge’s first planned unit development. [Read more…]