Riggins-Ezzell to retire at end of year with no successor in place, emeritus title and plans to support fundraising

Longtime Tennessee State Museum leader Lois Riggins-Ezzell will retire from her executive director post on Dec. 31. However, the process to officially begin a search for her replacement is already a month behind schedule, raising questions as to who will take the reins in 2017.

As the Post reported last week, certain members of the Douglas Henry State Museum Commission, the Tennessee State Museum Foundation, and consultant Mark Cate have had meetings to discuss how to nudge Riggins-Ezzell into an official retirement date. Riggins-Ezzell has led the museum since 1981.

The beginnings of a search for her replacement were enacted last fall, but to date, the search committee (which includes Riggins-Ezzell in an ex-officio capacity) has not done much, as the Post reported last month. A request for proposal for an executive search firm to find potential candidates to lead the museum as it prepares to open in a new $160 million facility in 2018 was supposed to be issued by Aug. 1. As of early on Sept. 1, no such RFP existed, but one was finally posted late in the afternoon.

"The search process has not moved very far," said commission member Victor Ashe, expressing concerns as to who will be in charge of the museum come Jan. 1. "There are still a lot of unanswered questions as to how this will impact the future of the museum."

Ashe also expressed concerns that the news of Riggins-Ezzell's retirement came via a press release from Gov. Bill Haslam's office, with much of the commission having no idea of the news. Ashe himself learned about the retirement when the Post contacted him.

Haslam spokeswoman Jennifer Donnals said in an email, "The release was sent to commission members before it was issued to the media." When it was pointed out this was not actually the case, Donnals repeated her statement and commented, "As Lois is a 35-year state employee, the governor and commission chairman felt it was appropriate to jointly make the announcement."

The press release quoted Haslam, commission chair Tom Smith and commission member and former state Sen. Douglas Henry.

"Lois has given her heart and soul to telling Tennessee’s story and showcasing its rich history across the country and around the world," Haslam said.

"As we look to the museum’s future, we build on the foundation of the museum’s past, and Lois has been such an important part of that. I am particularly pleased that Lois will retain the title of Executive Director Emeritus, recognizing her long and invaluable service to the Museum and the citizens of Tennessee," Smith added.

Last month, when asked about what responsibilities and compensation that title could entail, Smith said, "Honestly, that’s all to be determined." When contacted today via phone for further clarification, Smith refused to talk.

"I have no further comment than what was in the release, and I will have no further comment to you on anything about the museum, ever," Smith said.

When asked if Riggins-Ezzell was getting a payout from Foundation funds or a private donor, Smith replied, "I can't hang up on you without you writing that I hung up on you. I have no further comment."

Yet in an email sent later in the day to commission members, Smith stated that when Riggins-Ezzell leaves, she is leaving for good.

"Lois' title of Executive Director Emeritus will be completely 'honorary.' She will have no management role or office, etc. at the museum after she retires. It is to recognize her invaluable past service as was stated. I'll be proposing that this title be officially awarded to her as an agenda item at the next Commission meeting and hope that the rest of the Commission will join me in honoring her in this way. But the title would carry no duties or compensation after she retires," Smith wrote.

"What Lois does with her life after she leaves the Museum is her personal business and does not come under the purveyance of the DHSMC," Smith continued. "These emails could be interpreted as 'deliberation' and a violation of the State Sunshine Laws. If any of you would like to bring questions before the Commission at our next public meeting I think that would be best."

Riggins-Ezzell was not available for comment, but in the press release, she stated, "I am extremely excited about the museum’s future and am proud of the foundation we’ve built for its success for decades to come. I look forward to supporting ongoing efforts to get the new museum up and running, particularly as it relates to the on-going fund raising effort which Governor Haslam is leading."

Ashe questioned whether that means Riggins-Ezzell will be getting paid for helping with fundraising, noting that "a careful reading of the Tom Smith statement does not preclude Lois from receiving money from the foundation."

Foundation Chair Bobby Thomas is on vacation and was not immediately available for comment. Members of the search committee to find Riggins-Ezzell's replacement — Deanie Parker, Nancy Baker De Friece, and state Reps. Steve McDaniel and Charles Sargent — also did not return repeated calls for comment, nor did Cate.

Last month, Sargent told the Post that Riggins-Ezzell would be paid, somehow, until the opening of the new museum in late 2018. Riggins-Ezzell is currently paid $90,216 annually. Her pension will average around $52,000 per year.

This story has been updated to indicate that an RFP was finally issued in the afternoon of Sept. 1.