Max Manuel Alvarez

ALVAREZ, MAX MANUEL - of Signal Mountain, was born on June 28, 1918, in East St. Louis, IL, to Spanish immigrant parents, who came to the US in their teens. He was preceded in death by his parent, Estrella and Frank Alvarez, and siblings Frank Alvarez, Joe Alvarez, and Louise Suarez. During his youth, Max was a highly successful soccer player on championship teams in the St. Louis area, and made several All-Star Teams. He was honored by being voted into his hometown Fairmont City Hall of Fame in 1969. He married Avelina Carril on February 14, 1942, and entered military service on May 20, 1942. He was assigned to the 85th Infantry Division and saw action in the Italian campaign during World War II. He attained the rank of Staff Sargent and received the Bronze Star for meritorious service. After the War, he returned to St. Louis and International Shoe Company and was assigned to the East Tennessee territory. A few years after moving to Knoxville, he was the first sales representative selected to represent HYTEST Safety Shoes brand for International Shoe. He was truly a pioneer in the safety shoe industry and developed his district into a multi-million dollar territory. In 1966, he co-founded Vulcan Safety Shoes Service to better serve the industrial customers he established through the years, and it grew to have 3 stores. Max was a past, active member of Smithwood Baptist Church in Knoxville. After retiring from business in 1980, he began a new career in community service by joining the Lions Club and leading a very successful effort to revitalize the North Knoxville suburb of Fountain City reconstructing and repairing its historic Park and Lake. His efforts were recognized when his Lions Club awarded him Lion of the Year Award in 1988 and nominated him for the Jefferson Award, the national Man of the Year Award. He was Past President of the Fountain City Lions Club. In 1997, the Downtown Knoxville Sertoma Club honored Max with the Sertoma Service-to-Mankind Man-of-the-Year Award for raising over $230,000 in private and corporate donations to complete the restoration of the Fountain City Park and Lake. Additionally, the Mayor of Knoxville recognized Max's achievements and appointed him to the Knoxville Historic Zoning Commission. During these active years of retirement, he also found time to enjoy his favorite activity-golf. While in his seventies, Max got his golf game sharp enough to "shoot his age" many times, an accomplishment few golfers ever attain. He and his wife also enjoyed University of Tennessee football and basketball. He also served on the Board of Directors for Beaver Brook Golf and Country Club, and he was a Past President of the Senior Men's Golf Association at Beaver Brook. Max was a devoted husband to Avelina for 69 years and loving father to Robert Max, CEO of the family business, and Richard Glen, an orthopedic surgeon in Chattanooga. Together they have three adoring granddaughters and four great grandchildren. In his final days, his family much appreciated the dedicated service his Caretakers and Hospice of Chattanooga provided for him to make him comfortable. He was "The Best" of "The Greatest Generation"! Please visit www.heritagefh.com to share words of condolence with the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Chattanooga, 4411 Oakwood Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37416. Graveside funeral services will be held at 2:30 PM Thursday, November 17, 2011 at Chattanooga National Cemetery with Rev. Mark Love officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at 4:00 PM at Alexian Village Town Hall Room, 437 Alexian Way, Signal Mountain, Tennessee 37377. Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee.