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R.A. Dickey is a former Major League Baseball baseball player who played professionally for 21 years culminating in the National League Cy Young Award as a member of the New York Mets in 2012, which honors the top pitcher in the Major Leagues. Additionally, R.A. was a three time All-American at the University of Tennessee as well as a three time Academic All-American as an English Major. He represented the United States as an Olympian in 1996 as a pitcher on the bronze medal winning Olympic team.

R.A.’s passions move well beyond baseball. He became a New York Times best selling author after the release of his autobiography, Wherever I Wind Up, My quest for Truth, Authenticity, and the Perfect Knuckleball. The book chronicles his tumultuous journey from an 8 year old victim of sexual abuse to a can’t miss first round draft pick for the Texas Rangers whose career was met with unrealized potential until his discovery of the Knuckleball, a pitch that is as unpredictable as life. R.A.has also been a contributing author to the New York Times, National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, and The New Yorker. His other books include Throwing Strikes and Knuckleball Ned, a children’s book.

Besides his hunger for literature, R.A. has invested his time on several not for profit boards, including Bombay Teen Challenge, an outreach that helps victims of sex trafficking in Mumbai, India. In January of 2012, R.A. raised 250,000 dollars for the BTC by reaching the peak of Kilimanjaro. Currently, he is on the board of directors for the Nashville Anti Human Trafficking Coalition, a ministry that helps rescue and restore victims of human trafficking across the state of Tennessee.

R.A. grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and attended Montgomery Bell Academy. His wife Anne and his four kids reside in Franklin Tennessee and enjoy life on a farm caring for their 3 horses, 1 donkey, 2 rabbits, 3 dogs, 3 ducks, 25 chickens, and their pig, Meatball.

We are pleased to honor Paul Wilson with the 2022 Duke Kennedy Award for his contributions to Cumberland Heights and the recovery community. The late Duke Kennedy was a wonderful friend to both Cumberland Heights and those struggling with substance use disorder. He worked tirelessly for over 15 years to raise money for patient scholarships with the goal of making sure, regardless of financial status, that those who needed help for substance use disorder received treatment.

Cumberland Heights presents the 2022 Duke Kennedy Award to Paul Wilson of Nashville, Tennessee. The Duke Kennedy Award is given each year to a person who has made an exemplary impact in the local recovery community. A husband, father, son, brother, and friend to many, Paul is a native of Middle Tennessee and a graduate of the University of Tennessee. Since then, Paul has become a sales leader in his family’s company, FirstFleet, where he has served for nearly 30 years.

Paul joined the board of Cumberland Heights in February 2017. In January 2018, he saw the need for a world-class, long-term treatment center for high school boys – a demographic disproportionately affected by substance use disorders and the opioid crisis. Paul volunteered to chair Cumberland Heights’ capital campaign for ARCH Academy, an initiative intended to address this service gap. He courageously led the campaign and persevered through unimaginable obstacles, including the COVID-19 pandemic and several family tragedies, ultimately completing the $6,000,000 capital campaign. This impact will be felt in our community for generations as young people and their families find a new way to live their lives through treatment at ARCH Academy.

Fellow board member and the 2021 recipient of the Duke Kennedy Award, Frank Wade, says, “I can think of no one more deserving of the 2022 Duke Kennedy Award than Paul Wilson! When asked, Paul did not hesitate to accept the call to be the capital campaign chair for ARCH Academy. He is an outstanding leader and leads by example. ARCH Academy and the adolescent males and their families who will be served by this program are just a few of the many legacies that Paul will leave to the recovery community. Paul is thoughtful with his questions, determined in achieving goals, incredibly kind and supportive to those in recovery, extremely humble, and generous in furthering the mission of Cumberland Heights. Paul Wilson is a good and honorable man of great integrity. I feel blessed to know him.”

Chief Development Officer, Cindy Patterson, says, “Paul Wilson is the kind of person that makes me proud to serve the mission of Cumberland Heights alongside our generous donors. He genuinely cares about our patients and is passionate about giving our alumni the opportunity to make recovery possible for the next person in need. When the going got tough during the pandemic, Paul’s resolve kept us moving forward until no stone was left unturned for the boys at ARCH. We are so fortunate to have Paul’s servant leadership and calm, encouraging demeanor. We are so thankful for what he has done for this community over the past several years.”

Donors, alumni, and members of our community believed in the mission of ARCH and gave to this campaign many times simply because of Paul Wilson’s involvement. He is so well respected in this community. Without Paul’s leadership, this campaign could not have been completed. On behalf of the countless patients who will find hope and healing at ARCH Academy, Cumberland Heights thanks Paul Wilson for his tireless work in achieving this great accomplishment.