George and Jo Rutherford went on to very successful careers after school at TCAT

It was an instant TCAT bond for Jo Rutherford (left) and Debbie Petree (right.) Rutherford is an early days TCAT alum while Dr. Petree is the school president.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- It was like discovered treasure when Jo Huddleston Rutherford came over and introduced herself to TCAT President Dr. Debbie Petree after Thursday’s TCAT honors ceremony. Rutherford and her husband George then took Petree on a trip down TCAT Memory Lane.

Originally, TCAT was the State Area Vocational-Technical School at Jacksboro established in 1967. Rutherford enrolled not long after the school opened only to be joined by her husband George a year later.

From TCAT, careers for the Rutherfords took off. Jo spent her career working for the State of Tennessee while George was hired on at Oak Ridge.

The TCAT connection brought Jo and George Rutherford together with Debbie Petree (right) at Thursday night’s TCAT ceremony.

Both are 1959 graduates of La Follette High School and make their home in Anderson County. So, it was like a homecoming in more ways than one for Jo and George last Thursday night at the La Follette Methodist Church. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-04/22/2026-6AM)

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