Thanks to the Governor, Janitor Gets to See His Grandson Play

Gov. Ned McWherter appointed a capitol janitor as Tennessee’s ambassador to the NCAA Midwest Regional on Thursday so the man can watch his grandson play for Memphis State tonight against Georgia Tech.

Rev. David Vaughn, 66, will get an expenses-paid trip to Kansas City, though earlier in the day the NCAA had ruled against a plan that would have enabled him to see his namesake play.

“He’s going to represent the governor at the basketball game,” said Billy Stair, an aide to the governor. “The state will pay for Mr. Vaughn’s expenses, and Gov. McWherter will personally reimburse the state for the cost of the trip.”

The NCAA had ruled earlier that Vaughn couldn’t accept a free plane ticket and spending money from legislators and lobbyists, who wanted to pay for the trip. Legislators cried foul when the NCAA said accepting the gift would be a violation of its rules, similar to providing a player with a gift.

McWherter called Dick Schultz, NCAA executive director, to resolve the situation and was told he had three options: Send Vaughn as a reporter, as a personal representative of the governor or as a personal guest of someone else.

Vaughn raised his 19-year-old grandson, a former star at Nashville’s Whites Creek High whose late basket defeated Arkansas Saturday to advance the Tigers to the semifinals.

On Wednesday, before the NCAA ruled against the plan, the Senate and House gave standing ovations for the lobbyists who organized the surprise and to Vaughn, who thanked them by singing “How Great Thou Art.”

Stair said Thursday: “When I called to tell Mr. Vaughn, he said, ‘I knew the Lord would take care of me.’ ”