Kenneth Estes

I graduated from WCU with a degree in Chemistry, started work for American Enka in the environmental department and later moving into the process control/quality department. I spent the next 21 years with Enka/Akzona/BASF working at the Enka site, Rocky Mount, NC and Morristown, TN; until the demise of the American textile industry with NAFTA. The next 12 ½ years were with International Paper as the Quality/Environmental Manager, until I took early retirement to take a “better job” with MacDermid Printing Solutions as the Environmental Health and Safety Manager for their Morristown manufacturing facility and the Atlanta Research Site. MacDermid manufactures photopolymer plates for the Graphic Art Industry. I retired from MacDermid in May 2012 and worded for 6 years as a consultant for Team Technologies in Morristown, and spent the rest of the work working on the farm.
Married Elaine Wilson, from Cullowhee in 1972 and we have one son – Matthew that is married to Maia McNabb. They reside in Knoxville, TN and we have no grandchildren, but we are still hoping.
I gave my life to Christ a few years ago and serve as a deacon for Witt Baptist Church.
Elaine and I started and ran a horse publication for about ten years before selling it in 2006. In 2007 and again in 2009, I was one of the judges for the United Racking World Championship Show. We still have horses, own a boarding stable and show almost every weekend in the summer.
In 2017 I won the International County Pleasure Championship with my horse Encore's Endeavor, and in 2018 won the National High Point Lite Shod award with my mare, Heart of Serenity. Elaine andI continue to enjoy showing our horses.