Tichenor flips for gymnastics

Editor’s Note: This feature story is the first in a monthly series of the lives of people who live in the community.

Many past and present gymnastics students in the community have learned important lessons that are being used both on and off the balance beam. The person behind those lessons is Dee Dee Tichenor.

A 79-year-old retired dancer and gymnastics teacher, Tichenor has touched the lives of many with her talent and heart. Among those are her five daughters, son and hundreds of students taught throughout her years in the community.

“For 41 years, we have shared our mom happily with many others,” her daughter Annie Desmond said. “A lot of people have called her mom.”

Tichenor’s dance career led to many of her daughter’s interest in the acrobatics involved. After starting them at a gymnastics gym in Owensboro, she became interested in the sport and began learning and teaching children until she one day was able to start her own business. Tichenor opened up her own gym called Dee Dee’s Gymnastics and has taught in multiple areas throughout the community as well as at many of the schools in the county.

One of Tichenor’s first students, Sheena Brown, spoke on the things she remembered most during her time with Tichenor.

“We didn’t just learn technique, we learned respect for each other. We learned love and we learned that we are all equals,” she said.

She not only shared her love and knowledge of the practice but used the sport to spread love to others. For Tichenor, it was not about being the best, but rather how to be the best person that you can be in life.

Along with many others, Brown recalls Tichenor bringing two boys from outside into her studio and teaching them gymnastics, allowing them to work for her and helping them stay off the streets. Never the kind to focus on the money, Tichenor was quick to accept all ages, experience levels and forms of payment. Dee Dee Tichenor simply wanted all children to be able to have the experience and to do something productive.

“She taught us from make-shift beams and a whole lot of love,” Brown said.

Another former student, Sarah Park, spoke on her admiration for Tichenor and her ability to simply do everything out of love.

“I didn’t ever want to disappoint her,” Park said. “She was like a mom to me.”

Park recalled many Wal-Mart runs with Dee Dee and her teaching her how to drive on the back roads in her old truck.

With much pleasure and a few tears, Tichenor’s five daughters spoke highly of her never-failing positive attitude and ability to bounce back from even major setbacks.

“She always wants people to love each other and just never give up,” daughter Sandy Givens said.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the inability to currently provide in person lessons at the schools, Dee Dee has since retired and is maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle at home. Her daughters say that she would still be teaching if it wasn’t for Covid.

Many of her students and family feel that they would not be who they are today if it wasn’t for her.

“It wasn’t just her gym that was open to us. Her home and her heart was open to us.” Brown said.

With the “patience of a saint” and a heart of gold, Tichenor continues to hold a special place in the hearts and memories of many in the community as her life lessons live on.

OCTN Staff Writer