Obituary of Alvin Lewis Bolt

Alvin Lewis Bolt, 86, of Nashville, TN passed away unexpectedly on December 20, 2015 at his home. Mr. Bolt was born in the Sand Mountain area of North Georgia on March 23, 1929 to Guy and Lillie Bolt. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother Charles Edward Bolt of Cleveland, TN. He is survived by two brothers, Paul of Carrollton, TX and Melvin of Wooster, OH; one sister, Martha Hillis of Rossville, GA. Mr. Bolt spent most of his Career as Station Manager for public radio, WPLN, in Nashville. As music librarian for the Nashville library system in the early 1960’s, Mr. Bolt wanted to expand community exposure to classical music but could not accomplish his goal due to funding limitations. Through a federal grant to help establish public radio stations, he was able to obtain the funds to establish public radio stations, he was able to obtain the funds to establish the station so that all of Nashville could have access to classical music. When WLPN, public radio in Nashville, began broadcasting on December 16, 1962, Mr. Bolt was there as were many of the city’s officials. During his 30 years with the station, he was largely responsible for overseeing its growth by providing the region’s first classical station. On December 17, 1975, the WPLN Talking Library, brain child of Mr. Bolt, Nashville Public Library Special Projects Director Lillias Burns, and Library Director Marshall Stewart, hit the air waves. The service provided those with visual impairments in Middle Tennessee to hear readings from the Tennesseans and the Nashville Banner on a special Receiver right in their living rooms. In addition to classical music, Mr. Bolt had a passion for orchids. He was an avid grower, long time member and officer of the Orchid Society of Middle Tennessee, the Mid-America Orchid Congress, and an accredited American Orchid Society Judge based in Atlanta, GA judging center. For four years he served as Judging Center chair and was a member if the Judging Committee of the American Orchid Society. Mr. Bolt traveled the country extensively attending numerous orchid shows and participated in judging at these shows. He attended and judged at the 12th World Orchid Congress in Tokyo, Japan in 1987. He also received several American Orchid Society awards given to specimen and quality plants he had grown in his home greenhouse. A graveside service will be held 3:00 pm Friday, February 12, 2016 at Hamilton Memorial Garden, Chattanooga, TN. Murfreesboro Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. (615)896-2229