Posted: Friday, October 9, 2009 1:41 pm

The Messenger 10.09.09
In 1974, Pat (Hawkins) Montgomery left the University of Tennessee at Martin with a degree in nursing. This weekend, she returns to the campus as an award-winning author.
Mrs. Montgomery will conduct a book-signing on the Quad near the University Bookstore on Saturday as part of UT Martin’s homecoming festivities. The signing will begin at 10 a.m.
For more information, visit her Web site at http://parentsrulewithpat.com/events.
Mrs. Montgomery’s book, “Now You Know What I Know: Parenting Wisdom of a Grandmother,” won a Pinnacle Award this year as an Outstanding Inspirational Book. She said the book is a great read for her fellow alumni.
“The book is about the mistakes I made as a parent and the things I did well. It’s meant to encourage parents and grandparents and to let them know they’re not alone,” she said.
In addition to being an award-winning author, Mrs. Montgomery is also a popular radio show host in the Metro Atlanta area. Her talk show, “Parents Rule!,” offers the same type of information and inspiration as her book. It features stimulating topics that cover all aspects of parenting, from conception issues to grandparenting.
Mrs. Montgomery said she is thrilled to be coming back to UTM.
“I’m really excited to come back to the place where I gained so much knowledge to share a little of what I have learned with my fellow students and alumni,” she said.
She began her nursing career in Martin and her first child was born there at Volunteer General Hospital.
She is currently a business owner, as well as the host of the weekly radio talk show. The married mother now has three children, two stepchildren and 12 grandchildren.