Article originally appeared in the October 2022 Legacy Ledger (Issue 26).
Emily Poe Stumler (FCHS ‘04)
What defines a generation for a high school (especially one with a precise “first day the doors opened”)? The “first” generation grads of Floyd Central are easily identified. When did the “second generation” of Highlanders graduate? The 1990s? or even the late 80s? By that measure, then… it’s probably too soon to call Emily Poe ‘(and her husband Eli Stumler) – – both in the class of 2004 – – part of the “third generation”. Whatever descriptors fit best; Emily certainly seems to have done a whole lot of livin’ in the 18 years since graduation!
Let’s just say this: she’s always been on the fast track… violin lessons at age six, for example. That’s how you become a concertmaster, not only for FC but also for the Floyd County Youth Symphony. Add in cheerleading and being senior class president, and it spells “triple threat”- – exceptionally prepared for college.
Where? Belmont University In Music City, USA (Nashville) to major in music. What happened next? You might already know. Was it a case of being at the right place at the right time? Or is it more like… really, really talented people simply stand out, wherever they are?
At age 21, she auditioned to play fiddle for a band with a much younger teenager: a kid named Taylor Swift! The summers of 2006 and 2007 were whirlwinds of traveling, on and off a bus with Taylor and her mother.
How does anyone go from there to becoming an attorney? She just kept going fast. By 2011, in year three of law school (UT Knoxville), Emily got engaged (February), passed the bar exam (July) and married Eli (November). Within a year, she began working part-time for Harrison County Prosecutor Otto Schalk. Ten years later, and now the mother of three children, she will soon begin her sixth year as Chief Deputy Prosecutor, specializing particularly in crimes committed against children. The Stumlers live in Lanesville. Now and then, Emily still plays violin for weddings and some special events.
-Rex Bickers (FCHS ‘70), Guest Contributor
Read the entire October 2022 Legacy Ledger (Issue 26).