As superintendent of Shelby County Schools, Dr. Bobby Webb considers the "big picture" as he makes important decisions. He advised UT Martin graduates to do the same in seeking success beyond college.

A 1970 UT Martin graduate with a degree in music education, Webb said he has given many high school graduation speeches during 15 years as a superintendent, so he began with an abbreviated version of the advice he has given many audiences.

"Life is not fair, get used to it. ... People are more important than things. ... " he said, summarizing past commencement addresses. And, he added, "If you don't do anything else in life, love someone and let someone love you."

Webb then turned to his main theme, telling the graduates that commencement is an appropriate time "to step back and take a look at the big picture of your life." He said the most successful people he knows accomplish this by routinely doing three things.

"One, they step back from time to time from their narrow focus of their responsibilities and think about just how all the parts relate and how they interact with each other," Webb said.

"The more successful people examine their entire organization, or their industry, and their personal life and how it fits in society and in this world," he explained. "And the reason this must be done often, graduates, is because the technical and social relationships ... change almost daily."

Next, Webb said successful people pay attention to the details. "They check the fine print to avoid surprises. They do examine all sides of an issue," he said.

Finally, and maybe the most important of the three points, Webb said successful people know that organizations succeed not because of machines or technology but because of people.

"So if I have learned anything as a teacher and band director and principal and superintendent," Webb said. "it's to always seek out the very best people, give them the authority-- the full authority--to their job, and then encourage them and support them in their work."

As a band director, Webb said he found that some students possessed better talent than others. "But almost everyone has some form of talent, and the important thing is to find the best place for each person to perform," he said. He uses that same skill today in finding the right people to fill roles in Shelby County Schools.

"So regardless of how technical your field of interest has become, your ability to recognize and understand the talents of other people will have a tremendous impact upon your success," Webb added.

Webb was selected as superintendent by the Shelby County Schools Board of Education in January 2002. His career in education began in 1974 as an instrumental music teacher with Humboldt City Schools.

After teaching three years in Humboldt, he returned to his native Lauderdale County, where for the next 11 years he served as a teacher and then as a high school administrator for the Lauderdale County School system. Before coming to Shelby County, Webb spent 14 years as the superintendent of Lauderdale County Schools.

UT Martin Chancellor Nick Dunagan presided over the ceremony and conferred the degrees. About 125 graduates participated in the commencement and received diplomas.