October 12, 2022
Dr. Norman “Max” Atnip, 75 of Cookeville, Tennessee passed from this earthly plane Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at his home in Cookeville.
Born Friday, June 6, 1947 in Sparta, Tennessee, he was the son of the late Dr. Norman Roy and Sara Janette (Cantrell) Atnip.
Dr. Max was from a family of chiropractic physicians, who have served the needs of the healthcare consumers of the Upper Cumberland region for well over 75 years. He left an indelible impact on his community.
Dr. Max received his A.A. degree from Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee in 1967. He received his B.S. in Human Biology, and his Doctor of Chiropractic from the National University of Health Sciences (NUHS), in Lombard, IL, in 1971. He was a board-eligible chiropractic orthopedist. During his professional career, Dr. Max served as a former consultant to the Tennessee State Board of
Chiropractic Examiners. He was twice chosen by his peers as Tennessee’s “Chiropractor of the Year.” Twice he was chosen “Cookeville’s Favorite Chiropractor” by the Herald-Citizen’s People’s Choice Awards. He received the Heritage Award from the Tennessee Chiropractic Association (TCA) for Lifetime Achievement.
Dr. Max was a Fellow of the International College of Chiropractors and a member of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), where he served as Tennessee’s State Delegate. He was a member and two-term past president of the TCA and a past president of the Federation of Tennessee Chiropractors and the Upper Cumberland Chiropractic Association. He was a Diplomat of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, and a member of the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research. He was a former chair of the Legislative Council of the TCA, and a member of the alumni association of NUHS. Dr. Max was a former Congressional Chair for the TCA. He chaired the Stars for Chiropractic’s Children to benefit Kentuckiana’s Children’s Center.
In 1997 and 1998 Atnip Chiropractic Office won the Tennessee Quality Award for having High Standards of Excellence in Business Practice Procedures. In 2004 and 2005 Dr. Max’s practice was selected as a finalist for the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics. And in 2009, the Upper Cumberland Business Journal awarded the practice the Ovation Award for Best Professional Services Overall.
Dr. Max was an active participant in his community. He attended Cumberland Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder, taught Sunday School, and sang in the choir. He was secretary and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Cumberland Broadcast Council for WCTE-TV. He was past chair of the Citizen’s Advisory Board of the Cookeville Department of Leisure Services. Dr. Max was a past President, Colonel, and Lifetime Member of the Cookeville Jaycees, where he served on the Board of Directors of Willow Park Apartments and on the board of the Jaycees Academic Trust Fund.
Dr. Max was a member and served on the Board of Directors of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce. He served 20 years with the Noon Day Rotary Club. In 1980 he was selected as an Outstanding Young Man of America; in 1984 he was honored with Outstanding Young Man of the Year. He was a graduate of Leadership Putnam class of 1996, and a graduate of both the Citizen’s Police and Fire Academies in 1997 and 1998. Dr. Max and his wife, Patti, served on the Advisory Board to Fortis from 1998 to 2021.
Dr. Max was chosen a Volunteer Hero. He served six years with the Tennessee Army National Guard and another six years in the Medical Command of the Tennessee State Guard. He was a member of the NRA, and the local chapter of the Masonic Lodge.
Dr. Max loved life, people, and his family. Much of his time shared with family and friends included playing cards, drumming, chatting about world happenings, and taking an invested interest in the lives of loved ones. He had a great admiration for Jeeps and Grand Wagoneers, Ham Radio, and podcasts.
Dr. Max was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Norman Roy and Sara Janette Atnip of Smithville, and his daughter, Jennifer Shea Atnip of Cookeville.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Patti Jean; his daughters, Becky Vincent (Chris) of OK; and, Cryste Bennett (Will) of Cookeville, and grandchildren, Brady Ryan and Josie Reese, and Shelby Shea and Tucker Boone. He is also survived by his brother, Dr. Robert Roy Atnip (Guylene) of Smithville, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, and in-laws.
Dr. Atnip had chosen cremation.
Crestlawn Funeral Home in Cookeville in charge of the arrangements