Legendary lobbyist Tom Hensley dies at 80
Tom Hensley, the legendary lobbyist known as “The Golden Goose,” has died. Hensley had been hospitalized in Nashville for two moths after sustaining a head injury in a fall. He passed away after being moved to a rehabilitation center in Decaturvillle on Friday. He was 80 years old.
Hensley began his lobbying career in the 1960s and was a ubiquitous presence at the Capitol complex, wearing his trademark three-piece suit, chomping on a cigar, and sitting in the front row of committee meetings. Hensley was best known for his work for the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Tennessee, especially during an era when state law allowed him to supply lawmakers with free bottles of alcohol and pick up the tab at restaurants and bars.
Hensley was joined in lobbying the liquor wholesalers association in 2016 by Ryan Haynes, a former lawmaker and onetime state Republican Party chairman.
Drew Alexander, son of former governor and senator, dies at 52
Drew Alexander, a music publishing executive in Nashville and son of former governor and senator Lamar Alexander, died Friday at age 52.
Here is the obituary from the Alexander family:
Nashville—Andrew Franklin Alexander, age 52, passed away December 31, 2021 after a short illness. Drew was born in Washington, D.C., on September 21, 1969. He moved with his family to Nashville, TN, when he was one year old. He attended Ensworth School, became a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, and graduated from University School of Nashville. He then attended Kenyon College in Ohio where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music
.In 1994 he went to work for Curb Records in Nashville as a receptionist. Quickly he rose to lead the company’s publishing division. As Vice President of Publishing, he oversaw the division’s forty-five employees and songwriters. A classically trained guitarist, Drew also directed creative and administrative aspects of the company where he set budgets, signed songwriters, negotiated contracts, placed songs, and acquired catalogs.During his tenure Curb Music Publishing earned eighty-seven ASCAP, BMI and SESAC performance awards, and set records for the fastest rising country single and the longest charting country single in Billboard Country chart history. In 2017, after 23 years at Curb, Drew stepped down from his role as Director of Publishing but continued working with the Mike Curb Foundation. Drew also founded his own company, Blair Branch Music. He became an active community volunteer working with numerous Nashville agencies including Second Harvest Food Bank, Nashville Rescue Mission, and Room at the Inn. Drew’s motto was “give more than you take”. When he wasn’t on the phone raising money for the needy he often could be found serving lunch at homeless shelters.
Drew served on the boards of The Recording Academy, Belmont School of Music, Family and Children’s Service, the Community Resource Center, Leadership Music as Treasurer, and the Tennessee Residence Foundation as Secretary. He was a member of the Country Music Association, the Gospel Music Association, Academy of Country Music, and the Downtown Nashville Rotary Club.
Drew helped many artists and songwriters get their start in Nashville and had many friends in the music industry. Over the years he hosted small groups of songwriters and artists, including Lee Brice, Bill Anderson, Kyle Jacobs, Billy Montana, Kelsea Ballerini and many others, at writing retreats at his family’s home at Blackberry Farm in East Tennessee, at Evins Mill in Middle Tennessee, and at Bending Lake in Canada. From these dozens of sessions came more than 1,000 songs including many hits. Drew was active with the National Songwriters Association defending songwriters’ legal rights.
Drew loved his daughters, his friends and watching sports with them all, especially the Tennessee Titans and University of Tennessee basketball and football—and he loved to fish, traveling around the world in pursuit of new adventures. Drew is survived by two daughters, Lauren Blair Alexander and Helen Victoria Alexander of Nashville; his parents, Honey and Lamar Alexander of Walland, TN; two sisters, Leslee Alexander of Maryville, TN and Kathryn Alexander of Briarcliff Manor, NY; his brother, Will Alexander of Nashville; and, seven nieces and nephews. The Alexander family wishes to express our thanks to Drew’s friends Bruce Phillips and Hal Hardin for their many kindnesses to him.
There will be a private graveside service for family members at the family cemetery at Hesse Creek Chapel in Walland, TN, with the Rev. William J. Carl, Drew’s uncle, officiating. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, 331 Great Circle Road, Nashville 37228. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in Nashville.
Former Tennessee state Rep. Jim Coley dies
Former state Rep. Jim Coley’s family is informing friends and colleagues the Bartlett Republican has passed away.
Coley didn’t seek re-election last year after battling various illnesses that involved doctors bringing him back to life two times, the Daily Memphian reported in 2019. The former public school teacher was first elected to the House in 2006, where he formed strong friendships across the political spectrum.
Coley voted for a bill seeking to opt the state out of the U.S. Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage ruling and supported various pro-life bills. But he voted against Gov. Bill Lee’s school voucher bill and backed a 2018 bill to legalize medical marijuana.
Here is a resolution the House passed on the occasion of Coley’s retirement:
WHEREAS, it is most appropriate that the members of this General Assembly should honor those fellow legislators who have performed their duties with the utmost integrity and whose efforts during their time in office have been dedicated to providing thoughtful and exemplary service to their districts and to this great State; and
WHEREAS, Representative Jim Coley of Bartlett is one such distinguished public servant who has served both his constituency and this legislative body with honor and ability; and
WHEREAS, during his tenure, Representative Coley has been a highly influential figure in the political, social, and civic life of Shelby County, and he has served his constituents in numerous capacities, always working diligently at his elected duties and expending the necessary effort to understand the opposing sides of complex issues; and
WHEREAS, Jim Coley has distinguished himself as a public-spirited citizen of the highest order and as an exceptional asset to the good people of the 97th House District, whom he has served as a member of the 105th, 106th, 107th, 108th, 109th, 110th , and 111th General Assemblies; and
WHEREAS, throughout his service, Jim Coley has been prominent as a dedicated and well-informed legislator who always votes his conscience; and
WHEREAS, as an active and dynamic participant in the legislative process during his time in the General Assembly, Representative Coley has rendered sterling service as chair of the House Higher Education Subcommittee, the House Civil Justice Subcommittee, and the General Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee, and member of the House Consumer and Human Resources Committee, the House Civil Justice Committee, the House Education Administration and Planning Committee, the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee, the House Criminal Justice Committee, the House Education Committee, the House Judiciary Committee, the House Ethics Committee, the House State and Local Government Committee, the House Employee Affairs Subcommittee, the House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee, the House Civil Practice Subcommittee, the House State Government Subcommittee, the House Special Initiatives Subcommittee, and the Joint Fiscal Review Committee; and
WHEREAS, Representative Jim Coley has also served as a member of the Legislative Arts Caucus and the Shelby County Delegation; and
WHEREAS, no stranger to awards and accolades, Representative Coley has been a recipient of both the Lincoln Award and the Grassroots Award from the Shelby County Republican Party; a two-time Rotarian nominee for Teacher of the Year, and the recipient of a Fulbright-Hays Study Abroad Grant; and
WHEREAS, Representative Coley is a family man and community leader, and he has proven that citizens can make a difference by being involved in community service and leading by example; and
WHEREAS, a retired teacher, Jim Coley obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree at Memphis State University and earned his Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Memphis; and
WHEREAS, Representative Coley is a co-founder of Friends of the Orpheum and the Bartlett/Northeast Republican Club, a sponsor of Memphis Bridges, and a member of the Shelby County Education Association and the Exchange Club; and
WHEREAS, throughout his outstanding career as a public servant, Representative Jim Coley has worked tirelessly on behalf of his constituents, bringing to his office an honorable bearing and the traditional values of hard work and common sense; and
WHEREAS, his many civic and professional accomplishments aside, Jim Coley is most appreciative of the love and support he shares with his two children, Erin and Evan, and his one grandchild, Owen; and
WHEREAS, Representative Jim Coley is wholly committed to the noble precepts of public service that have earned Tennessee recognition as the Volunteer State, and he should be specially recognized for his exemplary tenure in the General Assembly; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE CONCURRING, that we hereby honor Representative Jim Coley for his meritorious service to Tennessee as a member of the House of Representatives, commend him for his countless contributions and many good works in service of the citizens of the 97th House District, and extend to him our best wishes for much continued success and happiness.
Former lawmaker, lobbyist Rufus Jones dies at 79
Rufus Jones, a former chairman of the House State and Local Government Committee, has died. He was 79.
Jones, a Memphis Democrat, was elected to the state House in 1981 and served in the chamber until 1996. He then embarked on a lobbying career until beginning treatment for lymphoma in 2006.
Jones’ lobbying clients included Tennessee Bankers Association, Memphis Light, Gas & Water, and Memphis Basketball Partners, a group pushing for funding for a new arena when the Vancouver Grizzlies were first mulling their move to Tennessee.
Jones challenged Riley Darnell for the secretary of state position in 2004, but lost a House Democratic Caucus nomination vote to the incumbent. Democrats at the time held a narrow 69-63 advantage over Republicans in the joint convention to elect constitutional officers and Darnell went on to win his fourth and final term.
Jones was succeeded in the House by Rep. Barbara Cooper (D-Memphis).
“Rep. Jones was a tireless public servant who always gave back and worked hard to open doors for the people of South Memphis,” she said in a statement. “He was a kind, easy-going person who loved his constituents and his community.”
