County and state officials honored retiring Fentress County Executive Jimmy Johnson during Monday’s commission meeting with multiple proclamations and an honorary appointment from Governor Bill Lee.
State Representative Kelly Keisling said the joint proclamation from the Tennessee House of Representatives recognizes Johnson’s leadership in securing millions of dollars in grants for the county since taking office in 2018. Keisling said the executive’s efforts were instrumental in establishing the $25 million Fentress County higher education campus and securing $4 million for local water infrastructure improvements.
“I can honestly say I don’t think there’s any other of our county mayors, and I don’t mean any disrespect to them by saying this, but you have been the most accessible, I suppose, in keeping us, us in the loop on anything and everything that goes on in Fentress County,” Keisling said. “Jimmy exemplifies the spirit of allegiance to family, community, and public service that are characteristic of a true Tennessean.”
State Representative Ed Butler said Johnson consistently advocated for the county’s needs through frequent communication with state leaders. Butler said the governor’s office appointed Johnson as a Colonel Aide-de-Camp to recognize his patriotism and fidelity to the state.
“I will assure the citizens of Fentress County that Jimmy Johnson has advocated for Fentress County in the commission to know that if there was a problem in Fentress County, you could rest assured that Kelly or myself were getting a phone call from Jimmy concerned about an issue with Fentress County,” Butler said. “And so, he has dedicated his life.”
General Sessions Judge Todd Burnette said Johnson’s persistence was the primary reason the county successfully opened a standalone emergency room after the local hospital closed. Burnette said the executive was known for personally handling tasks ranging from high-level negotiations to salting the courthouse sidewalks during snowstorms.
“I honest to God believe in every fiber of my being that it happened cause those people got tired of being called by Jimmy Johnson,” Burnette said. “It didn’t matter if it was fighting to open a standalone emergency room or salting the sidewalks, Jimmy Johnson as a public servant was there.”
Johnson said his administration focused on agriculture, health, and education while maintaining a strong relationship with the county commission. Johnson said the county’s fund balance grew from nearly $2 million to over $4 million during his eight-year tenure due to conservative fiscal management.
“When we started this journey, we never promised a thing,” Johnson said. “We just told people we would work hard. We’d work hard for mainly agriculture, health, and education. I didn’t know that meant building things.”
County Clerk Amanda Hicks said the county will host a public retirement party for Johnson at the courthouse on July 30 from 10:00am to 2pm. Hicks said the event will allow the community to celebrate Johnson’s contributions before his official departure.
“After years of dedicated service, countless meetings, endless decisions, and surviving the daily adventures of county government, Jimmy Johnson has officially earned his retirement,” Hicks said. “The legacy of Jimmy Johnson will continue to inspire generations of public servants who follow in his footsteps.”
Johnson said he plans to walk out the door on his final day without looking back, though he offered to remain available as a resource for his successor.
