A native of Kingsport, Tennessee, Sam Bartholomew played football at Dobyns-Bennett High School on two state championship teams (state rushing leader and All State his senior year). Recruited by coach Paul Dietzel to play college football at the United States Military Academy, he became captain of the first Army team to play in Neyland Stadium in 1965. At West Point, he was Cadet Captain, Battalion Commander and assistant football coach in 1966. Bartholomew was a decorated Airborne Ranger Officer serving with the ¾ Armored Cavalry Squadron in Vietnam (1968-1969).

After graduating from Vanderbilt Law School in 1973 and starting Stokes Bartholomew Law Firm, he helped organize the Nashville Rugby Club that year.

An active member of the Nashville community, Bartholomew was a founding member and director of the Nashville Sports Council and the Music City Bowl, has served on the boards of the Middle Tennessee Football Foundation, Tennessee Police Athletic League, YMCA, Tennessee NFL Committee and a 12-year member of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, including a term as its president. He was awarded the "Governor's Outstanding Tennessean Award" in 1984 for his service as chairman of the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program. Also, he was Chairman of the 1996 Tennessee U.S. Olympic Committee and was a founder of the Golf Club of Tennessee.

Instrumental in bringing the Titans to Tennessee, Bartholomew chaired the "Just Build It" Committee that raised over $100 million in suite sales, which were essential in getting the Houston Oilers to Nashville.

This family man, married to former "Miss Tennessee" Vicki Lynn Hurd, was named "Father of the Year" by the National Diabetes Association in 2004. Their four children, just like their father, received college athletic scholarships.

The three boys received their scholarships for football, while their daughter received her scholarship for track.

All four children were also active as leaders in their high school FCA groups, also Sam's favorite charity.