When Tennessee’s own Lamar Alexander was honored by the Sports Hall of Fame as Tennessean of the Year, he was The Honorable Lamar Alexander, Governor of the State of Tennessee. The year was 1986 and Alexander was Chairman of the President’s Commission on Americans Outdoors and Chairman of the National Governor’s Association. But his accomplishments and mighty deeds had been accumulating for years. Tops on his list of concerns has always been a fervent dedication to the improvement of education in Tennessee through quality in teaching. Alexander has always been committed to the opportunity for an education available to all Tennesseans and a diploma that means you have the knowledge to compete in the market place. Alexander was also honored that year for his successful efforts to bring the Saturn Plant and more jobs into Tennessee, and for his support to keep St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. Today, Lamar Alexander is recognized as a strong leader, not just in Tennessee, but in the entire United States of America. His run for the presidency in 1996 brought him to the forefront of the American consciousness. And with the year 2000 just around the corner, the sky’s the limit.
