The “I Am Williamson” column features individuals in Williamson County who are known and unknown as staples of our community, doing good, being seen and unseen, and exuding Williamson County. This month, we feature Tom Lawrence. Tom is a well-known face as well as a well-known voice, as he is the Senior Producer and host of “The Hometown Radio Show” at WAKM Radio. Tom has been with WAKM for fifty-five years, going part-time in 2017 to also take the part-time role as Business Development Officer at Simmons National Bank. Tom is a familiar face at community events and involved in many ways with several local organizations. His commitment to bringing awareness to our county’s events, businesses and individuals has been a testament to his love for Williamson County.

 

Learn more about Tom in this issue’s “I Am Williamson” interview.

 

I am Red and Maxie Lawrence’s first, born May 28, 1950, at Dan German Hospital. I am told Dr. Harry Guffee signed the birth certificate; but it was Lottie Haffner that “pulled the calf.” I am the only one to have been there that is still living. Williamson County feels like home to me because I spend more time in Williamson County than anywhere else. I spend more money in Williamson County than anywhere else. I know more people in Williamson County then anywhere else. If it’s true that “home is where the heart is,” than for me, that’s Williamson County.

 

I’ve had three professions: Broadcasting, banking and teaching. Broadcasting is  because God blessed me with a voice and the sense to it. He gave me mentors like Jim and Judy Hayes. In banking it is because I had always served banking clients in radio. When we sold the radio station March 17, 2017, to the Carden-Jackson family. On March 18, 2017, I started as a Business Development Officer for what is now Simmons National Bank. And as for teaching – my mother was a kindergarten teacher for Inge Smith. I have always been interested in education. I’ve taught forty years at Beech Grove Church of Christ. I took a sabbatical in 2009 to teach English and American Culture at Wuhan Language & Culture Institute in Wuhan, China – the home of the coronavirus. As a Junior Achievement Volunteer for Simmons Bank, I teach multiple third-grade financial literacy classes at Poplar Grove Elementary School in the Franklin Special School District.

 

Blessed by God

 

One – the Williamson County Public Library and Landmark Booksellers... That’s where the books are. Two – I people watch at The Factory at Franklin – where I’ve seen Garth Brooks, John F. Kennedy Jr., John Meacham and Taylor Swift. Three – The Williamson County Fair... What Williamson County once was.

 

Leadership Franklin – for the opportunity to be around Julian Bibb, Paula Harris and many others. Junior Achievement – for the opportunity to see our future a whole generation away. Beech Grove Church of Christ – for the opportunity to know people adept at love. The Hard Bargain Association - for the opportunity of saving affordable housing in Franklin.

 

An hour with a good book, one glass of homemade green tea (learned in China), memorizing at least one acceptable quotation, like:

 

“As we grow older we realize that it is less important to have lots of friends and more important to have real ones.” “The meaning of life is to find your gift; the purpose of life is to give it away.” – Shakespeare. “If I refuse to nap, am I resisting arrest?”

 

“You told me I am; and I trust you.”