Local college students asked questions of state legislators during a session at Southwest Tennessee Community College. From left: House Democratic Leader Gary Odom, Rep. G. A. Hardaway, House Speaker Kent Williams, and Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner. (Photo courtesy of Southwest)

After Kent Williams of Elizabethton became speaker of the House, he decided to visit a city he had never seen.

A resident of Carter County in Tennessee’s 4th District, Williams visited Memphis at the request of State Rep. G.A. Hardaway. On his two-day tour Feb. 20 to 21, he had an opportunity to view firsthand numerous inner-city challenges.

While it was his first visit to West Tennessee, he pledged it would not be his last.

House Democratic Leader Gary Odom of Nashville (District 55) and Democratic Caucus chair Mike Turner of Old Hickory, Tenn. (District 51) also made the trip to Memphis for the visit, which kicked off with a welcome reception at Playhouse on the Square hosted by Tennessee Democratic Party State Executive Committee members Jay Bailey, Esq., and David Upton.

In total, Williams participated in 18 events and activities during his tour. Among the highlights: student and community legislative breakfasts at Southwest Tennessee Community College and University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), respectively; tours of LeBonheur, Memphis and Shelby County Juvenile Court, The MED and Graceland as well as Slavehaven and the National Civil Rights Museum;  and meetings with Mayor Willie Herenton, business leaders at Methodist Healthcare, and college faculty, students and alumni legislators at LeMoyne-Owen College.

Williams also met with journalists, students at the Memphis Academy of Health Sciences (MAHS), residents of Beltline and Orange Mound neighborhoods at Hanley Elementary School and people with disabilities at the Memphis Center for Independent Living.  

There was a press conference at The MED with Shelby County Mayor AC Wharton and County Commission chairperson Deidre Malone as well as good times with members of the Shelby County Democratic delegation at Uncle Lou’s Fried Chicken on Millbranch and Gospel Night with the Grizzlies.  (Williams proclaimed the chicken at Uncle Lou’s the best he ever had. In addition, Rep. Karen Camper presented a joint House and Senate resolution recognizing restaurant owner and chef Louis Martin for community involvement.)

Sharing hot wings and other menu delights were Speaker Pro Tempore Lois DeBerry, Sen. Reginald Tate, Sen. Ophelia Ford, Rep. Larry Miller, Rep. Ulysses Jones, Rep. Hardaway and City Councilman Edmund Ford Jr., along with guests that included Pamela Marshall of the Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce and Yvonne Nelson, former editor of the Whitehaven Appeal.

While Rep. Joe Towns Jr. did not attend the dinner or the Graceland Tour on Friday night, he took part in Williams’ meet and greet with LOC President Johnnie B. Watson, who was presented with a $30,000 check by AT&T’s Chuck Thomas.

A restaurant owner and farmer, Williams grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee. He said he understands poverty and tough economic times and pledged to fight to ensure stimulus money coming into the state of Tennessee be used as intended and not be diverted due to budgetary concerns.  

Previously vice president of Steak Houses of Homestead Inc. and Family Steak Houses of Miami Inc., he demonstrated a grasp of local matters, including TennCare and  the state’s Juvenile Court contract.  

At each stop, he shared his background with listeners and his desire to improve cooperation between House Republicans and Democrats so that the three grand divisions of Tennessee – East, Middle and West – can be united into one state, mentally and legislatively.  

Also, he was fond of telling his audiences that he lives closer to Niagara Falls than to Memphis. Williams listened carefully to concerns expressed and pledged to keep these perspectives and ideas in mind.