GRAVEL DIRT swirled in a thin, murky cloud behind their pickup truck. John Ray Clemmons rotated the handle until the truck window released a sigh, and the oppressive heat of summer dropped a fraction inside the cab. He pressed closer to the door panel, studying his reflection in the truck’s rounded mirror. He must look his best to show the friends they were visiting the proper respect.
“Don’t worry, boy,” his grandfather grinned. “Open the glove box.” Pointing, he added, “Behind my wrench is a tie. Clip it to the top of your shirt. We’ve got some folks to visit today at the hospital and around town.”
Behind them, they’d filled the bed of Grandfather’s truck with a few bags of fruits and vegetables they’d grown on their multigenerational farm on Eastover Road. Clemmons echoed his grandfather’s smile. As long as he was with his Pa, everything in his world was complete. And the cherry on top: it was his favorite day of the week.
“We went to the livestock market on Thursday mornings and stopped by the farmers co-op afterwards. They had a penny gumball machine,” Clemmons recalled. “I spent most of my preschool years with my grandfather on the farm while my parents worked and my older siblings were at school. During the summers, all of my early memories revolved around the farm, wading and fishing in Spring Creek, or swimming at Cedar Forest and Coles Ferry.”
Growing up in Lebanon during the 1980s was like a dream. Clemmons said, “We had great schools, safe neighborhoods, well-maintained ball fields, good roads to ride our bikes, and swimming pools. I always appreciated that none of those things would have been available without other people stepping up to serve in various capacities by doing the work and making good decisions to benefit others’ quality of life.”
These sacrifices from others in Lebanon, coupled with his grandfather’s steady willingness to love their community in word and deed, shaped Clemmons into the person he is today: a District 55 State Representative in Davidson County.
“I always felt a responsibility to repay those who made my own path possible by paying it forward to the next generation. My realization at a very early age that not everyone benefited from the same opportunities — through no fault of their own — drove and motivated me throughout my life. I strongly believe that every child deserves an opportunity to succeed, and some need help getting that opportunity. This belief and my sense of duty to serve others are what led me to the practice of law, nonprofit work, and public service.”
After graduating with honors from Lebanon High School, Clemmons earned a bachelor’s degree in history at Columbia University before attending the University of Memphis Law School. He and his wife, Tamara, have three children: John, Finn, and Henry.
“At the end of the day, having the courage to step up, make the tough decisions, and do the right thing to benefit the most people possible is what leadership is all about. I do my best to stay focused on those core issues that made my childhood great — the basics that impact Tennesseans’ quality of life on a daily basis,” Clemmons said.
Although he no longer lives in Wilson County, he treasures his deep ancestral ties to his family farm in Lebanon, his idyllic childhood memories, and the people — like his public school teachers — who molded him into the man he is today.
“I am privileged to be elected by and represent the people of Nashville, but I am always mindful of the fact that my decisions impact every single Tennessean,” Clemmons said. “Because the majority of my colleagues with whom I serve represent rural communities, I sometimes find that our respective districts’ concerns and priorities are not in alignment. My background and upbringing provide me with a unique understanding and ability to find the middle ground where possible. Gaining new perspectives and feedback from people in Lebanon and other towns across the state informs every decision I make. It’s important and incredibly helpful for me to spend more time in Tennessee communities than inside the echo chamber of the State Capitol.”
Clemmons hopes to leave a permanent imprint that reflects his lifelong mission of giving back to others and ensuring everyone has the opportunity for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
“The Lebanon in which I was raised was a small, rural community in the best sense. We cut our neighbor’s hay if they were sick. We gave away our fruits and vegetables to those in need. We carried people’s groceries to their cars for them. We took care of each other and respected each other.”
Clemmons reflects on the values that shaped him: “My goals today are to strengthen our public schools, lower the cost of living, increase access to afford- able health care, and modernize our infrastructure systems. If I could accomplish any or all of that for Tennessee families, I would be incredibly proud for that to be my legacy.” GN
