THEY SAY never judge a book by its cover. In its spot on the Shelbyville Central High School library shelves, it sat untouched, passed over for the more recent, colorful selections around it. It patiently waited as students came in waves and rotations to work on term papers, study, or steal away time holding hands at the tables, heads huddled and nervous giggles threatening the quiet rules of the librarian. But with a startling tug, it was finally time! Chosen!
In his freshman year, Brent Canady chose the outdated book about the U. S. Naval Academy, more intrigued by its subject than its cover or print date. His father’s example as a Navy veteran influenced his desire for military service, but what he found within the book’s pages sparked a dream appointment to the U. S. Naval Academy.
“It wasn’t a rule, but he had a desire for us to serve like he had served — not necessarily in the Navy, but in the armed forces. I kind of set my goal to get an appointment to the Naval Academy, but I didn’t know what it would entail. I was lucky enough that some people in town helped me get that appointment. And once I got there, I did everything I could to graduate,” shared Canady.
At Annapolis, he set his sights higher and decided he wanted to fly.
Canady said, “I was lucky enough to get a flight school quota and went down to Pensacola in ‘84. I got my wings about 18 months later as a helicopter pilot. I had command of a helicopter squadron during Enduring Freedom and command of the Essex, an amphibious assault ship in Sasebo, Japan. I just kept getting great orders. Everything was challenging, and you never did two jobs the same. It was a very rewarding career.”
He shared his career adventures with his high school sweetheart, Kate McGrew Canady.
“She went off to the University of Tennessee and was a year behind me when I was at Navy. We got married when she graduated. Both of us really didn’t know what we were getting into, but we went down to Pensacola together and traveled the world. And it was great having her alongside,” Canady said.
After 30 years, he reached the height of Navy tenure, and it was time to go home.
“I had to readjust my goals to something else. My father-in-law, Bud McGrew, who’s passed away, always wanted us to come back, and he wanted to get me involved in community banking. I called First Community Bank and interviewed, and they offered me a job, so we came back.”
Trading jet fuel for strong coffee and slipping into civilian life wasn’t as easy as slipping into a sports coat and tie. However, finding common ground in his new mission eased the transition.
“When you’re at sea, you always know who’s at your right and who’s [at] your left if you’re in a cockpit flying or something like that. The good thing about the military is most everybody has gone through the same training path, so you know what experiences they’ve had. That’s not the same in the civilian world,” Canady reflected. “I think leadership abilities and traits you learn in the military can roll over to the civilian world without a problem. It’s treating people right and doing the right thing. And as long as you do that, I think you’ll succeed in everything you do.”
Now in his 11th year in the banking industry, Canady is the community leader of FirstBank in Shelbyville. The service-connected work is a natural parallel to his military career.
“FirstBank has been very good to me. Again, it’s just another way I can help people — help people buy homes, automobiles, whatever they need.”
The couple’s sons embrace the life of service modeled by their father and grandfather. One is a lieutenant in the Navy on a destroyer, and the other works with the State Department.
Canady remarked, “They both did different things, but they still are serving in the United States. That makes you feel good when you have a positive influence on your own children.”
His experiences affirmed his dream calling and stirred pride for the area he calls home.
“I’m very, very proud of my naval service. And I’m proud that I was able to serve our country. But at the same time, I felt like not only was serving our country, but I was representing the state of Tennessee,” he said. “All my actions — good, bad, indifferent, and hopefully, mostly good — reflected upon the state of Tennessee and gave me a great sense of state pride.”
With a new goal of retiring and caring for the farm inherited from his father-in-law, it’s good to be home.
“I’ve been all over the world, and there’s no place like Middle Tennessee. It’s because of the friendliest, outgoing, and compassionate people that live here. We care about each other, and we help each other.”
Canady’s journey, sparked by an unassuming book on a library shelf, took him from the halls of Shelbyville Central High to the skies as a U.S. Navy helicopter pilot. Now, back in his hometown, he’s found a new way to serve, proving that a life dedicated to helping others can take flight in many ways. GN
