Sometimes the road we take leads us back home.
Such is the case for Jeff Damron. He was only 15 when he took on his first job as a referee for the city’s church basketball league, and he continued to work for Tullahoma Parks and Recreation in various capacities over the next four years. Little did he know that his work as a teen would be the first step toward his current role as a city administrator.
“I spent a lot of time there, working at the miniature golf course, working in the parks and recreation office, and serving as a lifeguard at the city pool,” Damron said. “Whatever the job, I probably did it.”
Damron worked under the leadership of Joe Moon, who served as the parks and recreation director from March 1988 until June 2000. Moon, who passed away in July 2016 in a tragic automobile accident, was considered a second father to the numerous youth he helped during his tenure. Damron remembers Moon as a boss and a role model who held his workers to high standards and led by example.
“He was hard, but he was fair,” Damron said. “Joe loved the kids who worked for him. He didn’t care who their families were. If they had a need, he would do whatever he could to help them.”
A lifelong resident of Tullahoma, Damron credits Moon as one of several individuals who taught him the value of working hard, respecting others, and taking an interest in people’s lives.
Damron grew up in a single-parent household, raised by his mother, Susie Damron. He attended East Lincoln Elementary School, Farrar Elementary School, East Middle School, and graduated from Tullahoma High School in 1993. He continued his education at Motlow Community College, where he studied business administration.
The journey from the Department of Parks and Recreation to the office of city administration was neither immediate nor linear. Along the way, Damron navigated many twists, turns, and forks in the road, gaining experience in making careful, informed decisions.
“In 1998, I became the owner of Short Stop Market, which I owned through 2021. During those years, I also owned and operated several convenience stores in Tullahoma and surrounding communities,” Damron said. “In 2008, my brother, Jaie, and I purchased Liquor Locker and Wine Shoppe, and in 2018, we built Brothers Local Market. Together, we have also owned car washes, digital billboards, and other businesses throughout Middle Tennessee.
Throughout these ventures, Damron gained experience maintaining budgets, managing contracts, building and leading teams, and negotiating difficult decisions.
After selling all of his stores in 2021, he shifted his focus to managing his investments and other business interests while remaining actively involved in the community through youth athletics.
His passion for serving the community ultimately brought him back to Tullahoma Parks and Recreation in June 2022, and he was hired as the athletic director.
He was promoted to deputy director in 2023, earned his Certified Park and Recreation Professional credential in 2024, and recently completed the Executive Development Program at Indiana University in 2026. During his time with Parks and Recreation, he focused on expanding youth athletics, growing sports tourism, building stronger community partnerships, improving operational efficiency, and creating new revenue opportunities that enhanced services for the community.
“Those experiences, along with nearly 25 years of business ownership, gave me a strong foundation for serving as city administrator,” Damron said. “In March 2026, I was unanimously appointed by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to serve as interim city administrator. Following my service in that role, I was unanimously appointed as Tullahoma’s city administrator, where I continue to serve today.”
Damron said he is grateful for the “incredible support system” in his wife, Misty, along with their two daughters, Cyeria and Kyleigh.
“Their love, encouragement, and sacrifices have meant more than I can express,” he said. “I would not be where I am today without them.”
He also mentioned the one who has guided his life.
“None of what I have accomplished would have been possible without my faith in Jesus Christ,” he said. “He has blessed me far more than I have ever deserved, and I give Him all the glory. My faith has been the foundation of my life, my family, and my approach to serving others.”
Filled with blessings and uncertainties, Damron’s journey back home is one for which he is truly grateful.
“I find it humbling to look back and realize my first job with Tullahoma Parks and Recreation at 15 years old eventually led me back to serve the community as city administrator,” Damron said. “I could never have imagined where that path would lead, and in many ways, it truly has come full circle.” GN
