People

Longtime Memphis State Rep. G.A. Hardaway died on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the age of 71 after a brief illness.  

A Democrat, Hardaway was initially elected to serve District 92 in March 2007, which became District 93 in January 2013. The district represents parts of South Memphis and the Orange...

Justin Bush has been selected as major of operations for the Bristol Police Department. A 16-year veteran of the force, Bush has gained leadership experience serving as the department’s captain of patrol and captain of support services. In his new role, Bush will oversee the Patrol and Criminal...

Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism, is retiring after 38 years in the role. Since 1988, Downey has guided efforts to grow the city into one of the most popular tourism destinations in the nation and has welcomed numerous attractions, providing the city with...

Cameron O’Hanlon has been selected as the first executive director of Clarksville’s new Arts, Culture & Tourism (ACT) Authority. A native of San Antonio, Texas, O’Hanlon grew up in Northern California and has spent the past 13 years at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts...

David Cantu has been selected as the new fire code official for the town of Farragut. Cantu brings more than 20 years of experience in emergency services and public safety to the role. He comes to Farragut from Oak Ridge where he served with the Oak Ridge Fire Department for nearly five years, with...

Dwayne Honaker has been selected as interim fire chief for the Bristol Fire Department. Honaker is a 29-year veteran of the department and has been serving as battalion chief since 2008. He will step into the leadership role after the retirement of current Chief Mike Carrier. Honaker joined the...

Leslie Rucker has been selected as city manager of Tennessee Ridge. Rucker has been with the city for 37 years, serving 29 as utility manager and 8 years as the city recorder. Rucker takes over the city manager role from Kenneth Dunavant, who served as a part-time city manager for Tennessee Ridge...

Brian Koral has been selected as the new city manager for East Ridge after being unanimously approved by the East Ridge City Council. Koral succeeds longtime East Ridge City Manager J. Scott Miller, who retired in February following 45 years in government services. Koral has nearly 20 years of...

Veronica McGraw has been selected as deputy administration of Chattanooga’s Department of Community Development. McGraw brings nearly 30 years of experience across the nonprofit, private, and public sectors to the position, and she previously served as bureau chief of program operations for...

Jeff Damron has been selected as the interim city manager for Tullahoma following the departure of Jason Quick in February. Damron has served as the deputy director of Tullahoma Parks and Recreation since June 2022. He also serves as a board member of the Be Yoga Strong Foundation and has held...

Drew Muirhead has been named the new director of water services for the city of Brentwood. Muirhead will take over the position from Chris Milton, who is retiring after more than 20 years with Brentwood’s Water Services Department. A Tennessee-licensed professional engineer, Muirhead has served as...