| Having been fortunate enough to spend over 40 years as a small business owner, pharmacist, and farmer in Sumner County, I've learned first-hand what our families, small businesses, farms, and healthcare systems are facing as a result of difficult economic conditions and overburdensome regulations.
Born and raised in Sumner County, I attended public schools before attending Lipscomb University and then graduating from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. After getting my graduate degree, I returned home to help run the farm and serve patients from behind the pharmacy counter.
For 42 years, I've helped customers and patients in the Sumner County area as a pharmacist. I've had the pleasure of co-owning Perkin's Drugs, Springfield Drugs, Southside Drugs, Gallatin Drugs, McHaile Drugs, and Atrium Pharmacy. Since healthcare affects the lives of all Tennesseans, I've done my best to help improve the quality and price of such care by serving as Chairman of the Tennessee Pharmacy Coop, Vice-Chair for the American Pharmacy Cooperative Inc., previously serving as a board member of the Sumner County Health Department, a member of the Tennessee Pharmacist Association, and a member of the National Community Pharmacists' Association.
Aside from being a pharmacist, since 1975 I've owned Haile Farms, a cattle farm serving middle Tennessee. During this time, I've also been a member of the Tennessee Cattleman's Association and the Tennessee Farm Bureau.
In addition to farming and being a pharmacist, I have been blessed to be able to serve our community in a variety of roles- as a church elder, deacon, and Sunday school teacher in the Church of Christ, board member of Christian Towers, board member of World Christian Broadcasting, Paul Harris Fellow Rotarian, President of the Gallatin Rotary Club at Noon and the Morning Club, Leadership Sumner alumnus, President of the Southeast Sumner Community Fire Department, and as an Eagle Scout. In 2010, I was unanimously appointed by the Sumner County Commission to fill the vacant 18th District Senate seat. I was elected in 2012 and reelected in 2016 and 2020.
Since serving in the Senate, I have been honored with the following awards- The Arc of Tennessee Legislative Award Recipient - 2018, Distinguished Gallatin High School Alumnus - 2018, Tennessee CASA Association - Legislator of the Year - 2017, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry Award- Tennessee Champion of Commerce - 2015. Additionally, I have been recognized with a perfect voting record for supporting small businesses by the National Federation of Independent Business organization. |