Education:

Graduate - Byars Hall High School
Graduate - University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Business Associations:

Partner - Naifeh Realty Company

Organizations:

Former President and Member of Board of Directors of Covington-Tipton County Chamber of Commerce
Member - South Tipton County Chamber of Commerce and Brownsville/Haywood County Chamber of Commerce
Past President of the Covington Rotary Club
Past President and Member of the Tipton County University of Tennessee Alumni Association
Board of Governors and Directors, ALSAC - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
American Legion Post #67
Member - Tipton County Veterans Council

Military:

Served in the U.S. Army Infantry - Honorable Discharge - 1st Lieutenant

Politics:

Member of the Tennessee General Assembly (House of Representatives) since 1974
Elected Speaker of the House - 97th, 98th, 99th, 100th, 101st, 102nd, 103rd, 104th, and 105th General Assembly
Elected Majority Leader of the Tennessee House of Representatives for the 94th, 95th, and 96th   General Assembly
Elected Majority Floor Leader for the 90th, 91st, 92nd and 93rd General Assembly
Named Legislator of the Year by the following organizations:

• TN Association of Human Resource Agencies
• TN District Attorneys General Conference
• TN School Boards Association
• TN Court Clerks Association
• TN Sheriff's Association
• TN County Officials Association
• TN Business Roundtable
• TN Development District (1996, 1997)
• TN Truckers Association
• Chiefs of Police
• District Attorney Generals Conference
• TN Organization of School Superintendents (2006)
• TN Supreme Court Appreciation Award (2006)
• TN School Boards Association Legislative Award (2007)

Received an award from TN State Employees Association honoring him for long-term legislative   support of the Association - July 1990
Received Harry Burns and Good Guys Awards from Women's Political Caucus - May 1993
Received National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Leadership Award - August 1990
Received William M. Bulger Excellence in State Legislative Leadershipo Award (2006)

Past Chairman - Rural West Tennessee Democratic Caucus
Past Chairman - House Ethics Committee
Past Chairman - House Rules Committee
Past Vice-Chairman - Select Oversight Committee on Corrections
Chairman - State Building Commission
Member - House/Senate Joint Management Committee
Past President & Member of Executive Committee - National Speaker's Conference

Personal:

Born - June 16, 1939 - Tipton County, Tennessee
Three Children; Six Grandchildren
Member - St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Covington, TN
Resides in Tipton County, Tennessee
Represents Tennessee House District #81, Tipton & Haywood Counties