BusinessTN

Power is fleeting. This year’s installment of Business Tennessee’s list of the 100 most powerful people in the Volunteer State bears that out. Culled from dozens of conversations with top businesspeople, politicians and community movers and shakers, and teamed with Business Tennessee’s own ever-watchful eye on changes occurring throughout the year in the state’s power structure, we present once again the fruits of both journalistic investigation and our well-connected readership’s keen awareness of who’s really powerful in Tennessee.

The results? There are 27 new names on this year’s list. But despite such turnover, one thing stays the same. The Power 100 remains a “who’s who” of individuals from business, government, philanthropy, religion, education, the media and the nonprofit sector, all of whom know how to wield their talents to bring about profound change in our state.

No.100 Phil Fulmer Head football coach University of Tennessee, Knoxville In 2005, had his first losing season in 13-year tenure at U.T. Followed with what recruiting analysts call the lowest-rated recruiting class of the Fulmer era. Nonetheless, Fulmer still leads a premier football program near and dear to the hearts of many, many Tennesseans, attracting in excess of 100,000 fans to Neyland Stadium on Saturdays in the fall and creating an economic boom for Knoxville.

No.99 Glenn Reynolds Founder • Instapundit.com Among the founding fathers of the blogosphere and perhaps its most popular commentator, read even by the White House. An Internet law professor at U.T.-Knoxville whose blog boasts daily readership that is higher than the Web traffic of any mainstream daily in Tennessee.

No.98 John Wilder Lieutenant Governor • State of Tennessee Wealthy lawyer, landowner, bank director and octogenarian one heartbeat away from being Tennessee’s governor. Bipartisan coalition of supporters among state Senators has made him the longest-serving Senate Speaker in the U.S. despite now being a member of the minority Democrats. Though he has limited control of Senate decisions, he does hold one key power—appointments—which he exercised to great effect, granting minority Democrats in the Upper Chamber of the 104th General Assembly control over its influential finance committee.

No.97 Mark McNeely Founding Partner McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations Sounding board/consiglieri to numerous prominent politicians and businesspeople across Tennessee. Knoxville-born former journalist and Al Gore campaign staffer who founded Tennessee’s largest public relations firm, which is among the largest independent PR firms in the Southeast. MPF, which has numerous close ties to the Bredesen administration (Deputy Gov. Dave Cooley, #27, is a former firm principal), is considered the go-to firm on Capitol Hill in the eyes of Tennessee’s business community. The firm handled workers comp reform.

No.96 Monroe Carell Jr. Chairman & CEO • Central Parking Founded company that now has 18,000 employees and operates nearly 3,400 parking facilities (more than 1.5 million parking spaces) in 37 states and around the world. Vanderbilt University trustee. Namesake of the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, to which he donated $20 million.

No.95 Hallerin Hill Radio Host • NewsTalk99 WNOX AM/FM Influential conservative talk radio presence in Knoxville and East Tennessee. Flexes the power of celebrity daily across the radio waves. Uplifting, religious voice on radio dial that spreads influence in a tone quite in contrast to most angry talk radio.

No.94 William C. Rhodes President & CEO• AutoZone Took over leadership of nation’s leading retailer of auto parts and accessories last year. Operates more than 3,600 stores in U.S. with nearly 30,000 full-time employees. Fortune 500 company had $5.6 billion in sales last year. A member of Memphis Tomorrow, an exclusive consortium of 24 elite Memphis CEOs focused on getting traction on the city’s biggest projects and problems.

No.93 Frank Ricks Principal • Looney Ricks Kiss Founder of architecture powerhouse with offices in Memphis, Nashville, Florida and New Jersey. Company designed the Stax Museum, the FedExForum and AutoZone Park in Memphis. Tennessee’s foremost proponent of “smart growth,” who routinely bends the ears of luminaries like Gov. Bredesen on strategies to make Tennessee a national model for preserving its physical character and heritage.

No.92 Bill Dunavant Chairman Emeritus • Dunavant Enterprises Stepped down last year as day-to-day operator of the cotton empire he built that spans five continents. A titan of Memphis and Tennessee commerce now focused on land development and real estate in retirement.

No.91 Ray Bell President • Bell Construction One of the state’s biggest contractors. Projects landed in past year include Nashville landmark Demonbreun Street bridge re-construction and $151 million prison in Wartburg. Longtime Democratic political force who enjoys personal relationships with most top state officials and lawmakers. Steadily transitioning company control to able second-in-command, Keith Pyle.

No.90 Autry O.V. “Pete” DeBusk Chairman & CEO • DeRoyal Industries Powell-based businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist and innovator who founded huge medical equipment and surgical supplies company that now employs more than 2,000 in 38 countries. Member of 17-member Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. Harrogate-based Lincoln Memorial University graduate turned board chairman who recently provided funding for a $15 million College of Osteopathic Medicine, the first such school accredited by the American Osteopathic Association in Tennessee and one of just 20 nationally. Program will address the Appalachian doctor shortage. Big fundraiser for Gov. Bredesen in East Tennessee.

No.89 G. Staley Cates President • Southeastern Asset Management With O. Mason Hawkins, runs Memphis-based money management/investment group, which manages more than $30 billion in several Longleaf mutual funds and another 220 individual accounts. Also, with Pitt Hyde (#2) comprises the primary local ownership group of the Memphis Grizzlies NBA franchise. Instrumental in bringing the franchise to town, quietly forging a relationship with NBA commissioner David Stern and ending the city’s three-decade futility trying to attract pro sports. Active on various local and national civic boards.

No.88 Tommy Bragg Mayor • City of Murfreesboro Elected mayor of Tennessee’s sixth largest and fastest-growing city (81,000) in 2002, Bragg stunningly faces no opposition in his April re-election bid. Chaired 2005 Tennessee Municipal League (TML) Streamlined Sales Tax Study Committee, whose opposition to implementation influenced Gov. Bredesen’s decision to postpone it. Son of immensely popular former state Rep. John Bragg, longtime House Finance chair and author of the nation’s first child seatbelt law.M

No.87 Paul Summers Attorney General • State of Tennessee Tennessee’s top consumer advocate. The state’s chief legal advisor, shadowing many legislative issues. Prosecutes all criminal cases in appellate courts. Somerville native ends an eight-year term later this year, and given the recent turnover on the Tennessee Supreme Court, which appoints the AG, a newly seated majority could replace him. AG’s office is also currently the target of a concerted effort by a bloc of lawmakers to make the position an elected one, which they believe would lead to greater advocacy.

No.86 Phil Trenary CEO • Pinnacle Airlines Runs publicly traded regional partner to Northwest Airlines, employing around 1,000 in Memphis and more than 3,000 total. Transformed the carrier from a small operator serving the South into one of the nation’s largest and best performing regional airlines, serving 100 locations in the U.S. and Canada. Member, National Commission on Small Community Air Service, reporting to the U.S. Senate on ideas for improving air service to rural and thinly populated areas. A mover and shaker in Memphis, including service on Memphis Tomorrow where he focuses in part on the push to restore Memphis’ musical heritage and reputation.

No.85 Gary Shorb CEO • Methodist Hospital With 10,249 employees, Methodist is the second largest Memphis employer. The seven-hospital system—licensed as one with 1,849 beds—makes it the third largest hospital in the country. Immediate past chairman of the Memphis Regional Chamber who was in that role when International Paper made its decision to relocate to Memphis. Serves on numerous local boards, including Biotech Foundation and Civil Rights Museum.

No.84 Brian Markison CEO • King Pharmaceuticals At the helm of the state’s most important pharmaceutical concern that has endured a seemingly neverending series of problems, including an aborted takeover bid by Mylan Labs last year. Under Markison, named CEO in 2004, financial results are bouncing back for one of northeast Tennessee’s most important companies, which employs more than 2,700.

No.83 John Rich Country music artist, songwriter and producer Turned Music Row’s sound on its head in 2005. Co-founder of MuzikMafia, a music company/fraternity of artists that infused the country sound with rock and rap elements, rattling the cages of Music Row’s establishment while generating significant CD sales and making country music both fun and “cool” again. Penned multiple top 10 cuts, alongside a big-selling album of his own with partner “Big” Kenny Alphin. Co-produced Gretchen Wilson’s album, co-writing many of the songs, including “Redneck Woman.” Grew up in Clarksville.

No.82 Henry Luken Chairman • Covista Communications Founded long distance company Telco Communications in 1993, selling his interest in 1997 for $230 million. Purchased 30% of telecommunications service provider Covista, relocating it to Chattanooga. Has equity investments in fast-growing Knoxville-based Jewelry Television and Washington-based Christensen Yachts, manufacturers of $30 to $40 million yachts. Recently purchased 36 office and retail buildings from Bob Corker (#48) in one of the largest commercial real estate transactions in Chattanooga history.

No.81 Jimmy Duncan Congressman • U.S. House of Representatives Recently formed his first political action committee for the purposes of making a run at chairmanship of the House Transportation Committee in 2007. Achieving it would be very important to Tennessee. Well-groomed via transportation subcommittee chairmanships and accumulated seniority to assume post. Though not a member of the Appropriations Committee, Duncan’s longstanding and tight relationships with many of its members makes him nearly as influential. Unpopular stands the Republican took on Iraq (he voted against going to war due to concerns about cost and the apparent lack of an exit strategy) are now the very questions other GOP congressmen are beginning to ask.

No.80 Ron Jones Chairman • Tennessee Regulatory Authority Recently elevated from among four directors to lead the state agency overseeing telecommunications and the utility sector in Tennessee, setting the rates and service standards of privately owned telephone, natural gas, electric and water utilities. Harlem native who spent six years as TRA’s senior policy advisor before being named a director.

No.79 Mac Crawford Chairman, President & CEO • Caremark Rx Heads Nashville-based pharmacy benefit manager, which he relocated to Nashville in 2003, arguably setting off a domino effect of corporate relocations. One of America’s most successful turnaround specialists who took a worthless practice management business and forged one of the largest processors of prescriptions, which was recently named to BusinessWeek magazine’s 50 best-performing companies. Announced plans in 2005 to open a Nashville customer care center employing 600. In January 2006, exercised stock options netting $94.5 million.

No.78 Charlie Anderson Jr. Senior Executive • Anderson News Co. Former U.T.-Knoxville football player runs one of the top U.S. magazine distributors, which employs 10,000 and reaches 45 states. Also runs Books-A-Million bookstore chain, third largest in America. Both are primarily family-owned. Led Knoxville-based company’s expansion into music distribution in 1994. Anderson Merchandisers is now the nation’s largest distributor of pre-recorded music. World’s #1 retailer, Wal-Mart, is his client. Anderson is also the immediate past chairman (and current member) of the Country Music Association (CMA), which in 2005 moved its awards show out of Nashville for the first time.

No.77 Waymon Hickman Founder & Chairman First Farmers & Merchants Bank Though still Maury County’s Godfather whose Columbia-based, six-county bank, with 20 branches and $814 million in assets just keeps growing, Hickman has steadily stepped away from the day-to-day and decision-making at the bank. Nonetheless, he is a confidant to three decades of Tennessee governors (including Bredesen), and also well connected with fellow Columbia-based institution, the Farm Bureau.

No.76 Bill Evans Director & CEO • St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital At the helm of one of Tennessee’s most recognized and lauded institutions. Leads internationally significant research hospital with daily operating costs of more than $1 million, working to find cures and save children with cancer.

No.75 Colin Reed Chairman & CEO • Gaylord Entertainment Co. Leads the state’s most important entertainment and tourism concern. Company owns the Grand Ole Opry, WSM-AM radio brand and the Opryland Resort and Convention Center. Former Harrah’s executive who has repositioned publicly traded Gaylord, shedding numerous non-core assets including its former stake in the Nashville Predators and has focused the company on the hospitality market nationwide, where it is building and expanding rapidly.

No.74 Harry Jacobson Vice Chancellor of Health Affairs Vanderbilt University Heads Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the largest private employer in Middle Tennessee. The 658-bed Vanderbilt University Hospital, which admits roughly 34,000 patients a year, generates about $1.3 billion in revenue a year. Significant individual shareholder of Nashville-based dialysis services company Renal Care Group, which he co-founded and which sold to Fresenius AG for $3.5 billion last year.

No.73 Bob Cooper Chief Legal Counsel • Gov. Bredesen Administration Bredesen’s advisor as well as his eyes and ears on Capitol Hill. Key to Governor’s grappling with TennCare last year, a process inundated with bureaucratic and legal hoops to jump through. A recent Supreme Court applicant who may now get a post given two recent retirements from bench. If recommended by the Tennessee Judicial Selection Commission, Cooper’s boss Bredesen would almost certainly swear him in to office.

No.72 Ron Littlefield Mayor • City of Chattanooga Veteran Chattanooga city councilman elected mayor last year. Primary focus is improving city’s jobs picture. Urban planner by profession (and former Chattanooga public works director) not ruling out the use of eminent domain to acquire private water supplier Tennessee-American Water Co.

No.71 Barbara Hyde Philanthropist Go-to philanthropist in Memphis. With husband Pitt (#2), comprises half of one of Memphis’ most wealthy and generous couples. Hyde Family Foundation contributes millions annually to Bluff City causes. Part owner of the Memphis Grizzlies basketball team, which she helped recruit to the city.

No.70 Dennis Bottorf Chairman • Council Capital Management Nashville venture capital executive who is chairman of the Tennessee Lottery Corp. Recently appointed by President Bush as member of TVA board, which provides power to 158 power distributors. Vice chairman, Vanderbilt University Board of Trust. Former chairman of both AmSouth Bancorp and First American National Bank. Sits on boards of Dollar General and Ingram Industries. Led fundraising effort for new downtown Nashville symphony hall.

No.69 Gordon Bonnyman Executive Director • Tennessee Justice Center The man blamed by Gov. Bredesen for legal maneuvering and failure to compromise that blocked proposed reform efforts and led to massive cuts to the TennCare program. Though TennCare is no more, Bredesen’s current exploration of ways to tweak the new landscape for health care coverage in Tennessee will probably entail Bonnyman’s consent. For more than 30 years, Bonnyman’s nonprofit justice center has worked on behalf of the poor, representing them in corridors of power they could not reach otherwise. That fact doesn’t change in a post TennCare Tennessee. Nonetheless, this hero of social justice (who in a previous life almost single-handedly forced Tennessee to reform its violent prison system) plummets down the power list following last year’s gutting of TennCare.

No.68 John Gregory Political contributor Founder and former executive of King Pharmaceuticals who poured more than $1 million in personal wealth into state legislative races in support of conservative Republican candidates favoring constitutional amendments on morality issues during the last election cycle. Though recent ethics legislation attempted to limit the size of individual contributions from big-money political donors, there are still methods Gregory, founder and president of the Tennessee Conservative PAC, could employ to inject massive sums of personal money into the system. Influence could be hobbled, though, if lawmakers address such loopholes during the current legislative session.

No.67 Matt Kisber Commissioner Tennessee Dept. of Economic & Community Development Gatekeeper of corporate incentives program in the Volunteer State. Pushed through significant new legislative enhancements bolstering state’s incentives tool kit since assuming post. Point person doing bulk of face time in negotiating with top businesspeople like Carlos Ghosn (#10) around the world in an effort to spur economic growth throughout Tennessee. Former Jackson lawmaker who chaired powerful House Finance Ways & Means Committee and who maintains personal capital with House Democratic leadership.

No.66 Dennis Vonderfecht President & CEO • Mountain States Health Alliance Heads Johnson City-based nonprofit hospital system with 10 hospitals and 5,000 employees providing care across a 28-county area. During tenure has expanded partnerships with ETSU and city resulting in the creation of The Children’s Hospital, Regional Perinatal Center, Regional Transplant Center, and the Med Tech Regional Business Park, among other developments. Immediate past chairman of the influential Tennessee Hospital Association (THA). Heavily invested in numerous local civic organizations.

No.65 Johnny Hayes Democratic Political Consultant Has a hand in everything that occurs in the Democratic Party in Tennessee. Close to Gov. Bredesen but well-placed outside administration. Given lack of a real challenge to Bredesen in upcoming election, Hayes’ prowess is less conspicuous at the current juncture. Headed finance committee of Bredesen’s gubernatorial campaign. National finance chairman for Al Gore in 2000. Former TVA director. Former state Commissioner of Economic and Community Development.

No.64 Susan Richardson Williams Principal • SRW & Associates University of Tennessee board member whom President Bush recently appointed to the TVA board. Williams will be the first person ever to hold those two powerful roles simultaneously. TVA board must grapple with approximately $23 billion debt and rising energy costs while supplying electricity to 8.5 million people in the Southeast and managing the Tennessee River system. Knoxville public relations firm owner and former Tennessee GOP state party chairman. Two-time state commissioner of personnel who in political terms knows where the bodies are buried.

No.63 Steve Reynolds President & CEO • Baptist Memorial Healthcare Corp. Head of Memphis-based system of 15 hospitals in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi, with nearly 2,600 beds. Oversees 13,000 employees. Total community benefit of BMHCC in 2005 rose to $324 million, including $143 million in charity and uncompensated care. Serves on many national boards, including Memphis-based Ducks Unlimited.

No.62 Lois Deberry House Speaker Pro Tempore Tennessee General Assembly First African-American and first female House Speaker pro tempore in state history. In that position, gets a vote on every committee in the House (if she wants it). House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh’s (#7) power source due to her ability to deliver him the black legislative caucus votes he needs to remain speaker. Stock fell after admission she accepted $200 from an undercover FBI agent at a casino last year. The House Ethics Committee voted against pursuing an investigation.

No.61 Claude Ramsey Mayor • Hamilton County Recent announcement he would run again for reelection immediately scattered to the wind plans being forged by several promising candidates. A lead voice of mayors statewide on the proposal to reformulate the state’s funding mechanism for school systems. Working to attract a major manufacturing operation to Enterprise South industrial park after serving as a driving force for the transfer of the 1,200-acre property from the U.S. Army. The park could one day generate more than 8,000 new jobs and a payroll exceeding $240 million a year. Secured federal funding for the new Center for Entrepreneurial Growth.

No.60 Richard Land President • The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission Named “God’s Lobbyist” on Time magazine’s list of 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America, where he appeared with Billy and Franklin Graham. Tight with Bush White House, helping shape the President’s agenda. Chief ideologue at the Southern Baptist Convention, whose ultraconservative course for the flock of 16 million helped the President get reelected.

No.59 Fred Decosimo Principal • Joseph Decosimo & Co. Partner in one of the nation’s 100 largest accounting firms, as well as an investment bank with $17 billion in completed transactions. Like his father Joe before him, a force in political fundraising and community involvement. One of the few Tennesseans who attained Pioneer or Ranger status with the 2004 Bush campaign, helping raise at least $100,000. Decosimo firm regularly does business with the Cincinnati investment firm of Bush’s chief fund-raiser, Chattanooga native Mercer Reynolds.

No.58 Charles Farmer Mayor • City of Jackson Following a 17-year reign in office, serving out last year of current term without plans to run again. Former Memphis Commercial Appeal bureau chief turned Madison County attorney under whose guidance West Tennessee’s second largest city has surged past 60,000 residents. Brought sports to Jackson, luring the minor league baseball Chicks from Memphis and the women’s NAIA college basketball tournament from Missouri. Helped consolidate government services. Well connected on Tennessee’s Capitol Hill, Farmer has also served the Tennessee Municipal League (TML) in every way imaginable.

No.57 Jack Turner President • Jack B. Turner & Associates One of the highest-profile insurance brokers in America. Life member of the Million Dollar Roundtable, a high rollers’ club for insurance underwriters. Founding president of Leadership Clarksville. The most prolific entrepreneur and philanthropist in Clarksville, Tennessee’s fifth largest city, which incorporates a portion of the Fort Campbell Army base. Civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army, Turner has been his city’s most active lobbyist for base funding.

No.56 Jeff Wadsworth Director • Oak Ridge National Laboratory Perhaps the only recruiter in Tennessee whose work (recruiting scientists) is more important than that of Phil Fulmer’s (#100). Heads globally significant facilities that house the world’s fastest computer (The Cray Supercomputer) and the world’s largest science project (the $1.4 billion Spallation Neutron Source). With Wadsworth in the captain’s chair, ORNL has emerged as America’s most relevant national Lab.

No.55 Gilbert Patterson Presiding Bishop • Church of God in Christ Chief apostle of the largest Pentecostal denomination in America. In all, COGIC boasts six million members in 54 countries. Patterson, whose COGIC convocations draw 50,000 plus believers to Memphis, is a power broker with city officials. Founded the 12,000-member Temple of Deliverance and internationally viewed television programming Bountiful Blessings Ministries. Battling prostate cancer, Patterson is nearing retirement.

No.54 Bill Baxter Chairman • Tennessee Valley Authority Former full-time TVA director now first among equals on new nine-member part-time board overseeing the massive utility, which in 2005 was named best in the nation for economic development efforts. Former state ECD chief who from a knowledge base is light years ahead of his new TVA board colleagues. An expert in issues like air quality and nuclear power. Recently signed off on double-digit rate hike on heels of 7.5% hike in July 2005. Still owns Holston Gases as well as several hotels out West.

No.53 E.J. Mitchell Editor • The Tennessean Awakened a sleeping giant at 1100 Broadway since coming from Detroit last year. Shaping Gov. Phil Bredesen’s policy through paper’s investigative work. From uncovering document shredding in sexual harassment cases involving top officials to cronyism rampant in the Tennessee Highway Patrol—which culminated in the resignations of THP head Lynn Pitts and Safety Commissioner Fred Phillips—Mitchell is flexing the people’s muscle at the state’s largest circulation daily newspaper. Has altered the tenor of Capitol Hill reporting across Tennessee and returned the sting of moral authority to his paper’s editorial page.

No.52 Jerry Winters Lobbyist • Tennessee Education Association Chief lobbyist for 40,000 teachers, with a seat at the table of every significant public education policy discussion on Capitol Hill. Ethics legislation putting more space between lobbyists and lawmakers won’t dampen Winters’ effectiveness as he is the face of an enormous voting bloc and PAC contributor. A Republican majority would hamper his effectiveness, as is now being evidenced in GOP-controlled Senate proceedings.

No.51 David McMahan Lobbyist • McMahan Winstead Government Relations Capitol Hill’s most effective lobbyist—at least in the past. The new landscape for lobbying in Tennessee following recent passage of ethics legislation makes it unclear who will be successful or how going forward. One important feature of the lobbyist’s trade wasn’t altered however—the ability to disperse campaign contributions from political action committees. McMahan is the king of PAC money on the Hill, with a long client list that includes State Farm, Philip Morris, Dell and the Tennessee Titans.

No.50 Deborah Tate Commissioner • Federal Communications Commission Murfreesboro native recently appointed by President Bush to five-member FCC board fulfilling term of Michael Powell. Former Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA) director who now regulates television and radio broadcasters and telephone and Internet service nationally, making judgment calls on issues including the BellSouth/AT&T merger, television indecency, how many media outlets an individual company can own in a single community and methods of subsidizing greater broadband access.

No.49 Bruce Hartmann President and Publisher • Knoxville News-Sentinel Played leadership role in persuading Scripps to construct state-of-the-art, $50 million KNS facility in Knoxville’s center city, anchoring a revitalization there. Chaired Tennessee Theatre Foundation efforts, raising $24 million in restoration funding. It’s now the most visited theater (including the Opry House) in the state. Recent past chairman of the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership. Board member, Knoxville Tourism and Sports Development Corp., South College, Regal Entertainment foundation. Friend and confidant to Gov. Bredesen who aided governor’s surprising win in Knox County in 2002 election.

No.48 Bob Corker GOP Senatorial candidate Former mayor of Chattanooga who recently sold off nearly 80% of his business assets. Remains on the list, however, given that he has by far raised the most money among Republican aspirants in the 2006 senatorial race, the chief barometer of future success in modern-day politics.

No.47 Bill Sansom Owner, chairman & CEO • H.T. Hackney Co. Buys a potato chip company like the average Tennessean buys lunch. Owns and operates the state’s second largest private company, a white hot diversified company mainly in wholesale grocery distribution with nearly $4 billion in revenues, 2,800 employees and 20,000 clients in 19 states. Among those selected by President Bush to serve on the newly configured TVA board. Sits on boards of First Horizon and Martin Marietta. Former state commissioner of both transportation and finance and administration. Campaign chairman for Bill Frist’s successful 1994 Senate run. Former U.T.-Knoxville board member.

No.46 Mike Curb Owner • Curb Records No one on Music Row has gone so far out of his or her way to put a permanent mark on Nashville as a whole. Donations to Belmont University (the arena and music business school are named after him) alone secure Curb’s Nashville legacy. Independently battles the New York and Los Angeles-led global record companies and is more than competitive in the country genre. Curb artists include Tim McGraw. Former Lt. Gov. of California who gives generously to Tennessee Republican causes.

No.45 Paul Stanton President• East Tennessee State University Flexed considerable strength and fortitude in recently culminated push lobbying state bureaucracies and governor to start freestanding college of pharmacy at ETSU, having raised enough startup cash to establish the program. Creation will add $30 million per year and 250 jobs to area economy, and end the pharmacist shortage in upper East Tennessee. Tackled similar doctor shortage in previous ETSU gig. Largely responsible for seamless relationships between ETSU, Johnson City and the overall region.

No.44 Shirley C. Raines President • University of Memphis Bells native now heading two of the most important institutions in Memphis, the nearly 21,000-student university and the Memphis Regional Chamber. The first woman to head either institution. Has the confidence of top power brokers in Memphis in ongoing push to remove university from Board of Regents system, making it more a flagship institution with board and foundation of its own.

No.43 John Tanner Congressman • U.S. House of Representatives Force across broad swath of West Tennessee. Secured funding at long last for new slack water port landing in Lake County, which will create thousands of jobs in depressed upper West Tennessee. Also fended off military base closures in district, including at Milan Arsenal. Founder, congressional Blue Dog Coalition, powerful group of moderate Democrats in Washington. Member of powerful House Ways and Means Committee. President Bush’s recent proposal to create a commission to examine the full impact of Baby Boom retirements on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid mimics a Tanner-sponsored bill.

No.42 A C Wharton Jr. Mayor • Shelby County Popular, charismatic leader whose qualifying papers for re-election to a second term in office were recently signed by all of Shelby County’s municipal mayors. Trying mightily to address Shelby County’s perilous financial situation by lobbying state lawmakers on various proposals aimed at enabling Tennessee cities and counties the authority to enact new taxes such as real estate transfer taxes. House Democratic leadership is showing support for greater local control.

No.41 Bill Haslam Mayor • City of Knoxville Clamped down on city spending, turning focus on growth to business recruitment and attracting investors downtown. Former Pilot Corp. and Saks executive employing business-like approach in running the city, to good effect. Theater and waterfront projects he has spearheaded look promising. Also deserves credit for greater Knoxville area recently being named America’s ninth hottest place to do business by influential trade journal Expansion Management magazine, up from #14 in 2004, the first year it cracked the top 50.

No.40 Mike Ragsdale Mayor • Knox County An education-focused mayor who has gone outside the box to forge innovative school improvement initiatives in Knox County—which it would behoove the state bureaucracy to note and mimic. Recently elected president of the association of county mayors in Tennessee. A viable gubernatorial candidate down the road, even as early as 2008. Also among those deserving credit for greater Knoxville area recently cracking top 10 list of America’s hottest places to do business as determined by influential trade journal Expansion Management magazine. (The area wasn’t even on the list of 363 metro areas two years ago.)

No.39 Steve Gill Conservative talk show commentator Supertalk 99.7 WTN-Nashville The man with a 100,000-watt microphone and with whom no legislator wants to tangle. Largely credited with sparking horn-honking assault on Capitol Hill that helped kill the state income tax in 2001.When certain elements of the General Assembly want to get their message out, Gill is the first person they call. Silver-tongued former congressional candidate and oft-mentioned future gubernatorial or senatorial candidate who recently filled in for a two-week period for G. Gordon Liddy on his nationally syndicated show.

No.38 Pat Summit Lady Vols basketball coach University of Tennessee, Knoxville Winningest coach in college basketball history (men’s or women’s game). Passed 900 wins in January. A living legend who could easily rise to elected office—if she were interested. Cheatham County native built the template not just for income-producing women’s college game nationally but the pro women’s game as well. Her program is an economic force for the university, Knoxville and the state and a significant part of Tennessee’s national and international brand identity.

No.37 Jimmy Haslam CEO • Pilot Corp. Leading Tennessee’s largest privately held company, Pilot Corp., 50% owner of the nation’s largest travel center operator. Under Jimmy Haslam’s leadership, Pilot has grown to more than 270 locations and become the nation’s 11th largest restaurant franchisee. Reunited company with Marathon and purchased Williams Travel Centers. Steadily supplanting father “Big Jim” (#8) as both the chief business and political fundraising force in the region.

No.36 Kim McMillan House Majority Leader • Tennessee General Assembly Chairman of House Rules committee, dictating how work transpires on Capitol Hill. Largely does House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh’s work in the referral of bills, determining where they go to pass or die in committee. Clarksville representative handles Gov. Bredesen’s entire legislative package in the House, rallying the Democratic Caucus around it. A hard-nosed lawyer by trade with whom political opponents do not enjoy wrestling. Working to put some teeth in Tennessee’s equal pay law by statutorily permitting women to sue not just for lost wages but also for punitive damages.

No.35 John “Thunder” Thornton Founder • Thunder Enterprises Recent land swap with TVA opens up development on Nickajack Lake in Marion County. Deal moves Hixson-based Thornton to the head of the class among state’s private developers spearheading Tennessee’s retirement industry. Behind numerous real estate deals in Tennessee and throughout the western U.S. Member of the U.T. board of trustees who gives generously to the school, particularly the athletics department.

No.34 Julius Johnson Chief administrative officer/lobbyist Tennessee Farm Bureau Steers in Columbia-based Farm Bureau the most powerful lobby watching over the state’s legislative process. Represents, to lawmakers, the voice of the largest Farm Bureau Federation in the U.S. based on membership and one of the top insurance companies in Tennessee.

No.33 Marsha Blackburn Congressman • U.S. House of Representatives Media darling in national Republican circles. Sits on Energy and Commerce Committee with the broadest jurisdiction in federal government. Credited with major role getting new federal deduction of state sales tax on books. Represents geographic swath stretching from Memphis to Williamson County to Ft. Campbell. A viable future senatorial or gubernatorial candidate. Maintained a less conspicuous profile this year than last.

No.32 Scott Niswonger Philanthropist Founded truckload and cargo company Landair in 1981. Retired as an officer last year. Top philanthropist in Greene County whose name is everywhere there and throughout upper East Tennessee. Built Tusculum College’s sportsplex, bringing entertainment to the area through new baseball stadium and minor league affiliation with the Houston Astros while simultaneously boosting Tusculum’s sagging enrollment.

No.31 Dave Ramsey Radio/TV show host & author • The Dave Ramsey Show Recently expanded empire to network television with a money makeover reality series pilot for CBS. Bestows money management wisdom on more than 230 stations nationwide, as well as XM and Sirius Radio. Also heads Financial Peace University, a 13-week course that counts more than 150,000 families as graduates. Influence in changing people’s lives through financial advice is hard to quantify but unmistakable.

No.30 Dave Goetz Commissioner Dept. of Finance & Administration, State of Tennessee Leads sprawling state department responsible for state finances. Writes the state budget. Former reporter turned business association lobbyist as responsible as anyone for making workers comp reform a front burner issue for his boss. Arguably Bredesen’s best lobbyist at the current juncture given the relatively recent departures of Bredesen’s top two in-house lobbyists. With Anna Windrow and Mack Cooper out of the picture, Goetz’ voice is no doubt heard even more by his boss.

No.29 Carol Johnson Superintendent • Memphis City Schools Unusually popular schools director flexing her muscle more than ever with recent proposal to close eight schools, build five new, redraw feeder zones and de-emphasize busing—all in an effort to save operating cash. Fisk University graduate runs district of more than 118,000 students and 178 schools with 15,000 employees. Heralded for gains in student proficiency, staff improvement and community partnerships in an urban district rife with obstacles to success.

No.28 Gordon Gee Chancellor • Vanderbilt University Presides over a $2.5 billion enterprise and a leader in the state’s research community. With 20,000 employees, Vanderbilt is also the largest Tennessee-based private employer of state residents. Working to revolutionize the NCAA’s athletic eligibility requirements and establish penalties for schools that can’t graduate athletes. Serves on the boards of top public companies.

No.27 Dave Cooley Deputy Governor • State of Tennessee Public relations/political strategy whiz described as “operations CEO” to the “visionary chairman” status of his boss, Gov. Bredesen. Star power waned in 2005 following a barrage of negative press coverage involving a ticket fixing incident and Cooley’s alleged role in cronyism in the Tennessee Highway Patrol. But Bredesen responded to such reports by publicly backing Cooley, a Rockwood native and graduate of Tennessee Tech. That Cooley could withstand that heat and retain his job speaks to his power.

No.26 Zach Wamp Congressman • U.S. House of Representatives The only appropriator in Tennessee’s congressional delegation with a vote on where federal money goes. Charismatic leader with cult-like following among leaders in East Tennessee. Energy behind the Tennessee Valley Technology Corridor, a business development phenomenon. A developing powerhouse in the House striving for a leadership role, a fact evidenced by recent plans to run for House Majority Whip, the party’s third-ranked post. Clearly intends to reach brass ring given recent decision to abandon campaign promise to serve a limited number of congressional terms.

No.25 Brian Ferguson CEO • Eastman Chemical Caretaker of Kingsport company’s future relevance in the plastics and polymers market. The company employs 12,000 worldwide—7,500 in Kingsport. Challenge is to find 2,000 new hires by 2010 to replace expected retirees. Also president of Tri-Cities Economic Development Alliance, aimed at attracting 7,200 new high-paying jobs to the Tri-Cities region.

No.24 Jim Ayers Philanthropist Built wealth in nursing home business before starting Lexington-based FirstBank. Real estate tycoon also heavily invested in automotive and health care sectors. Through Ayers Foundation, helps provide scholarships to every high school graduate in Decatur County (and in another high school on the county line). Working to expand concept as a model across state. Donated $5 million to West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation, allowing Jackson-Madison County General Hospital to expand pediatric services into the Ayers Children’s Medical Center.

No.23 Dolly Parton Entertainer & Entrepreneur One of the state’s most-recognized entertainers, its leading tourism spokesperson and a champion of children’s literacy. Member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the businessperson behind Pigeon Forge’s Dollywood amusement park, Tennessee’s top tourist attraction, which draws over two million visitors each year. Started Imagination Library, which Gov. Bredesen expanded across Tennessee. (See cover story.)

No.22 Jim Clayton Founder • Clayton Homes Legendary Tennessee businessman who sold his manufactured home empire to renowned investor Warren Buffett. Now having a profound impact on the East Tennessee region via venture capital. Also building a statewide community banking empire, FSB Bancshares.

No.21 John Faraci Chairman & CEO • International Paper Shepherding Tennessee’s largest and America’s 70th largest company through relocation to Memphis while restructuring and slimming down what is now the world’s largest forest and paper products company. Decision to move IP operations to Memphis was a huge boost to both the city’s morale and prospects of future corporate relocations. Serves on the National Park Foundation, among other boards.

No.20 Willie Herenton Mayor • City of Memphis Four-term mayor of Tennessee’s largest city. Eyeing a fifth term in 2007. Outspoken leader, community lightning rod and former Memphis schools director whose controversial stands include ongoing push for government consolidation. Built city’s reserves from $3 million to $70 million—though that reserve has nearly evaporated after three straight years of deficits.

No.19 Harold Ford Jr. Congressman U.S. House of Representatives The Tennessee GOP’s biggest fear. Leading Democratic 2006 senatorial candidate. Five-term congressman with significant national appeal and reach, evident in his tremendous fundraising ability outside Tennessee. Giving up Ninth District congressional seat Ford family has held for 32 years in an effort to become Volunteer State’s first black Senator. The question remains, can Ford win a Senate seat while his family’s name remains in newspaper headlines across the state tied to political scandal?

No.18 Gerald Nicely Commissioner Dept. of Transportation, State of Tennessee Gov. Bredesen’s enforcer. No-nonsense Oak Ridge native recently hand-picked for interim commissioner role to restore public trust to scandal-ridden Department of Safety and Tennessee Highway Patrol. Previously succeeded in making state transportation program answerable to taxpayers, a Bredesen’s campaign promise. In TDOT, steers a $1.8 billion operation responsible for 14,000 miles of highway. Regulates state aviation, public transportation and railroads.

No.17 Ron Ramsey Senate Majority Leader • Tennessee General Assembly The man atop the Tennessee GOP’s legislative food chain as it edges toward control of state politics. Drives the issues in the GOP-controlled State Senate. Auctioneer by trade has the votes that Gov. Bredesen needs in the state’s Upper Chamber. A sure bet for Lt. Gov. when John Wilder (#98) finally steps aside. A much talked about GOP gubernatorial candidate in 2008 (or future 1st District congressman representing the Tri-Cities, though he says he won’t seek the safely Republican seat now being vacated by Bill Jenkins).

No.16 Jack Bovender Chairman & CEO • HCA Leads $22 billion hospital giant with 137,000 employees in 23 states, England and Switzerland. Stepping up HCA’s role in the outpatient surgery sector as patient volume in that area outpaces traditional hospital in-patient stays. In HCA, leads a lobbying force in the nation’s capitol on health care matters. One of Nashville’s most active and visible civic leaders.

No.15 Jim Moss CEO • West Tennessee Healthcare Controls empire of Jackson-based nonprofit health care system that spans six hospitals and is one of the largest employers in West Tennessee. As such, a towering figure in area business and politics. Overseeing an ongoing $117.3 million expansion project. Announced plans to retire some time before July 2008. However, those plans may have changed since Jim Dockins, whom Moss groomed as his successor, quit the company in February.

No.14 Ken Glass Chairman & CEO • First Horizon National Corp. Helms the financial institution with dominant consumer and business market position in Tennessee (22.5% of total deposits and market share in the state, more than double any other institution, according to 2005 FDIC figures). Expanding into Georgia, Texas and Washington, D.C. Leads nearly 13,000 employees. Director, FedEx Corp. Chairman, Memphis Tomorrow, brandishing other elite Memphis CEOs to get traction on city’s most crucial initiatives.

No.13 Thomas Frist Philanthropist Co-founder and former head of nation’s largest for-profit hospital chain, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). Now chairman emeritus and a director of the company, in which he is the largest individual shareholder. Chairs The Frist Foundation, Nashville’s philanthropic juggernaut, the driving force behind Nashville’s Frist Center for the Visual Arts and numerous other efforts, including the Nashville Zoo.

No.12 Bill Purcell Mayor • Metro Nashville-Davidson County Natural born salesman as responsible as any individual for the roll Nashville is on. At helm of city named America’s “hottest” for corporate relocation two years running by influential trade magazine Expansion Manage-ment. Brokered the taxpayer-friendly deal recently finalized on the construction of a new minor league baseball stadium in downtown Nashville. Has downtown abuzz with a new public square, Nissan’s occupation of the BellSouth tower, approval of the South’s newest skyscraper, a symphony hall and a residential explosion. Former House majority leader in Tennessee legislature and potential future gubernatorial candidate who recently announced he will not run for mayoral reelection next year.

No.11 John Petersen President • University of Tennessee Working to raise profile and prominence of Tennessee’s flagship university through fundraising, lobbying efforts, partnerships and program enhancements. Boldly requesting large spike in new state money. (The state currently funds $400 million of the U.T. system’s $1.3 billion budget.) Heads five-campus institution with 41,500 students. Carries the additional burden of upholding the university’s reputation in the wake of past presidential scandals.

No.10 Carlos Ghosn President & CEO • Nissan Motor Co./Renault Leads $80 billion revenue automaker employing 140,000 worldwide. Single-handedly boosted Tennessee’s economy, its national reputation and the Midstate housing market with decision to relocate Nissan North America’s headquarters to Cool Springs, the biggest economic development in Tennessee in years. Engineered brisk turnaround of Nissan upon enlistment in 2000, shedding 20,000 jobs and making it one of the world’s most profitable volume carmakers, earning him and his methods global acclaim. Now employing same tactics to turn around Renault. Director, Alcoa.

No.9 Vicky Gregg President & CEO • BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Leads the state’s largest health insurer with more than two million members (and more than $15 billion in claims paid annually). Responsible for company’s new strategic initiatives, including current expansion through subsidiaries into electronic health records and health management programming, among other lines of business, aimed at transforming both the company and health care in the Volunteer State. Took skills to national stage with appointment to the federally appointed Commission on Systemic Interoperability, part of the Medicare Modernization Act. Unveiled plans last year for new $226 million Chattanooga headquarters.

No.8 James “Big Jim” Haslam II Founder & Chairman • Pilot Corp. Still active in operations of state’s largest private company (68th largest in America), co-owner of the largest operator of highway travel plazas in America and the largest seller of over-the-road diesel fuel. $7 billion plus company employs over 13,000 in 40 states. Top Tennessee political fundraiser and powerful University of Tennessee trustee and booster who also sits on the boards of Tennessee-based First Horizon and Ruby Tuesday. Increasingly splits power with sons Jimmy (#37) and Bill (#41).

No.7 Jimmy Naifeh House Speaker • Tennessee General Assembly King of Capitol Hill. Longest ruling House Speaker in America. Covington representative guides Democratically controlled House with an iron fist deciding fate of all bills. Responsible for key appointments in House and on state commissions. Extremely competitive and determined to go out on his own terms. Republicans wishing to hasten his retirement might be smart to not put up an opponent for the November elections.

No.6 Lamar Alexander U.S. Senator Soon to be Tennessee’s senior senator. The only Tennessean popularly elected both governor and U.S. Senator. Also former U.S. Education Secretary and U.T. president. Maryville native founded what’s now the nation’s largest provider of worksite daycare. Prime mover securing White House backing for enhanced federal spending on science and math education and basic research at national labs like ORNL, all aimed at improving America’s competitiveness.

No.5 Bill Frist Majority Leader • U.S. Senate Voluntarily in last year in Congress. Regarded as a 2008 presidential candidate, though political future clouded by investigation by SEC into his 2005 sale of stock in family-owned HCA. Third most powerful man inside the Beltway who steered modernization plan for management structure of TVA. Saved the Patriot Act. Now aiming among other initiatives to expand health savings accounts, enable small business association health plans and expand health information technology in final congressional go-around.

No.4 Martha Ingram Philanthropist Patron saint of commerce and philanthropy in Middle Tennessee. Annually ranked among the world’s richest people by Forbes magazine. Chairman of family-owned Ingram Industries, which owns and runs #1 U.S. book distributor and #1 U.S. DVD, video and video game distributor and a giant marine transportation operation. The family is also the primary stockholder in world’s largest computer products distributor. Chair of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust. Chaired fundraising effort for $120 million world-class symphony hall that opens in downtown Nashville this September.

No.3 Fred Smith Founder, President & CEO • FedEx Changed the way America and the world do business with his overnight shipping promise. Made Memphis the center of global distribution. FedEx revenues match those of the State of Tennessee. $25 billion transportation/ logistics behemoth, which now also owns Kinkos, operates in 215 countries and is a driving force in globalizing the world economy. Employs 250,000 people worldwide—30,000 alone in Memphis.

No.2 Pitt Hyde Philanthropist Largest individual shareholder of auto parts chain AutoZone, which he founded. Brought professional basketball to Memphis as one of two primary local owners. Key Memphis philanthropist. Co-founder of Memphis Tomorrow, a consortium of 24 elite Memphis CEOs taking on city’s biggest projects and problems behind the scenes. Spearheads one of Memphis’ major initiatives—becoming a hot spot for biotech research and innovation. Chairs and has helped fund GTx Inc., the poster child for the city’s biotech industry. One of the founders of MB Venture Partners, which raised a $22.4 million first fund to invest in biotech and medical device companies. Started Memphis Biotech Foundation to promote the industry. Director, FedEx.

No.1 Phil Bredesen Governor • State of Tennessee At press time, 275 days out from the general election, still had no credible candidate running against him. Popularity remains unusually high, due largely to bipartisan support of his business like approach to governing. In 2005, sealed Nissan North America’s headquarters relocation and its estimated $525 million annual economic impact. Dis-enrolled 191,000 adults from TennCare. Initiated statewide pre-K. Passed anti-meth laws. Raised teacher pay. Reformed workers comp. 2006 budget proposal includes more than $200 million in new dollars for education.