Political newcomer, Bill Lee, was sworn in as the 50th governor of Tennessee on January 19.
Lee’s inauguration was preceded by a worship service featuring Michael W. Smith, CeCe Winans, Steven Curtis Chapman, Nicole C. Mullen, Matthew West and other acclaimed performers at the Ryman Auditorium.
Following the worship service, Lee took the oath of office at the War Memorial Auditorium, with the oath administered by Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeffrey S. Bivins.
On the state of Tennessee’s website, Gov. Lee’s bio reads as follows:
As a seventh-generation Tennessean, Bill’s roots run deep in this state. He was raised in Franklin where he still resides today with his wife Maria on his family’s farm. He’s the proud father of four adult children (Jessica, twin sons Jacob and Caleb, and Sarah Kate) and five grandchildren.
After attending Williamson County Schools, Bill went to Auburn University, where he studied Mechanical Engineering. When he graduated, he returned home to Franklin to join the family business his grandfather started in 1944. Through hard work, Bill learned what it takes to lead a company, doing what is necessary to help build a business and create jobs. He held several roles at Lee Company before becoming president of the company in 1992.
Under Bill’s leadership, the company grew into a comprehensive facilities solutions and home services company. It now employs more than 1,200 individuals and it has won numerous awards for work culture and business accomplishments. Bill was named a ‘Most Admired CE’ in 2015 by the Nashville Business Journal.
Bill has said throughout his campaign that he woke up every morning focused on how to make life better for his employees, and now he’s excited to get to work to wake up every morning trying to improve the lives of 6.5 million Tennesseans.
As governor-elect, Bill is focused on several priorities including good jobs, great schools, and safe neighborhoods so we can keep Tennessee moving in the right direction. Tennessee is one of the best places in the country to live and work, and he is going to work hard every day to try to make life even better.
Bill and Maria are people of strong faith. They are active in Grace Chapel Church and in numerous faith-based ministries, which have taken them all over the world to serve people in need, including to Africa, Central America, and the Middle East.
