Personal Info
Born January 5, Laconia, TN
Married, five children
Theology A.S., American Baptist College, Jackson, TN Campus
Businessman/Minister
Committees
Member, Fiscal Review
Member, Government Operations Committee of 1st Extraordinary Session
Member, Transportation Committee of 1st Extraordinary Session
Member, Ethics Committee
Member, Select Committee on Rules
Member, Adhoc Committee on Rules
Member, Finance, Ways, and Means Committee of Extraordinary Session II
Community Involvement
House Member of the 102nd through 114th General Assemblies
Vice-Chair, CMRA/Community Rehab
Gathering of Men - Missionary Org.
Former Hardeman County Commissioner
Former Board Member, National Civil Rights Museum
Community Rehabilitation Agencies of TN, Board of Directors
TAKE ONE (Offender Support Program), Steering Committee Chair
Board Member, West Tennessee Mental Health Facility
Hardeman County Chamber of Commerce
Lifetime Member of the NAACP
Mayor's Character First Program, Brownsville
Founding Member of the Shaw Singers
Rural West Tennessee Caucus
Alzheimer’s Tennessee Advocate
Commission on Aging Advocate
Tennessee Association of Broadcasters
West TN Public Broadcast Board of Directors
TN Association of Broadcasters, Member
Code Red Ministers Coalition of West TN, Member
Honors & Awards
2022 NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award
2022 USDA Rural Development – TN State Black History Month Honoree
2021 Legislator of the Year – Tennessee Veterinary Medical Assoc.
2020 Hardeman County Commissioners Named Highway 64 the Rep. Johnny W. Shaw Highway
2020 Tennessee Education Association – Presidential Award for Meritorious Service
2020 The North Star Award – The Hardeman County Commission for Black History
2019 Southwest TN Development District – Legislator of the Year
2016 Legislator of the Year, TN Forestry Association
2014 Media History Maker– (The Nation’s Largest African American Video Oral History Collection): Recognized for the innovative Programing and Coverage The Provide in Radio and Television
2013 Legislator of the Year, NBCSL, Corporate Roundtable Benjamin Ruffin Award
2012 Tennessee Association of Broadcasters-Distinguished Service Award
Southeast association of Area Agencies on Aging-2012 Aging Impact Award
2008 Big Brothers, Big Sisters Appreciation & Service Award
2005 West Tennessee African American Entrepreneurs, C.A. Rawls Bridge Builder Award
2004 William Henry Miles Outstanding Community Service Award
2003 Jackson Affordable Housing's Jo Helen Imani Award
2002 Legislator of the Year, Tennessee Development District Association
2000 West Tennessee Black Business Association Chairman's Award
State representatives write and vote on state laws and the state budget. Each represents a district in the legislature's lower chamber, which is called the House, the Assembly, or the House of Delegates depending on the state. Most serve two-year terms.