MARTIN, Tenn. – Jai Templeton, former Tennessee commissioner of agriculture, received the 2019 Jimmy Daniel Make-A-Difference WestStar Leadership Alumni Award during the organization’s annual graduation ceremony and reception June 25 in Jackson. Templeton is a member of the WestStar class of 1999.
The award is named for the late Jimmy Daniel, a 1990 WestStar graduate, founding program trustee member and a field representative during the Gov. Don Sundquist administration. Award recipients must be WestStar graduates who have had positive impacts in their city or county during the past five years and possess strong records of leadership in West Tennessee.
Templeton served the state of Tennessee as deputy commissioner of agriculture before assuming the title of commissioner. Prior to joining the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, he served as the mayor of McNairy County.
For more information on the WestStar Leadership Program, contact Virginia Grimes, program coordinator, at 731-881-7298 or vgrimes@utm.edu.
Photo: Jai Templeton (center), with (from left) Dr. Charley Deal, WestStar executive director; Daniel family members Drew, Peggy, Mike and Melanie; and UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver.
Menu
