Lewis County Person of the Week: Bill Lynch

Q.) Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

A.) I have been blessed to have lived the life I have lived. My first blessing was being born in 1943 to Bob and Allie Lynch on Summertown Highway. My parents owned a grocery store where they taught me many life lessons such as hard work and responsibility. I have lived most of my life within a mile of my birthplace. Recently, my wife and I built a house on the land my parents left me in Swiss Colony where I was raised. One day, I told my wife that I wanted to go back home before the Lord called me to my eternal home, hopefully. In doing so, my granddaughter, Gracey, her husband, Grant, and my great-grandson, Forrest, live in the house I was raised in. My daughter, Tammy and her husband Randal live in a house they built on the same property. Now, Theresa and I are surrounded by most of our family. Our grandson, Gatlyn, his wife, Darcy, and our great granddaughter, Audrey Grace live in Chattanooga. Last year, I completed 58 years teaching in Lewis County Schools (1965-2023). Combined with the 12 years I attended Lewis County Schools(1949-1961) I have spent 70 years in a classroom in Lewis County. God has blessed me with a great family and great friends that have encouraged me over the years along with some of the best students in the state of Tennessee. I still love what I am doing and loving what I have done for so long. I give God all the glory!

Q.) What is one of your fondest childhood memories?

A.) Going fishing with my daddy and brother and sometimes my mother. In the spring, we all four went crappie fishing in the Tennessee River. In the summer, daddy, me, and sometimes my brother would go trotting for catfish in the Buffalo River. In the winter, my daddy, me, and my mother went sauger fishing in the Tennessee river.

Q.) What did you want to be as a kid? What did you actually become?

A.) While growing up in the 50s and 60s, almost all of the programs on TV were westerns as were most movies, so, I wanted to be a cowboy. Instead, I became a teacher, coach, and eventually an administrator.

Q.) Who was/is your biggest role model?

A.) My brother Ray. I modeled my life after him. He was my inspiration for doing well in school. He worked hard and instilled in me to always do my best at whatever I did. He was also my inspiration in sports. He was as dedicated to be the best he could be and encouraged me to do the same. Unfortunately, I wasn't as talented. He was awarded a full scholarship to play football at the University of Tennessee at Martin. The best I could do was trying walking on. It didn't work out for me, but I did give it my best effort. He became a nuclear engineer and was doing well until cancer cut his life short at the age of 30. But the lessons I learned from him have blessed me with a great life.

Q.) What are some of your favorite hobbies/ how do you like to spend your free time?

A.) I used to be an avid fisherman, but in my later years, I enjoy reading books by John Grisham, James Patterson, Lee Child, Michael Connelly, and Da vid Baldacci. I also love my yard and helping my wife with her flowers.

Q.) If you could go anywhere, in or out of the states, where would it be? Why?

A.) I love the mountains. The Great Smokies provide a chance to get away from the world and spend some time marveling at one of God's great creations. A time to be alone with God and nature and reflect on who we are and how great life can be, if we only take time to enjoy it.

Q.) What is "your" song?

A.)I loved the song "We are the world, we are the people" I loved the song and all the famous singers who sang it.

It had such a special message for virtually everyone during that time in history.

Q.) What is one of your favorite things about living in Hohenwald?

A.) It has been my home. For 80+ years. Although I have been offered jobs in other places, Lewis County and Hohenwald are the only places I have ever wanted to call home. It fits my life style of being a homebody.

Q.) What is your favorite time of year? Why?

A.) Spring because it reminds me of new birth and new beginnings, and fall because it reminds me of the love of family with the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Q.) What do you enjoy most about your job?

A.) "The family atmosphere" shared by members of the faculty along with the kids at Lewis County High School. For 58 years, they have been the reasons "I still do what I do."

Q.) Do you have a nick name?

A.) Not so much a nickname, but names I love to be called. "Coach" from my former football players. "Pop" from my grandchildren and hopefully from my great grandchildren. And other family members and friends.

Q.) If you could be a TV character, who would it be and why?

A.) It would be Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a character on NCIS. He used this reason that I have never fully retired. When asked about retiring. He said, " I don't know what I would be doing, if Iwas not doing what I do."

Q.) Is there any life advice you could give to our readers?

A.)To young people – success comes from hard work with dedication by always doing your best, and perseverance-don't give up, tomorrow is another day.

To parents – love your children, but don't be afraid to use "tough love" characterized by warmth, responsiveness and clear boundaries, promoting positive child outcome.