List of mayors of Rogersville, Tennessee facts for kids
Rogersville, Tennessee, is a town run by a group of leaders called the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. This way of governing started with a special document, like a rulebook, from the state of Tennessee in 1836.
How Rogersville Started: The North Carolina Days (1786–1836)
When Rogersville was first created, it was the main town for Hawkins County. It was even called Hawkins Court House back then! The state of North Carolina, which Tennessee was once part of, set up a special group to manage the town. This group was called the Board of Commissioners and Trustees.
The North Carolina government chose the first people for this board. If someone on the board left their job, the remaining members would choose new people to take their place.
The first people on this important board were:
- Thomas King
- Thomas Hutchins
- Joseph McCulloch
- Thomas Jackson
- Elijah Chissom
Rogersville Becomes Part of Tennessee (1836–Present)
About 48 years after North Carolina first set up Rogersville's government, the state of Tennessee officially took over in 1835. After this change, Rogersville was allowed to have its own elected leaders. This meant people in the town could vote for their Mayor and Aldermen.
From 1835 to 1883, these elected leaders served for two years. In 1883, Tennessee changed the town's rules again. They added more land to Rogersville. At this time, the term for the Mayor and Aldermen changed to four years.
Today, the Mayor of Rogersville serves for four years. Mayors can be re-elected many times, with no limit on how long they can serve.
Rogersville's current mayor is Jim Sells. He has been re-elected every four years since 1977.
Rogersville Mayors Through the Years
Here is a list of the people who have served as Mayor of Rogersville:
| Mayor | Term |
|---|---|
| Nicholas Fain | 1836–1838 |
| Dicks Alexander | 1838–1840 |
| Stockley D. Mitchell | 1840–1846 |
| Robert C. Crawford | 1846–1850 |
| William White | 1852–1854, 1870–1874 |
| Henry G. Wax | 1854–1856 |
| James Pace | 1856–1860 |
| James K. Neill | 1860–1866 |
| Lewis L. Poates, V | 1866–1870 |
| Hugh G. Kyle | 1874–1876 |
| A.D. Huffmaster | 1876–1880 |
| John Hasson | 1880–1884 |
| Henry J. Nelson | 1884–1890, 1896–1898 |
| Samuel L. Chesnutt | 1890–1894, 1898–1902 |
| Charles M. Harris | 1902–1904 |
| William Pierce | 1904–1906, 1910–1912 |
| S.F. Powel | 1906–1908 |
| E.T. Bettis | 1908–1909 |
| Rod Armstrong | 1909–1910 |
| Gale P. Kyle | 1912–1918, 1922–1924 |
| Fred J. Testerman | 1918–1922 |
| J.A. Holston | 1924–1926 |
| Roy A. Doty | 1926–1932 |
| W.B. Hale, Jr. | 1932–1934 |
| James S. Lyons | 1934–1948 |
| Lon Bible | 1948–1952 |
| J.O. Phillips, Jr. | 1952–1954 |
| C.C. Johnson | 1954–1956, 1958–1960 |
| Judson J. Harmon | 1956–1958 |
| William F. Phipps | 1960–1966 |
| W. Henry Lyons | 1966–1967 |
| Reid Terry | 1967–1973 |
| Charles Dennis | 1973–1975 |
| Clyde Willis | 1975–1977 |
| Jim Sells | 1977–present |
