Wayne Harris of Altamont was officially sworn in on Tuesday, at the Grundy County Courthouse, as the newly-elected County Commissioner for District 1, taking on the historic title of “First Grundy Republican” to be elected to local office in known recorded history. 

Ironically, Grundy County, established in 1844, was named for the late Honorable Felix Grundy, an elected Tennessee Republican to the 12th and 13th U.S. Congresses who eventually became Attorney General of the United States under Martin Van Buren. 

Mr. Harris said, “I am overwhelmed by the support of my neighbors and friends in District 1, you truly humble me and I promise I will serve you to the very best of my abilities in every decision and every vote I make on the Grundy County Commission. We have some tough decisions ahead, but I know we will persevere and we will find a way to best serve not only the citizens we represent in our district but the greater good of the county as a whole. 

“This is definitely going to be an interesting four year term for me; I will need all your prayers and hope you know your opinions and ideas are always welcome and encouraged in my world. We are all in this together, we are all family here and we will all have each other’s back. I promise you, Grundy will come first on my watch.” 

Mr. Harris, born in Wichita Falls, Tx., to a career military air force family, settled in Grundy County in 1979. Patti, his wife of 38 years, is a Special Education teacher at Grundy County High School and his son, Douglas, an honors graduate of GCHS, is a sophomore at Chattanooga State. 

The Harris family owns several businesses in Grundy County, including Grandview RV Park and Cabins which has successfully accommodated visitors to Grundy from over 32 states and four countries.

Grandview is also the home of the annual Grundy Halloween favorite, Grandview Haunted House, now in its fifth year of operation. 

Mr. Harris established the Town Tub Laundromat and Carwash in 1988 and added The Storage Shed storage units in 1998. He is the past president of the Altamont Ruritan Club, past member of the Tennessee Defense force, current member of NRA, EAA and AOPA and holds numerous state issued licenses and permits including: pilot's license, electrical contractor, waste water treatment plant operator, and liquid petroleum bulk plant operator. He also serves as a deacon in the Altamont Church of Christ.