Roy Herron knows the importance of faith, family, and hard work. His parents were his greatest teachers.

Roy’s father was a severely wounded World War II veteran who went to law school on the G.I. Bill and became a judge. His mother, 93, is a homemaker who raised four children and now enjoys her six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Roy’s parents taught him the value of hard work and public service.

Roy also learned these lessons growing up in a strong community, a faithful church, and public schools. Roy graduated from Dresden High School and then attended the University of Tennessee’s Martin campus. After studying the New Testament and ethics in Scotland as a Rotary Scholar, he received his law and divinity degrees. The former minister is now an attorney and small businessman who practices law in Dresden.  For years, he has been helping others studying to become ministers and still teaches Sunday School.

In 1986, the people of Weakley and Carroll Counties elected Roy to represent them in the Tennessee General Assembly. For over two decades now, including 13 years in the Tennessee Senate, Roy has continued his service, earning a reputation as a good listener, forceful advocate, and hard worker. He has conducted more than 1,000 listening meetings, and he has missed only one legislative session in the last 23 years—the day his youngest son was being born.

As a legislator, Roy has worked hard to bring jobs to Tennessee and expand access to education, establishing the Ned R. McWherter Center for Rural Development to offer scholarships for talented Tennesseans. As sponsor of the Tennessee Home Protection Act, he was a leader in the fight against predatory lending long before the current economic crisis. As Chairman of the General Welfare, Health, and Human Resources Committee, he fought to make healthcare more affordable and expand access to medicine. Herron has overcome entrenched special interests to help pass a landmark ethics reforms, and he has authored laws to empower whistleblowers, prevent drunk driving, and keep drugs out of our communities. Herron has worked both to fight crime and protect victims. He created and sponsored the Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights that is now part of our state constitution.

Having served as Chairman of the Select Committee on Children and Youth — and as a father of three — Roy has a special concern for Tennessee’s children. He has worked with Governor Phil Bredesen to author legislation creating a coordinated school health system, and he has introduced and expanded laws to encourage the use of child safety seats, to establish comprehensive child care reforms to keep our children safe, and curb childhood obesity. A marathoner and three-time Ironman triathlete, Roy knows the importance of healthy living.

Roy’s commitment to public service, his Tennessee values, and his devotion to faith and family are evident in his writing. He is the author of three books: Things Held Dear: Soul Stories for My Sons, Tennessee Political Humor: Some of These Jokes You Voted For (with L.H. “Cotton” Ivy), and God and Politics: How Can a Christian be in Politics?

Residing in the county where his family settled in 1819, Roy is married to Nancy, his wife of 23 years.  Roy enjoys sports and the outdoors with their three sons, John, Rick, and Ben.  Soon, their youngest son will join his brothers and Roy as an Eagle Scout, the seventh Eagle in their family.  The Herrons are members of First United Methodist Church in Dresden.