Tennessee District History

1919 - The beginning!

Optimist International was founded in 1919 and was divided into seven electoral sections. Tennessee became a part of Section 3 which included North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.

1919-1922

Records are vague between 1919 and 1922; in 1922 the electoral sections were replaced by Districts at the Kansas City convention.

1922-International Convention

Silas Hl. Williams, Governor. Tennessee became a part of District 6, along with Alabama, Louisana and Missippi.

Optimist Year 1931-32

Maurice M. Walsh, Governor. Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, formerly of District 6, became part of District 11 which had contained North and South Carolina since 1926-27.

Optimist Year 1940-41

Forrest E. Mottweiler, Governor. Composition of District 11 was changed to delete a portion of Louisiana.

Optimist Year 1947-48

J. Edward Hargraves, Governor. North and South Carolina moved to District 18. The new District 11 included Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Louisiana (south of an East/West line immediately south of Alexandria, excluding Clcasieu Parish)

Optimist Year 1952-53

J. Harold Wilkins, Governor. The District included Alabama, Florida west of the Apalachicola River, Mississippi, Tennessee and Louisiana (south of and east/west line immediately south of Alexandria, excluding Calcasieu and Jefferson Davis Parishes)

Optimist Year 1955-56

Hope H. Purnell, Governor. All areas except Tennessee were moved to District 26, leaving Tennessee alone in District 11.

Optimist Year 1956-57

W. Arnold Chambers, Governor. Bell and Whitley counties in Kentucky were placed in District 11.

Optimist Year 1961-62

Sam W. Rutledge, Governor. Bell and Whitley counties in Kentucky were removed from District 11, leaving Tennessee alone again in the District.

Optimist Year 1964-65

Otis T. Gray, Governor. District names replaced numbers. District 11, the State of Tennessee, became the Tennessee District.

Optimist Year 1980-81

Larry R. Gullion, Governor. Lee, Wise, Scott and Washington Counties in Virginia were added to the Tennessee District.