Frank Nicely, East Tennessee’s Colorful Farmer-Politician, Dies at 78 After Heart Attack on Farm

Former East Tennessee State Senator Frank Nicely Dies at 78

Frank Nicely, a longtime East Tennessee state legislator known for his agricultural advocacy and colorful personality, died Thursday after suffering a heart attack while working on his Jefferson County farm. He was 78.

The news was confirmed by U.S. Congressman Tim Burchett and Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton on social media Thursday afternoon. Nicely was transported to Jefferson Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:30 p.m.

A 23-Year Legislative Career

The Knox County native graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in soil science before moving to Jefferson County to pursue farming and business ventures.

Nicely’s political career spanned 23 years in the Tennessee General Assembly, beginning in 1988 when he was elected to represent House District 35, covering Union, Grainger and Claiborne counties. After serving multiple terms, he transitioned to the state Senate in 2010, representing the 8th District, which included parts of Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock, Jefferson, Union and Sevier counties.

His legislative tenure ended in 2024 when he was defeated in the Republican primary by Jessie Seal.

Remembered as a Renaissance Man

Colleagues remembered Nicely as far more than just an agriculture advocate, despite his deep farming roots.

“Frank was a renaissance man,” said Richard Venable, current Sullivan County mayor and longtime friend. “He was a very good economist. He had a great background in economics. He’ll be remembered as the agriculture representative, I’m sure, but he was so much more than that.”

“Tennessee lost a great friend and statesman yesterday with the passing of Frank Niceley. My prayers go out to his many friends in Strawberry Plains,” Senator Shane Reeves

“Sen. Nicely, was a true Statesman while serving in the Tennessee Legislature for 26 yrs. He had such a vast knowledge of Life. He would comment on a subject, and many times people would think it was just made up, but 95% of the time you would go to Google, it was true. That knowledge was constantly shared as he served the people of this great State,” former Senator and Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron

“We were saddened to hear of the passing of Sen. Frank Niceley. He was an amazing statesman, storyteller, and champion for liberty. Tennessee lost a great one.” Tori Venable, Executive Director for Americans for Prosperity

State Senator Rusty Crowe, who sat alongside Nicely for years, described him as “truly one of a kind” and “one of the few true farmers left” who would return from legislative sessions to run his farm.

State Representative John Crawford praised Nicely’s vast knowledge: “There wasn’t any subject you could talk about that he wasn’t familiar with certain aspects.”

The Unofficial Senate Historian

Despite his folksy demeanor and Tennessee drawl, colleagues noted Nicely’s extensive knowledge of history and economics earned him recognition as the “unofficial historian of the Senate.”

“He’s got that good old Tennessee drawl, and talks like he just came back from putting the horses up in the barn,” said State Representative Bud Hulsey. “But the man was well read when it came to history, not just in the South, but in the whole U.S.”

A Complex Legacy

Throughout his career, Nicely was known for his willingness to tackle controversial topics and his quotable commentary. He consistently advocated for agricultural interests and rural communities while occasionally making headlines for provocative statements.

“Frank’s quite a character. Did not shy away from controversy, and he would create a bit of his own, but he always did it in a humorous way,” Venable recalled.

Final Honors

Governor Bill Lee announced that flags over the State Capitol will be lowered in honor of Nicely’s memory.

Nicely is survived by his wife Cyndie and four children. His death marks the end of an era for East Tennessee politics, with Venable noting: “With today’s political environment, I’m not sure we’ll have any more Frank Nicely’s, and that’s a sad feeling on my part.”

The longtime legislator’s passing represents the loss of a distinctive voice in Tennessee politics—one that combined deep agricultural knowledge, historical awareness, and an unfiltered approach to public service that made him both memorable and effective in representing rural East Tennessee communities.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​