Editor’s Note: The past few weeks I’ve had a few folks reach out asking for the Ernie Johns Highway sign to be reinstalled. The sign was removed by TDOT due to the long-awaited $70 million Jefferson Pike State Route 266 road widening.
Ernest “Ernie” King Johns, October 14, 1934 – March 12, 2016.
For those who knew Ernie, they knew him not only as our Rutherford County Historian and former 8-year Rutherford County Commissioner, but also as a home builder and a man with a servant’s heart. I can remember him often bringing vegetables that he had grown in his garden and giving them to others.
I recall while in my mid-20s stopping by the home of the late Sally and Major James Walls, who lived next door to my parents, and having great conversations about the Town of Smyrna. I would see Ernie at the Rutherford County Commission meetings, which they had started airing on television. I asked Sally, “Who’s that Commissioner Ernie Johns?” She responded, “Ernie Johns is no one’s ‘yes man.'” The next day I looked up Ernie’s number, which I still know today, and invited him for coffee at Hardee’s Restaurant in Smyrna. After that coffee, we quickly became friends. He would often stop by our former car business, MidTn Autos.com, and have some great discussions.
When Senator Bill Ketron and I named a portion of Jefferson Pike after Ernie, I wanted to surprise him. I had spoken to Ginny Williams about hosting an event at the Gilsville Parking Lot. I had called and invited Ernie and asked him to meet me there for coffee. A day or two later he called me and said, “Mike, the restaurant is no longer there.” I responded, “We’ll just meet at Gil’s Ace Hardware at that table they have.” Sadly, about a week later his wife Mary called me and said that Ernie had fallen and broken his hip. Senator Ketron, historian Marty Luffman, and I surprised him at the Hickory Woods assisted living facility in La Vergne. Ernie shared a few old stories and we had a great time.
Originally published in the Rutherford County Historical Association, November, 2016
State Representative Mike Sparks (R–Smyrna, 49th District) and State Senator Bill Ketron (R–Murfreesboro, 13th District) passed recently passed legislation to rename a portion of West Jefferson Pike in Smyrna in honor of lifelong Smyrna resident Ernie Johns, Saturday, November 21.
Ernie Johns is a well-known member of the Smyrna community with many lifetime achievements including his family’s heritage dating back to the founding of Rutherford County in 1803. Ernie is also a founding member of the Rutherford County Historical Society and the former official county historian of Rutherford County, Tennessee.
“Ernie’s dedication to promoting and preserving the history and heritage of our community is truly amazing”, said Representative Sparks.
Marty Luffman asks Patsy Brown to say few words about Ernie Johns with Ernie’s wife Mary, former Rutherford County Commissioner Joe Gourley and former Smyrna Mayor Paul Johns in attendance.
“Ernie Johns is a legend when it comes to our local history. I am honored to be a part of the ceremony naming this section of Smyrna’s West Jefferson Pike in honor of Ernie.” said Senator Ketron. Sen. Ketron also recalls the dedication and service of Ernie when Sen. Ketron and Ernie served on the Rutherford county Commission in the 1990’s.
Rutherford County Historian Greg Tucker and local Smyrna and Old Jefferson Historian Toby Francis. By the late Frank Caperton
The newly unveiled sign is located near the corner of Nissan Drive and West Jefferson Pike, in front of Gil’s Ace Hardware, 415 Nissan Drive, Smyrna, Tennessee.
