Knoxville Roots: Jim Sexton

It is but one tree in a hilly forest of millions of trees west of Knoxville, Tennessee. It is not the official symbol of the city, of the state, or of the family who planted it but it is to me the symbol of what all good stories are aboutâ¦roots. The story of all of us is filled with where it is we come from, and upon whose backs we traveled. The chorus of our lives is found within the whispers that sing within our hearts.

Captions by Don Barone. It is but one tree in a hilly forest of millions of trees west of Knoxville, Tennessee. It is not the official symbol of the city, of the state, or of the family who planted it but it is to me the symbol of what all good stories are about: roots. The story of all of us is filled with where it is we come from, and upon whose backs we traveled. The chorus of our lives is found within the whispers that sing within our hearts.

The backs of those who carried us here, for this story, begins with the man in the dark jacket in this 1940âs photo: James Benton Sexton who fished the Tennessee River long ago, but who many years laterâ¦

The backs of those who carried us here, for this story, begins with the man in the dark jacket in this 1940s era photo: James Benton Sexton who fished the Tennessee River long ago, but who many years later became the grandfather of Jim Sexton.

â¦took a young boy, his grandson, fishing. Roots. The simple, giving, caring act of taking a young boy fishing, taking the time out of the demands of adulthood, to place a rod and a reel in a childâs hand that possibly set in motion thisâ¦

He took a young boy, his grandson, fishing. Roots. The simple, giving, caring act of taking a young boy fishing, taking the time out of the demands of adulthood, to place a rod and a reel in a child’s hand that possibly set in motion this story.

â¦that young boy now deep into adulthood, now my boss, Jim Sexton, VP, Editor, Digital (website and social media) and you know, VP of me, at B.A.S.S. Born and raised in Knoxville, a city he says that âlives in my soul,â a city that he wanted to show me, as a buddy, show me, his Knoxville Roots and they begin rightâ¦

That young boy now deep into adulthood, now my boss, Jim Sexton, VP, Editor, Digital (website and social media) and you know, VP of me, at B.A.S.S. Born and raised in Knoxville, a city he says that “still lives in my soul,” a city that he wanted to show me, as a buddy, show me, his Knoxville Roots and they begin right here, with the 1982 World’s Fair Sunsphere in the background.

â¦here, with mom & dad. Pat his mom, and Lynn his dad. Jim is one of four children, and the only boy of the brood, I met his parents today at his childhood home, brought his mom roses, his dad donuts, they had never met me before, but soon I was family, as Iâm sure everyone who enters their house to see them waiting on the upstairs landing becomes.

Here, with mom & dad. Pat his mom, and Lynn his dad. Jim is one of four children, and the only boy of the brood, I met his parents today at his childhood home, brought his mom roses, his dad donuts, they had never met me before, but soon I was family, as I’m sure everyone who enters their house to see them waiting on the upstairs landing becomes.

A little story here, Lynn is looking at the tree in his backyard that he bought some 50 years ago, âwhen it was only maybe 6 inches tall.â It is the tree of that first picture, as he tells me the story of planting it âaway from the house there,â he looks not at me, but the tree, look at him looking at his tree, it is the gaze of a man who sees not only the branches, but the roots of his family, his lifeâ¦

A little story here, Lynn is looking at the tree in his backyard that he bought some 50 years ago, when it was only maybe 6 inches tall. It is the tree of that first picture, as he tells me the story of planting it away from the house there, he looks not at me, but the tree, look at him looking at his tree, it is the gaze of a man who sees not only the branches, but the roots of his family, his life.

â¦to thousands of young men, young basketball players and all the fans in the stands, Jimâs dad, is simply, and will always be known as âCoach.â Jim: âMy father is known as the Dean of High School Basketball in Knoxville.â

To thousands of young men, young basketball players and all the fans in the stands, Jim’s dad, is simply, and will always be known as Coach Sexton. “My father is known as the Dean of High School Basketball in Knoxville.”

Coach took over the Farragut HS Basketball program a year after the team lost every game, his first year he won 1 game, âbut he built the program, one year he won 36 games before losing a game, he was the head basketball coach there for 30 years, won 544 games.â

Coach took over the Farragut HS Basketball program a year after the team lost every game. His first year he won 1 game, but he built the program, one year he won 36 games before losing in the state finals. He was the head basketball coach there for 30 years, won 544 games.

In a room that was once a garage rests the roots of âCoachâsâ career, his wife Pat whispers to me that he would bring home the teamâs uniforms after a game, âand I would wash all of them over there,â a New Jersey lady who in the 1950âs came down on a bus to go to college in Tennesseeâ¦and stayed. There are accolades and plaques everywhere but to me one picture says it all..,

In a room that was once a garage rests the roots of Coach’s career. His wife Pat whispers to me, “He would bring home the team uniforms after a game, and I would wash all of them over there.” A New Jersey lady who in the 1950’s came down on a bus to go to college in Tennessee and stayed. There are accolades and plaques everywhere but to me one picture says it all…

â¦follow the arrow and look close, Iâll let Jim explain, âThat was a state basketball tournament and my fatherâs team had just won, I was so excited I ran down from my seat in the stands and jumped on his back, jumped on his back, I was 10 maybe.â Know this, Jim canât explain that photo without smiling and holding his gaze on it a second or two longer than normal remembering the joy of that moment.

Follow the arrow and look close, I’ll let Jim explain, “That was a state basketball tournament and my father’s team had just won, I was so excited I ran down from my seat in the stands and jumped on his back, jumped on his back, I was 10 maybe.” Now this, Jim can’t explain that photo without smiling and holding his gaze on it a second or two longer than normal remembering the joy of that moment. “That might be when I became a sports fan.”

But the quote of the day, not from âCoach,â but from Mom, Pat who in a quiet moment alone with just me and her in the room filled with memories of her husbandâs accomplishments she reached out and gently touched my arm to get my attention and with gentle bright eyes looked at me and said, âBut you know, his greatest accomplishment, his greatest legacy are his four children.â Roots.

But the quote of the day, not from Coach, but from Mom, Pat who in a quiet moment alone with just me and her in the room filled with memories of her husband’s accomplishments she reached out and gently touched my arm to get my attention and with gentle bright eyes looked at me and said, “But you know, his greatest accomplishment, his greatest legacy are his four children. Roots.

I wonder as a species if our intelligence has caught up with the speed at which information comes to us through social media, has our processing time kept pace with an instant world. I say that because I’ve been blessed to walk with people down the path of their childhood memories, slow walks where meaning prevails, where meeting each other prevails, as here where Jim is walking down a path he hasn’t been on in 40 or so years.

âdb this is Turkey Creek, it flows into the Tennessee River over there, I used to ride my bike down here with my buddies during the summer, itâs a mile or so from our house, used to jump off this bridge into the water, used to fish here, used toâ¦â I am not reading what he is saying on a computer screen, I am not some keyboard snarky person who can hide, I am standing where this man came as a child, as a young man, I can see how he feels about this area, I can see where his love of fishing, of the outdoors took route, to the children out there this is True Social Interaction. It is the World Wide Web unplugged. Try it.

“Db this is Turkey Creek, it flows into the Tennessee River over there, I used to ride my bike down here with my buddies during the summer, it’s mile or so from our house, used to jump off this bridge into the water, used to fish here, used to goof off here.” I am not reading what he is saying on a computer screen, I am not some keyboard snarky person who can hide, I am standing where this man came as a child, as a young man, I can see how he feels about this area, I can see where his love of fishing, of the outdoors took route, to the children out there this is True Social Interaction. It is the World Wide Web unplugged. Try it.

Jim in front of Ayers Hall at the University of Tennessee.

At Neyland Stadium on the University of Tennessee campus. Jim worked here for the Vol Network during college.

Jim is a University of Tennessee Graduate from the Communications Department with a degree in Journalism.

â¦first job was. âLike Bill Nye the Science Guy, I went around to high schools and did cool science stuff like put dry ice in my mouth and blow clouds of fog out my nose.â I Am Not Making That Up.

His first job was, “Like Bill Nye the Science Guy, I went around the country to high schools and did cool science stuff like put dry ice in my mouth and blow clouds of fog out my nose.” I Am Not Making That Up.

We are eating lunch at one of his favorite places in town, a place he and his wife, Gretchen used to come to when they were first married, âDude go with the burger,â and so I did, ordered the Littonâs Traditional Burger, uh huhâ¦

We are eating lunch at one of his favorite places in town, a place he and his wife, Gretchen used to come to when they were first married, “Dude go with the burger.” And so I did, ordered the Litton’s Traditional Burger, uh huh!

â¦but this place is also a favorite from college days, âDude the subs are steamed, my gawd, youâve got to try them.â It wasnât open yet, but as soon as his expense check clears, um, you knowâ¦

But this place is also a favorite from college days. The subs are steamed, my gawd, you’ve got to try them. It wasn’t open yet, but as soon as his expense check clears, um, you know!

So, over a very wonderful burger Iâm told this story, hereâs Jim: âSo back in college I get this job, after games Coach Johnny Majors would go to WATE Television Studios and would tape the Johnny Majors show with John Ward as the host (Iâm chewing but listening). When the show was over they would hand me the show in a can, three cans, and I would get in my used/ beat up Lincoln Mercury Capri and it was my job to drive the show to TV stations in Nashville, Jackson and Memphis that night so they could air it the next day. They paid me $200 a game for two seasons.â I stop eating. âIt was an 8 hour one way trip to Memphis and then 8 hours right back, I would get friends to ride with me, told them it was the Coachâs show, that we would see the sunrise over the Mississippi River, I always went with people, but most only did it once, two did it twice and they became my friends for lifeâ¦â

So, over a very wonderful burger Jim told this story, here’s Jim: “So back in college I get this job, after games Tennessee football Coach Johnny Majors would go to WATE Television Studios and would tape the Johnny Majors show with John Ward as the host. When the show was over they would hand me the show in a can, three cans, and I would get in my used/ beat up Lincoln Mercury Capri and it was my job to drive the show to TV stations in Nashville, Jackson and Memphis that night so they could air it the next day. They paid me $200 a game for two seasons. It was an 8 hour one way trip to Memphis and then 8 hours right back, I would get friends to ride with me, told them it was the Coach Majors show, that we would see the sunrise over the Mississippi River, I always went with people, but most only did it once, two did it twice and they became my friends for life.”

ââ¦I got my name in the credits at the end of the show as Traffic Engineer. John Ward did that for me. After that I worked with him as the scoreboard reporter during Vols basketball games. I would write down every play, and the exact minute it happened, then during the breaks he would reach over read what I wrote and then pick from that the key play of that quarter or half. At half time it was my job to call on the phone the other arenaâs where important basketball games were going on and relay the scores to John. It was my very first entry into the world of media, and it all happened right here.â

“I got my name in the credits at the end of the show as Traffic Engineer. John Ward did that for me. After that I worked with him as the scoreboard reporter during Vols basketball games. I would write down every play, and the exact minute something happened, then during the breaks he would reach over read what I wrote and then pick from that the key play of that quarter or half. At half time it was my job to call on the phone the other arenas where important basketball games were going on and relay the scores to John. It was my very first entry into the world of media, and it all happened right here.”

Right here in Knoxville, and in the next few days, right here on the campus of the University of Tennessee where in the next few days the Bassmaster Classic will take center stage, I’m thinking wow, just wow, to see it come full circle like this, just wow man.

Roots. Remember that old photo with the man in the dark jacket, Jimâs grandfather, James Benton Sexton, Granddaddy, who took him fishing as a child, took Jim on his first time fishing adventure, that marble he is leaning on, the pink marble on the Tennessee State Supreme Court building in downtown Knoxville came from the quarry where his Granddaddy worked. Roots.

Roots. Remember that old photo with the man in the dark jacket, Jim’s grandfather, James Benton Sexton, Granddaddy, who took him fishing as a child, took Jim on his first time fishing adventure, that marble he is leaning on, the pink marble on the Tennessee State Supreme Court building in downtown Knoxville came from the quarry where his Granddaddy worked. Roots.

There stands a 50 year old tree in a backyard within sight of the Great Smoky Mountains outside of Knoxville, Tennessee.

â¦placed there by âCoach,â and his wife, Pat. Roots, the original social media, the social media carried on the backs of those who came before us, those who passed on the value of respect and loving responsibility, the âcoachingâ of a young man who one day would come back home, come back to campus and bring with himâ¦The Bassmaster Classic.
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Placed there by Lynn and Pat Sexton. Roots, the original social media, the social media carried on the backs of those who came before us, those who passed on the value of respect and loving responsibility, the coaching of a young man who one day would come back home, come back to campus and bring with him The Bassmaster Classic. Don Barone