INFORMATIONAL WEBSITE OF
STATE SENATOR RAYMOND FINNEY,
who proudly represents the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains region of Tennessee--
the Eighth Senatorial District (Blount and Sevier Counties)...


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BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Following is my biographical information:

BIRTH: I was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on March 29, 1941.

PARENTS: My deceased parents, Raymond and Ruth, were career teachers in Knox County, Tennessee.

SIBLING: I have one younger brother, David, who is married to Donna.

MARRIAGE: I have been happily married more than 45 years to Linda (Hunley)-- since December 22, 1961. Linda, also a native of Knox County, Tennessee, is one of the sweetest, kindest Christian women I have ever met. She is the best friend I have ever had. She has truly blessed my life, since we began dating each other in our teenage years. I am blessed that Linda goes with me to Nashville every week. GO TO a letter Linda has written to her Blount and Sevier County neighbors. GO TO photographs of Linda.

CHILDREN: Linda and I have four grown children and two grandchildren, all of whom live in Knoxville. All four of our children graduated from Maryville High School. Three children are graduates of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; one child is a graduate (two degrees) of Carson Newman College, Jefferson City; and one child received an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. Respecting my family's privacy, I do not name them here. All or most of them still come every week to eat Sunday dinner and visit with Linda and me.

RESIDENCE: Except for seven years spent in school and service, Linda and I have been residents of eastern Tennessee. We moved to Blount County in 1976.

EDUCATION: I have the following education and training:

  • High school education: Graduate of Bearden High School, Knoxville, Tennessee.
  • Undergraduate education: Graduate of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville-- Bachelor of Science (B.S.).
  • Graduate education: Graduate of The University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Memphis (1964)-- Doctor of Medicine (M.D.).
  • Medical school student awards:
    • Induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honorary Medical Society (for academic excellence), and
    • The Verstandig Award (for the senior student who graduated in spite of the most hardships).
  • Postgraduate (postdoctoral) education:
    • Served one year as surgical intern, the City of Memphis (Tennessee) Hospitals.
    • Served four years as anatomic and clinical pathology resident, the University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville.
  • Demonstration of competency:
    • Licensed to practice medicine and surgery by the State of Tennessee Health Related Boards.
    • Certified in anatomic and clinical pathology by the American Board of Pathology.
    • Staff member of several area hospitals (prior to retirement) in Blount, Knox, Jefferson, Hamblen, and Cocke counties (Tennessee), subject to continuing quality assurance and peer review processes (local, state, and federal).
    • Active staff member, Blount Memorial Hospital, Maryville, Tennessee (1976-1999), serving as chief of staff and chairman of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and director of laboratories; emeritus staff member since retirement.
  • Disciplinary action: During my entire medical career (1964-1999), I maintained a completely "clean slate"-- no sanction, revocation of privilege, reprimand, suspension, or any other disciplinary action.

MILITARY SERVICE (1965-1967): I served on active duty in the United States Public Health Service, a uniformed federal government service, and was promoted to the equivalent rank of Major. I was honorably discharged.

WORK EXPERIENCE: I have the following work experience:

  • 1971-1976: Pathologist and laboratory director, Morristown-Hamblen Hospital, Morristown, Tennessee. Also, active or courtesy staff member (as pathologist) at Humana Doctors Hospital, Morristown; Jefferson Memorial Hospital, Jefferson City; and Cocke County Memorial Hospital, Newport. No disciplinary action or restriction of hospital privileges. I resigned these positions to move to Maryville.
  • 1976-1998: Pathologist-- promoted to chairman in the early 1980s-- of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and director of laboratories at Blount Memorial Hospital, Maryville, Tennessee.
    Founder and laboratory director of Blount Outpatient Laboratory, Maryville.
    Laboratory director and consulting pathologist for several other laboratories in the Metropolitan Knoxville area.
  • 1998-1999: Consulting pathologist for Blount Memorial Hospital (partial retirement).
  • Presently: Emeritus staff of Blount Memorial Hospital.
    Elected to the Tennessee Senate on November 2, 2004.
  • Medical examiner: Blount County Medical Examiner for approximately twenty years. Consulting forensic pathologist for several eastern Tennessee counties.
  • Accredited laboratory inspector: Many years of service as an inspector for the Laboratory Inspection and Accreditation Program of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), during which time I inspected numerous hospital and private laboratories for compliance with strict CAP guidelines.
  • Medical practice honors (partial list): President of Blount County Medical Society (1982-1983). Meritorious Service Award of the Tennessee Hospital Association (1985). Chief of the Medical and Dental Staff of Blount Memorial Hospital (1988-1990). Distinguished Service Award of the Blount Memorial Foundation (2003). Member and chairman of numerous Blount Memorial Hospital committees. Chairman of several Blount County health fairs.
  • Medical practice competency recognition: Licensed to practice medicine and surgery by the State of Tennessee Division of Health Related Boards.
    Certified in anatomic and clinical pathology by the American Board of Pathology.
    Emeritus Fellow of the College of American Pathologists (F.C.A.P.).
    Emeritus Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (F.A.S.C.P.).

SENATE OFFICES (105th General Assembly... 2007 and 2008):

  • Member: 105th General Assembly
  • Member: Republican Senate Caucus (2007-current)
  • Chairman: Calendar Committee
  • Chairman: Select Oversight Committee on TennCare
  • Secretary: General Welfare, Health and Human Resources Committee
  • Member: Environment, Conservation and Tourism Committee
  • Member: Finance, Ways and Means Committee
  • Member: Select Oversight Committee on Children and Youth
  • Member: Child Fatality Prevention Team
  • Senate representative to and member: Executive Committee, East Tennessee Development District

Also, by invitation:

  • National Caucus of Environmental Legislators

SENATE OFFICES (104th General Assembly... 2005 and 2006):

  • Member: 104th General Assembly
  • Member: Republican Senate Caucus (2005-2006)
  • Vice chairman: Senate Government Operations Committee
  • Vice chairman: State and Local Government Subcommittee of Government Operations Committee
  • Vice chairman: Select Joint Oversight Committee on TennCare
  • Member: Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee of Government Operations Committee
  • Member: Senate Environment, Conservation and Tourism Committee
  • Member: Senate General Welfare, Health and Human Resources Committee
  • Member: Joint Government Operations Committee

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES (partial list): A few community activities in which I am involved include:

  • Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee School Health Coalition, a non-profit organization which promotes healthy lifestyles in Tennessee schools.
  • Member of the Board of Advisors of the Men's Health Network.
  • Served for eight years as a member of the Board of Directors of Blount Health Educators, Inc.,a non-profit organization teaching sexual abstinence until marriage in Blount County junior and high schools (rotated off because of term limit bylaws provision).
  • Immediate past president (and founder) of Blount County Right to Life, a county chapter of Tennessee Right to Life. Member of Sevier County Right to Life.
  • In alphabetical order, I am a member of:
    • American Association of Retired Persons
    • American Society of Clinical Pathologists (emeritus fellow: F.A.S.C.P.)
    • Blount County Chamber of Commerce
    • Blount County Farm Bureau
    • Blount County Friends of the Library
    • Blount County Medical Society
    • Blount County Republican Executive Committee
    • Blount County Republican Women's Club
    • Blount County Right to Life
    • Cades Cove Protection Association, Advisory Board
    • Citizens for Community Improvement, Friendsville
    • Civil Air Patrol, Tennessee Legislative Squadron, senior member (rank: Major)
    • College of American Pathologists (emeritus fellow: F.C.A.P.)
    • Federal Bureau of Investigation Citizens Academy, Knoxville Division, Class Six, 2007 graduate
    • Foothills Land Conservancy
    • Friends of Blount County Historical Museum
    • Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
    • Friends of the Kodak Library, Kodak, Tennessee
    • Friends of the Library, Blount County
    • Friends of Tennessee Libraries Association
    • Friends of Tremont (Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont)
    • Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce
    • Gideons International, The: Blount County North Camp (qualified as a church presenter)
    • Heritage Foundation, The
    • Leadership Blount (Class of 2008)
    • Leadership Sevier (Class of 2006)
    • Little River Watershed Association
    • National Parks Conservation Association
    • National Rifle Association
    • Sevier County Farm Bureau
    • Sevier County Republican Women's Club
    • Sevier County Right to Life
    • Sevierville Chamber of Commerce
    • Sevierville Fraternal Order of Police (associate member)
    • Sons of the Revolution, Tennessee Society
    • Tennessee Eagle Forum
    • Tennessee Medical Association (emeritus member)
    • Tennessee Republican Party
    • Tennessee Wildlife Federation

FAITH: I am a born-again Christian, since about age 12. No other experience has so shaped my life as my acceptance of Jesus as my Savior. My wife and I are members of Restoration International Outreach (RIO) Central, Maryville, which is a non-denominational Christian church. Before joining RIO, I was a lifelong Southern Baptist (and member, deacon, and Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church, Maryville). At RIO, I serve as a Sunday School teacher (teaching primarily end-time Bible prophecy, which is one of my favorite Bible topics); I was a deacon, before cell group ministry replaced the deacons' ministry; I was a cell group leader, but I had to resign this position because of being in Nashville for five or so months during the year; and I am a member of the Jail Ministry, when I can participate. I have posted several Internet ministries, sharing God's message throughout the world through hundreds of "hits" daily.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:

  • Named a 2007/2008 LEGISLATIVE FRIEND OF THE ENVIRONMENT in 2008 by the Tennessee Conservation Voters. This award is given to six of the 132 members of Tennessee's General Assembly, whose voting record in 2007 "demonstrated dedication to the protection of Tennessee's natural resources during the 2007 legislatgive session."
  • Presented the CERTIFICATE OF FREEDOM by Tennessee Disability Coalition for "[my] work to secure the rights and freedoms of people with disabilities" in Knoxville, November 1, 2007.
  • Presented the 2007 LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR award by the Tennessee Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Association, Inc., at its annual meeting in Nashville, September 28, 2007 for being a consistent champion of children in the General Assembly and for being instrumental in securing increased funding for CASA programs in the state.
  • Presented the 2007 LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR Award by East Tennessee Development District at the annual meeting of the Tennessee Development District Association in Nashville, March 21, 2007.
  • Invited (and invitation accepted) to become a MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL CAUCUS OF ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATORS (NCEL) in 2007. The NCEL is a nationwide, invitation-only caucus of slightly more than four-hundred state legislators, selected from all legislatures in the entire fifty states. NCEL's purpose is to provide caucus members with a forum to share ideas and information on environmental issues, legislative initiatives, regulatory actions, and assessment of means of protecting the environment.
  • Named a LEGISLATIVE FRIEND OF THE ENVIRONMENT in 2007 by the Tennessee Conservation Voters. This award was given to seven of the 132 members of Tennessee's General Assembly, whose voting record in 2006 was most favorable to Tennessee's environment.
  • Recognized in 2006 by the AARP - Tennessee (American Association of Retired Persons - Tennessee) as a LEGISLATIVE CHAMPION of the 104th General Assembly. This award is given "only to a handful of legislators who provided key leadership on legislation and other initiatives which will impact older Tennesseans" and because I "clearly distinguished [myself] by taking courageous stands supporting our elderly and disabled loved ones." I am honored to be recognized as a champion for a generation of Americans which has done so much to strengthen and guide the course our country. Asked by AARP - Tennessee to be the Senate's prime sponsor of a major legislative initiative of AARP-- the Credit Security Act of 2007.
  • Scored very highly in the "Legislative Scorecard 2006," issued by the Tennessee Conservation Voters (TCV). The TCV is a non-partisan, non-profit coalition of sixteen organizations striving to protect the environment and resources of Tennessee. Of Tennessee's 33 state senators, I am in the top ten percent in my pro-environment votes. Points are rewarded or deducted, depending upon sponsorship of bills and voting record. GO TO TCV's Website for more information. Senator Doug Henry (D-Davidson County) had the most points (9). Senator Joe Haynes (D-Davidson County) and I each had the next highest number of points (7). Protection of the environment is a most important issue for me.