Sam Whitson (born April 11, 1954) is an American politician. He is a retired

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

colonel. He serves as a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

member of the

Tennessee House of Representatives The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower house of the Tennessee General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee. Constitutional requirements According to the state constitution of 1870, this body is to consis ...

, where he represents the 65th District ( Williamson County).

Early life

Sam Whitson was born on April 11, 1954 in Middle Tennessee. Whitson graduated from the Glencliff High School in

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...

in 1972. He graduated with a bachelor of science degree from Middle Tennessee State University, where he joined the

Reserve Officers' Training Corps The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC ( or )) is a group of college- and university-based officer-training programs for training commissioned officers of the United States Armed Forces. Overview While ROTC graduate officers serve in all ...

(ROTC) program in 1976. He subsequently earned a master in public administration from the

University of Oklahoma The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a Public university, public research university in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it had existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two Territories became the state of Oklahom ...

Career

Whitson served in the

from 1976 to 2002. He was the chief of staff of the ROTC Cadet Command for the Eastern region in 2002, when he retired as a colonel. He was awarded the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...

and the

Bronze Star Medal The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Wh ...

. Whitson is the chairman of the Franklin Battlefield Commission and the Carter House State Historic Site. Whiston defeated Jeremy Durham in the

primary for the

in August 2016. In December 2016, he defeated Democratic candidate Holly McCall. As a result, he represents the 65th District ( Williamson County).

Personal life

Whitson has a wife, Pam, and two children. They reside in Franklin, Tennessee. He is a Methodist.

References

Living people 1954 births People from Franklin, Tennessee Middle Tennessee State University alumni University of Oklahoma alumni United States Army colonels Republican Party members of the Tennessee House of Representatives 21st-century American politicians {{Tennessee-politician-stub