Jim Coley (February 11, 1951 – October 10, 2021) was an American politician and 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 for the 97th district, which encompasses part of Shelby County from 2007 to 2021.

Education and career

Jim Coley was first elected to the 105th Tennessee General Assembly (2007–2008). He was a member of the House Education Committee, the House State and Local Committee, the House State Government Subcommittee, the House Higher Education Subcommittee, and the House Special Initiatives Subcommittee. Rep. Coley worked as a teacher at Bolton High School. He graduated from

Memphis State University } The University of Memphis (UofM) is a public university, public research university in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded in 1912, the university has an enrollment of more than 22,000 students. The university maintains the Herff College of Engineering ...

with a

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degree with honors. He obtained his

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Th ...

degree in Teaching from the

University of Memphis } The University of Memphis (UofM) is a public research university in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded in 1912, the university has an enrollment of more than 22,000 students. The university maintains the Herff College of Engineering, the Center for Ea ...

. Coley was instrumental in introducing a number of different bills in 2011 and 2012 regarding the practice of human trafficking. The bills introduced made sentencing against traffickers much more strict as well as providing more outreach to those who survive the practice. His work, along with his co-sponsors and NGO Operation Broken Silence, moved Tennessee to number 2 in the nation in the Polaris Project's annual state-by-state rankings of legislative work being done to stop modern slavery. Rep. Coley's immediate family consists of his ex-wife, Paula Coley, a CPA, and his son and daughter, Evan and Erin, respectively. He was diagnosed with dementia in 2020. He died on October 10, 2021, at age 70.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coley, Jim 1951 births 2021 deaths Republican Party members of the Tennessee House of Representatives 21st-century American politicians Politicians from Houston