Councilman Jim Franklin

Jim was elected to the Winchester City Council for his first four-year term in August of 2001. This is the first elected office which Councilman Franklin has held, and his campaign efforts were made on the platform of Elected Officials and the Citizenry of Winchester “Working Together” to provide a more productive government. In the first two years as a City Councilman, Jim served on the Economic Development Committee, Technology and Communications Committee, and the Mayor’s Youth Committee. He presently serves on the Winchester Recreational Committee and also the Economic and Community Development Committee (oversight committee) the latter of which is charged with recommending and delivering a master plan for the City.

      Born in 1946 in Fayetteville, Tennessee to Juell Locker and J. Marvin Franklin, Jim inherited a long history of generations of business owners, which also became his profession after college. Jim’s father was a local businessman who owned “The Men’s Shop” on the Winchester Public Square and later owned his own car dealership, which became known as Franklin Chevrolet Company, Inc. Jim graduated from Franklin County High School and attend Columbia Military academy before transferring to Tennessee Tech where he played football and received a Business Management Degree. Jim took over the dealership in 1969 after his father’s untimely death. Jim, at the age of 23 was awarded the Chevrolet franchise previously held by his father, making him the youngest person ever to be awarded such a franchise in the United States. While owning Franklin Chevrolet Company, Inc. he served on Chevrolet’s Dealer Council three times and was the 175th dealer out of the 6,000 existing national dealers to receive the prestigious Service Supremacy Award.
     Jim also served two years in the Tennessee National Guard and as a young man was an Eagle Scout Third Palm. Jim also served as President, Regional Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, and Director of the Tennessee Automobile Dealers Association. He is a past member of the Winchester Rotary Club; he served on the Board of Directors of Tennessee Tech University School of Business and as President of the Franklin County Chapter of Tennessee Tech University Alumni. Jim also served on the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. In 1992 through 1996, he was appointed by Tennessee Governor Ned Ray McWherter to serve on the Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission. Jim also served on the board of directors of the Gold Medal Chevrolet Dealers and was a member of the Chevrolet Nicholson Leadership Group. He served for the National Automobile Dealership Association in many capacities
     After developing what was once known as the Franklin Chevrolet Company into what became known as Franklin Chevrolet, Dodge, Jeep Company, Jim sold the company in 1996 and now operates Franklin Cars on 41-A by-pass with his oldest daughter Faith and youngest son Fhilip.
     Jim is married to the former Alana Acklen who also works at the car business. They have six children and six grandchildren and presently reside at 412 E. Petty Lane, Winchester, in a Victorian home built in 1896.