Mayoral Proclamation Honoring the Life of Thomas F. Pardue

A PROCLAMATION HONORING THE LIFE OF THOMAS F. PARDUE, LONG TIME LEADER, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, AND DOER OF GOOD DEEDS IN THE TOWN OF JONESBOROUGH, TENNESSEE.

WHEREAS, at the age of 80 Tom Pardue recently passed away in his home on W. Main Street in Jonesborough on October 21st, and

WHEREAS, as his family and numerous friends mourn his death, it is certainly important to celebrate Tom’s life and his significant impact on Jonesborough and his country, and

WHEREAS, after his parents moved to Washington County and Tom graduated from high school in Knoxville, he enrolled at East Tennessee State University where he drove a Johnson City school bus as a side job and met Joyce Montgomery, the love of his life for over 60 years, whom he married in 1966, and

Before graduating from ETSU he voluntarily joined the United States Marine Corps and served the majority of his military service in Vietnam as a reconnaissance photographer in the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, earning numerous awards for his exceptional tour of duty including the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Expert Rifle Badge, and in a short time being promoted to a staff Sergeant, and

WHEREAS, after being honorably discharged from the Marines in 1971, Sergeant Pardue returned to civilian life and finished his degree at ETSU. He moved to Jonesborough and working for Magnavox in Greeneville, TN while continuing his love for photography when he had the time to until he made the leap full time, opening Pardue Photographics, actively photographing school pictures, weddings and numerous Town activities and events in Jonesborough, and

WHEREAS, in 1984 Tom Pardue ran for and won one of the four Aldermen positions for the Jonesborough Board of Mayor and Aldermen serving two terms and becoming a significant force on the Town Board enhancing the efforts to revive Jonesborough from a dying small town and greatly improving the quality of life in Tennessee’s oldest town, resulting in Jonesborough consistently being included in the listings of best small towns in Tennessee, and

WHEREAS, while on the Town Board, Tom was a key Alderman in elevating Kevin McKinney to filling the vacant Mayor’s position on the BMA making Mr. McKinney one of only two African American mayors in Tennessee at the time, the other mayor in Memphis, and

WHEREAS, through the remainder of his life, Tom Pardue continued to attribute to making Jonesborough a great place to live and working serving on the Senior Center Advisory Board, being a leader in Jonesborough United Methodist Church, being a long-time

member of Jonesborough Civitan, and becoming the Town of Jonesborough’s official photographer, and

WHEREAS, throughout his many decades in Jonesborough, Tom has been a constant example of a truly wonderful human being, showing his heartfelt love day after day for his family, friends, church and community, then

Now THEREFOR I, KELLY WOLFE, Mayor of the Town of Jonesborough ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN AND CITIZENS OF JONESBOROUGH DO HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 1, 2026 as TOM PARDUE DAY in the Town of Jonesborough in acknowledgement of Tom Parude’s life well lived, and his love and service to his community I encourage all residents to take a moment to express thanks for Tom’s life, and to use him as an example of how we can love and care for our neighbors and community.