Lion of the Week

Claude Bates

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The Lion of the Week is Claude Bates:

I was born in Old Hickory TN but was raised in Hickman & Lewis County TN. My parents relocated to Hickman County where they owned and operated a General Store. Later we moved to Hohenwald were they owned and operated a full service grocery store and later a Men's & Women clothing shop.

I graduated from Lewis County High School in 1951 and opted to join the Navy where I served for 3 ® years. Most of my enlistment was served aboard the Battleship USS Wisconsin BB 64. During this time I served two tours of duty in Korea and was privileged to visit many countries including China, Japan, Brazil, Cuba, Panama and many of the Central America Islands. We also went to France, Scotland and Oslo Norway. I cherish the time I spent serving my country in the Navy because of the skills gained and the opportunity to see and visit so many place in the world.

After my discharge from the Navy, I went to work for the DuPont Co. in Chattanooga as a shipping clerk. After about 2 years an opportunity became available to move to Western Electric Co. were I received training to work with field units upgrading the central phone systems in many areas in Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky.

In 1955, I met my wife Sarah. We attended the same high school but never knew each other until some 4 years later. We were wed in 1956 and have enjoyed 50 years of marriage. She worked for J C Penny at the 100 Oaks Mall and Hickory Hollow Mall for 15 years. We have two children; our daughter is married, has two sons, lives in Antioch, and is a housewife. Our son is married, has two daughters and lives in Belleview. He is a graduate of Lipscomb University where he obtained his MBA and later his Master's Degree. He is the National Account Manager for Nashville Wire Co.

I took the Civil Service Exam for the U S Postal Service and was hired in 1959 as a Distribution Clerk. In 1967, I received a promotion to supervisor and later to upper management. I received extensive Management Training at the Postal Service Academy in Bethesda MD and at the Management and Quality training College in Hollywood FL. In 1986 I became the Manager of the Mail Processing Center in Nashville were I was responsible for some 600 employees, a 150,000 square foot processing facility and a 40-45 million dollar yearly budget. This facility processed an average of 2 million pieces of mail per day and operated 24 hours per day, 7 day a week. I retired from the Postal Service in 1997 after 41 years of combined federal government service.

I am the Past President of the National Association of Managers & Supervisor at both the State and Local level, Past President of the National Federal Retired Employees Association at the local level and a 27 year member of the America Legion, Post 88.

In 1998, I was invited by my good friend Joey Davis to become a member of the Franklin Lions Club. It has been my pleasure to serve the club in many capacities from Tail Twister to President and continue to serve as the Treasurer. I was Co-chairman of Franklin on the Fourth for 3 years. The club has named me Lion of the Year, Committee person of the year and most recently the ultimate award, a Melvin Jones Fellow.

I appreciate many things about the Franklin Lions Club and consider it an honor and a privilege to be a member. I am proud to be able to associate and enjoy fellowship with all of the club members.

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