TOP PHOTO: Dr. James “Jim” Farris receives the BSA Campbell County Good Scout Award tonight at 6 pm.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – “I’m humbled and honored by it and surprised; all three of those,” said Dr. Jim Farris who will receive the 2021 Boy Scouts of America Campbell County Good Scout Award this evening at the Ball Farm Event Center. Related story.

Farris graduated from La Follette High School in 1957, left for college and was headed toward becoming a big city doctor. “I was offered opportunities in Birmingham and Knoxville, but I didn’t want to be a big city doctor,” Farris pointed out. His reason for returning to his hometown was that he thought it would be a good place to raise his children not to mention the community badly needed an internal specialist.

Farris, a music lover, has been playing the violin for 11 years. WLAF caught up with him on Wednesday during his practice session.

Farris calls the town where he grew up “a unique place.” He thinks the La Follette High Owls’ great sports teams made it unique, because sports was a big thing.

“I remember how the Knoxville Newspapers, especially the Journal, covered sports in those days. One headline read “Tall Owl Makes Big Screech.” That came after the Owls came from behind to beat Knoxville Rule in the semi-finals of the state basketball tournament. Sixth man Ben Cooper sparked the comeback win by making five field goals (before the three point shot), and Ben, a forward, was that tall Owl,” explained Farris, who was known as Jimmy in those days.

Farris graduated from the “new high school.” That new school is now La Follette Middle School. This is his senior class photo.

“This is a big honor to have, and it’s happening at the end of my 50 year medical career,” said Farris. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 04/22/2021-6AM)

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