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Wlaf1450‘Campaigning for my uncle for school superintendent was my first taste of politics’- Dennis Powers
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- State Representative Dennis Powers guest spoke at Tuesday’s Rotary Club Luncheon and shared a “This is Your Life”-type message.
Powers was born in 1953 at the old hospital across from the now La Follette Police Station. “Anybody here old enough to remember that hospital,” he asked. The old hospital gave-way to what is now La Follette Medical Center though the building still stands on South Tennessee Avenue.
His father Hugh was a carpenter when not on duty with La Follette Police or Fire. “He flipped houses before there was such a term. It wasn’t unusual to come home and learn dad had sold the house, and we’d be moving in the next 30 days,” said Powers.
Except for a few months in Michigan, Powers and his family did all of their living within about a two mile radius of the east side of La Follette. His mom was a homemaker while his dad served the City.
Hugh Powers built what many will remember as The Owl Drive-In/Restaurant located where East Beech Street angles into East Central Avenue. The building, with additions, is now a garage.
“We owned and ran The Owl for a few years. That was tough. The restaurant business is tough. I have so much respect for restaurant operators,” said Powers.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the La Follette Little League All-Stars State Championship in 1965. “I was fortunate to be on the team, because I was so young. I was 11, everyone else was 12,” said Powers.
Powers continued to play baseball, basketball and football through high school, but he gave all that up when he discovered golf his junior year. He ended up captain of the La Follette High School Golf Team his senior year.
After graduating LHS in 1971, he went to Cumberland College at Williamsburg, and after having too much fun, transferred to LMU. He ended up dropping out of LMU and finding work going through several different jobs. He always intended to finish college, and he did, graduating from the University of Tennessee.
In 1989, he began a career with All-State Insurance and continues in the insurance business at Gray Insurance. He made the move to Gray after selling his agency in 2010.
Powers started the Young Republicans Club in 1991 with no real idea he would end up running for office. He was tabbed by the Republicans to run for State Representative in 1992 and lost by about 400 votes, considered a good run. He finished the 1994 run for state rep winning by a handful of votes at the end of election night only to learn the next morning he had actually lost by 24 votes. A 1996 run fell unsuccessful.
In 2010, Powers began receiving phone calls from Nashville to run again for State Representative. He asked why given his three losses? “You’re the best candidate,” he was told. Eight terms later, Powers turned his losing streak into a winning streak.
Powers offered some thoughts that have stayed with him over the years. “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up”- Coach Jim Valvano. “Retire? Why? All my friends who retired are at Woodlawn Cemetery. I’m gonna keep moving”- John R.W. Brown.
Perhaps one of the most memorable accomplishments for Powers was saving a man’s life. “One of our players collapsed on the softball field years ago. I successfully performed CPR, and he lived. In fact, after that, he dedicated his life to Christ and is now a minister,” said Powers. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-10/22/2025-6AM)