Johnny Fred Coleman

Johnny Fred Coleman graduated Livingston Academy in 1959 where he earned varsity letters in football and basketball.  He married his wife, Carol Ledbetter (Livingston Academy Class of 1958) in 1960.  He began courting her after a chance meeting at Standing Stone State Park one Sunday when their fathers stopped to talk business.  He was about 14 when he started writing Carol letters every week. They dated during high school and were married for 65 years.

Johnny Fred ‘s family has been in Overton County for over 8 generations, his 8th great-grandfather, John C. Coleman was born in 1820 in Monroe. Johnny Fred grew up in Taylors Crossroads with his parents “Bill” Coleman and Ardean Keisling, and his siblings Jimmy and Betty Sue. As a child he loved to help his grandfather, John Dudley Coleman, in the Coleman General Store at Taylor’s Crossroads. His lifelong love of sports started when he attended the Independence School where he played basketball for Wilbur C.  Smith. Johnny Fred won a scholarship to play college football in Miami, but his mother Ardean wouldn’t let him go.

After graduation, Johnny Fred attended Tennessee Tech where he studied business management for one year before marrying Carol.  Johnny Fred joined the Tennessee Army National Guard and started his career in the construction industry working for Austin Powder Company selling and delivering explosives to coal mines and rock quarries. In 1966, he founded his first business, Mid-State Concrete Pipe Company, later buying out his partners to become sole owner.  Recognizing the local community’s need for another bank in town, he co-founded American Bank & Trust of the Cumberlands in 1979. He also established Mid-State Construction in 1976 and was thrilled when his son Kelly agreed to move back to Livingston in 1995 to help him run Mid-State Construction.  Together, they grew the company which now employs over 100 people.  He was a true entrepreneur and had several businesses going at once for the rest of his life.

In 2006, Johnny Fred was elected President of the Tennessee Road Builders Association (TRBA) and served on the board for many years. As part of his presidency, Johnny and Carol founded the “Ollie the Otter” Seatbelt Safety Program, that has saved lives by presenting to over 1.3 million children at 4,672 schools in 12 states.  Johnny Fred was an avid outdoorsman and was appointed commissioner of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency by Governor Phil Bredesen in 2005.  He also enjoyed golfing, riding motorcycles, flying both planes and hang-gliders, and simply floating on Dale Hollow Lake, where he co-owned Willow Grove Boat Dock. The Coleman General Store had been moved from the Willow Grove community to Taylor’s Crossroads in 1943 when the dam was built, so Willow Grove held a special place in his heart.

Johnny Fred had a big heart and worked tirelessly behind the scenes in both local and state government to advance Overton County and its communities.  He was an engaged citizen serving on various boards and committees including the Chamber of Commerce.  Along with Carol, he generously supported numerous charities and was a member of Livingston Masonic Lodge #259 for 60 years.

Johnny Fred would be honored to be recognized by the Alumni Association.  One new thing we learned was that he was a member of the Livingston Academy Drama Club.  We had no idea, but it makes sense because he was an extrovert and a good storyteller.  We will all miss those stories. We lost Johnny last July.  He was 84 years old.

Johnny Fred truly had a “Wonderful Life”.