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SJR 413

Memorials, Death - James W. "Jim" Ayers -

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Ed Jackson

SJR 413 honors James W. Ayers’s life and legacy, recognizing his banking leadership, philanthropy through The Ayers Foundation, and impact on Tennessee education, health, and devel

Signed by Governor.
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Bill Summary · SJR 413

Summary of Senate Joint Resolution 413 (SJR 413)

Overview

SJR 413 is a ceremonial joint resolution of the Tennessee General Assembly honoring the memory and acknowledging the legacy of James W. "Jim" Ayers of Parsons. The measure, introduced April 7, 2025, was signed by the Governor on May 2, 2025. It expresses sympathy to Ayers’s family and requests that an official copy be prepared for presentation.

Purpose and Intent

  • To honor the life, character, and substantial contributions of Jim Ayers to Tennessee’s business, educational, and rural communities.
  • To recognize his role as a prominent banker and entrepreneur, as well as his extensive philanthropic leadership through The Ayers Foundation and related initiatives.
  • To memorialize Ayers’s impact on healthcare, education, and economic development in Tennessee.

Provisions and Highlights

  • The resolution provides extensive “WHEREAS” statements detailing Ayers’s life story, business achievements, and philanthropic activities, including:
    • Founder and former chairman/CEO of FirstBank; growth from a single bank (1984) to a major Southeastern financial institution with assets surpassing $13 billion.
    • Founding of American Health Centers and leadership in healthcare.
    • Establishment of The Ayers Foundation (1999) to improve quality of life through education, conservation, and social welfare; direct support to over 20,000 rural Tennessee students.
    • Contributions to higher education and community institutions, including honorary degrees from multiple universities and the creation of the Ayers Institute/Center initiatives.
    • Institutional recognitions and notable honors, including the naming of Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s new $500 million “Jim Ayers Tower” (opening October 2025).
  • The core operative portion includes:
    • An official statement that the General Assembly honors Ayers’s life and legacy.
    • Expressions of sympathy and condolences to his family.
    • A directive to prepare an appropriate copy of the resolution for presentation, with specific formatting instructions regarding designation.

Background on James W. Ayers (Key Facts)

  • Born November 19, 1943, in Parsons, Tennessee.
  • Education: Attended Memphis State University (now University of Memphis), earned a degree in accounting in 1965.
  • Business leadership: Healthcare network founder (American Health Centers); banking leadership (FirstBank) and public listing in 2016.
  • Philanthropy: The Ayers Foundation (1999) supporting education, conservation, and social welfare; extensive institutional philanthropy in Tennessee.
  • Notable recognitions: Numerous awards and honorary degrees; Vanderbilt’s Jim Ayers Tower named in his honor (opening 2025).

Impact and Beneficiaries

  • While the resolution itself is ceremonial, it highlights—and effectively acknowledges—the impact of Ayers’s philanthropy and business leadership on:
    • FirstBank and broader Tennessee banking.
    • The Ayers Foundation and rural education initiatives (impact on thousands of students).
    • Recipient institutions such as Jackson State Community College, Bethel University, Freed-Hardeman University, Union University, the University of Memphis, Lipscomb University, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (via the named tower).

Procedural Timeline and Status

  • Introduced: April 7, 2025
  • Senate actions: Sponsor added April 9; passed/engrossed through April 14–16; on consent calendar April 11; final concurrence April 16.
  • House actions: Concurred in Senate version; enrolled and signed by House Speaker April 24; transmitted to Governor April 25.
  • Governor: Signed May 2, 2025.

Fiscal/Legal Considerations

  • No appropriation or statutory changes; this is a ceremonial memorial recognizing Ayers’s life and contributions. The notable informational item is the Vanderbilt tower named in his honor, with the opening planned for October 2025.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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