The Sweetwater native was elected as the board's new chairman at the March regular session meeting in at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's Region II headquarters here in March.
As the governing body of the TWRA, the commission is responsible for policy-making decisions — such as setting hunting season dates and bag limits — of Tennessee's fish and wildlife management.
Kimsey replaces Thomas "Bub" Edwards, of Paris, who had served as TWRC chairman for the past year. Kimsey had served as the commission's vice-chair last year.
A father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Kimsey lists big game and upland birds as his favorite wildlife to pursue in the field. He is a former president and CEO of Gemtron Corporation, a 300+ employee company which manufactures decorative glass panels for the appliance industry. He also served as former chairman for both the Loudon County Board of Education and the Board of Trustees at Hiwassee College.
Kimsey represents Bledsoe, Bradley, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Polk, Sequatchie and Rhea counties in the Fourth District. His current term is set to expire in 2009.
Livingston native Johnny Fred Coleman was elected as vice-chairman after serving as secretary last year. Coleman, who owns Mid-State Construction Company, serves Clay, DeKalb, Fentress, Grundy, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Trousdale, Van Buren, Warren and White counties in the Third District. His term expires in 2011.
The new secretary will be Knoxville's Michael Chase. Owner of the Copper Cellar Corporation — a chain of restaurants — Chase represents Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Cumberland, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier and Union counties in the Second District.
The TWRC will next meet on April 22 and 23 at the Region II headquarters, at which time TWRA managers will announce hunting season recommendations for the 2008-2009 hunting seasons.
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