John Sumners Tanner (D)
About The Candidate
- Office Sought: Representative, Tennessee (8)
- Birth Date: Sept. 22, 1944
- Occupation: Attorney
- Religion: Disciples of Christ
- Web site: http://www.house.gov/tanner/
Education
- University of Tennessee, BA
- University of Tennessee College of Law, JD
John Sumners Tanner was born at the Dyersburg Army Air Base in Halls, Tenn., and lives in Union City. Related to former Gov. Ned McWherter, he attended elementary school and high school in Union City.
He received a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1966 from the University of Tennessee, which he attended on a basketball scholarship. Tanner obtained a law degree from the university's College of Law in 1968.
He served in the Navy from 1968 to 1972. He is a lieutenant colonel in the Tennessee Army National Guard.
He was elected to the Tennessee House in 1976, serving 1977-89. Tanner is a former member of the Union City law firm of Elam, Glasgow, Tanner and Acree.
He was elected to the U.S. House in 1988 and has served consecutive terms ever since.
Tanner and his wife, Betty Ann, have two children.
