City of Franklin wants to honor Jimmy Gentry's life and journey with statue

Franklin Vice Mayor Brandy Blanton adored Jimmy Gentry, a teacher, coach and WWII veteran who died in April.

“There is nobody like him,” Blanton said at the July 12 meeting of the Franklin City Council.

No wonder she’s supporting plans to immortalize his impact on Franklin, Williamson County, America and the world.

Blanton wants a statue erected to honor the man who supported so many during his nine-plus decades in the area.

Gentry’s life experiences ranged from growing up in Franklin during the Great Depression, enlisting in the U.S. Army after graduation in 1944, marching through Europe with the 42nd Infantry Division – he served during the Battle of the Bulge - and helping to liberate Dachau concentration camp in Nazi Germany. 

Jimmy Gentry:Williamson County's coach, teacher and storyteller, dies at 96

Library of Congress:Jimmy Gentry's life story will be archived in Library of Congress

"We’ve done such a good job at honoring the history of the battle of franklin we got to continue to tell the next chapter of stories," Blanton said.

Gentry's life story archived in Library of Congress. At one point in his life, he was resolved to never speak about what he saw in Europe.