Jim Rout

An accomplished, well-known business executive and civic leader, Jim Rout began his career at Xerox Corporation as a sales and marketing professional. In 1967, he first stepped into politics when he helped Bill Morris campaign for Mayor of Memphis. Rout was later appointed coroner, and in 1978, he was elected to the Shelby County Commission. While serving on the commission for four terms, Rout was president of Behavioral Health Group, Inc., a firm that provided psychiatric and drug case management. He also conducted sales and management training for area corporations through his own firm Jim Rout & Associates. In 1994, he was elected as Mayor of Shelby County and served for two terms. Returning to the private sector in 2002 after almost thirty years in public office, Rout joined Jack Morris Auto Glass as president. In 2006, he became general manager and chief operating officer of the Mid-South Fair. One of the co-founders of BankTennessee, he became a member of its board of directors in 2002. He currently serves on the bank board as vice-chairman and chairman of the executive and loan committees. He also serves on numerous community and civic boards including the Memphis Redbirds Baseball Foundation, Hope House Daycare Center and the Ronald McDonald House. He previously held leadership positions with the Boy Scouts of America Chickasaw Council, Christian Brothers University, Goals for Memphis, Memphis Rotary Club, Memphis Epilepsy Foundation, Memphis Heart Association, United Way of Greater Memphis and many other charitable foundations. Rout and his wife Sandy live in Collierville. They have three children James L. Rout, III, Rick Rout and Sherry Lynn Rout.