Sam Elliott Named Chair-Elect of Tennessee Bar Foundation

Gearhiser, Peters, Elliott, & Cannon, PLLC

Sam Elliott, a member of the firm, recently was confirmed as chair-elect of the Tennessee Bar Foundation’s Board of Trustees at the Foundation’s annual meeting in Memphis in June. He will serve a one-year term, and succeed to the chairmanship in June 2025. The Tennessee Bar Foundation was established in 1982. Its mission is to administer Tennessee’s IOLTA (Interest On Lawyers’ Trust Accounts) program, honor distinguished attorneys as "Fellows," and support law-related public interest projects. The IOLTA program has previously announced 2024 grants totaling $3,000,000, to support Tennessee’s Legal Aid programs and other non-profit organizations which provide legal services to the poor and/or work to improve the administration of justice.



Sam was also recently notified of his appointment by Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton to the reorganized Tennessee Historical Commission. Sam has served on the Commission since 2005 and was the chairman from 2009 to 2015. He is an avocational historian of Tennessee during the Civil War and has had several books, essays and articles published, including award-winning biographies of Isham G. Harris and John C. Brown.

David McDowell was elected to serve as the Vice President of the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Fellows

July 10, 2025
At the 144th Annual Tennessee Bar Association Convention, David McDowell was elected to serve as the Vice President of the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Fellows, and began another term of service as the East Tennessee Governor on the Tennessee Bar Association Board of Governors.

Longtime Legal Leader Sam D. Elliott Takes Helm of Tennessee Bar Foundation

July 10, 2025
On July 1, 2025, Sam D. Elliott, a member of the firm, assumed the chairmanship of the Tennessee Bar Foundation Board of Trustees. A member of the Board since 2019, Sam will serve a one-year term as chairman. The Tennessee Bar Foundation was established in 1982. Its mission is to administer Tennessee’s IOLTA (Interest On Lawyers’ Trust Accounts) program, honor distinguished attorneys as "Fellows," and support law-related public interest projects. The IOLTA program supports Tennessee’s Legal Aid programs and other non-profit organizations which provide legal services to the poor and/or work to improve the administration of justice. Sam is a former president of the Tennessee and Chattanooga Bar Associations and also currently serves as Chairman of the Tennessee Historical Commission.