<BillNo> <Sponsor>
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 178
By McNally
SJR0178
003977
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A RESOLUTION to recognize Pat Nolan of NewsChannel 5 on the
occasion of his retirement.
WHEREAS, it is appropriate that we should honor a journalist who has performed with
uncommon devotion and enthusiasm throughout his career; and
WHEREAS, a Tennessee broadcasting legend, Pat Nolan has appeared on the
airwaves of NewsChannel 5 (WTVF) in Nashville in some capacity for more than fifty years, and
he will take his much-deserved retirement in March; and
WHEREAS, a lifelong Nashvillian, Pat Nolan graduated from Father Ryan High School in
1969 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in History from
Vanderbilt University in 1973; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Nolan began his distinguished journalism career at WPLN News in 1973
and was recruited to join NewsChannel 5 as a reporter in 1975 by legendary anchor and news
director Chris Clark; and
WHEREAS, after ten years as a reporter, Mr. Nolan left full-time employment with
NewsChannel 5 in 1985 but stayed on as the station's political analyst, providing analysis to
political stories at the local, state, and national levels and becoming a fixture on NewsChannel
5's election night coverage, sharing real-time insight with area viewers; and
WHEREAS, he went on to work full time in public relations, working at Hart & Company,
Dye Van Mol & Lawrence, and finally DVL Seigenthaler, where he rose to the rank of senior vice
president of public relations and advertising before retiring from that post in 2019; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Nolan also served as the anchor/announcer for live television coverage
of the Metropolitan Nashville Council meetings from 1973 to 1975 and later from 2019 to 2023;
and
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WHEREAS, in 2006, he began hosting Inside Politics on NewsChannel 5+, a long-
running weekly political interview program that originated as Inside this Week with Chris Clark,
with Mr. Nolan taking over upon Mr. Clark's retirement from broadcasting; and
WHEREAS, over the years, Mr. Nolan has interviewed politicians, state leaders, mayors,
councilmembers, lobbyists, historians, experts, analysts, and people of all backgrounds for his
show. He is known for thoroughly researching and crafting his questions, then trying to fit in as
many of his questions as possible; and
WHEREAS, although Pat Nolan is retiring as both NewsChannel 5's political analyst and
host of Inside Politics, he has indicated that he is still willing to do interviews about political
stories even after his retirement; and
WHEREAS, devoted to his family, Mr. Nolan enjoys the love and support of his wife,
Betty Lee Nolan, their children, and grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Pat Nolan exemplifies the spirit and allegiance to family and community that
are characteristic of a true Tennessean; and
WHEREAS, throughout his estimable career, Pat Nolan has demonstrated the utmost
professionalism, ability, and integrity, winning the unbridled respect and admiration of his
colleagues and the viewing public; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, that we extend to Pat Nolan our heartfelt wishes for a
happy and fulfilling retirement and every continued success in his future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared
for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy and upon proper request made to
the appropriate clerk, the language appearing immediately following the State seal appear
without House or Senate designation.