Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee Senate Bill SJR0362 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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4	4	SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 362
5	5	By Crowe
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8	8	SJR0362
9	9	006796
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12	12	A RESOLUTION to honor the memory of Steve Grindstaff of
13	13	Elizabethton.
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15	15	WHEREAS, it was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Steve Grindstaff,
16	16	a highly successful and colorful businessman who owned several motor vehicle dealerships in
17	17	Elizabethton and Johnson City; and
18	18	WHEREAS, Mr. Grindstaff began working in motor vehicle sales as a young man and
19	19	soon mastered the skills of satisfying customers and successfully operating a business; he took
20	20	a major career step forward in 1987 when he acquired the Chevrolet dealership in Elizabethton;
21	21	and
22	22	WHEREAS, an avid promoter of his dealership at a time when promotion was extremely
23	23	important in the industry, Mr. Grindstaff took a prominent role in the dealership's advertising and
24	24	soon adopted the nickname "The Boss"; and
25	25	WHEREAS, Mr. Grindstaff was renowned throughout Northeast Tennessee for his
26	26	flamboyant, larger-than-life personality; applying these personal traits to his business life, he
27	27	continuously expanded the size of his dealership, adding both acreage and vehicles, and began
28	28	calling the property "Little Detroit"; and
29	29	WHEREAS, after acquiring a Chrysler dealership and a Ford dealership, Mr. Grindstaff
30	30	was quite proud to have the three largest American automobile corporations represented and
31	31	arranged side-by-side on the property; and
32	32	WHEREAS, he later built a Chevrolet and Cadillac dealership and Volkswagen, Subaru,
33	33	and Kia dealerships in Johnson City and developed two additional Kia dealerships in Bristol and
34	34	Kingsport, for a total of fourteen separate locations; and
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39	39	WHEREAS, after touring Spain, Mr. Grindstaff was inspired to build his version of a
40	40	Spanish castle on the shore of Boone Lake, and the finished product was a 19,000-square-foot
41	41	mansion with eight bedrooms, ten bathrooms, a movie theater, a miniature version of Bristol
42	42	Motor Speedway, and a fourteen-car garage; and
43	43	WHEREAS, after the house was destroyed by fire, he, undeterred by the horrific
44	44	experience and the enormous task of replacing the edifice, rebuilt the mansion in just a few
45	45	years; and
46	46	WHEREAS, possessing a "heart as big as the ocean," Mr. Grindstaff remained a major
47	47	force for good in the community after stepping back from a busy and hectic life in business and
48	48	became active in charitable events and programs supporting education; and
49	49	WHEREAS, Steve Grindstaff evidenced "enormous love" for his family and encouraged
50	50	their work in support of worthy civic and charitable causes; and
51	51	WHEREAS, he is survived by his wife, Ashley Martin Grindstaff; children, Baron Edward
52	52	Grindstaff, Bentley Steven Grindstaff, Steven Edward Grindstaff II, Renee Grindstaff Mullins,
53	53	and Amie Grindstaff Markland; sons-in-law, Adam Mullins and Jeff Markland; grandchildren,
54	54	Adam Steven Mullins and his fiancée, Margret Delaney Walsh, Chandlor Storm Mullins, Zeth
55	55	Christian Mullins, Landon Keith Pearson, and Stephaine Pearson Pastella and her husband,
56	56	Devon Pastella; and a great-granddaughter, Winsley Clover Pearson; and
57	57	WHEREAS, Steve Grindstaff is fondly remembered by Senator Rusty Crowe and friends
58	58	like Laura and Alan Levine as "a great American patriot and proud Tennessean, hugely
59	59	successful businessman, entrepreneur, master salesman, proud father and husband, incredibly
60	60	charitable and generous … a great business leader and community partner"; now, therefore,
61	61	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH
62	62	GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF
63	63	REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, that we honor the memory of Steve Grindstaff of
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68	68	Elizabethton, reflecting fondly upon his life of purpose and commitment to others and his
69	69	excellence as a businessman, public servant, family man, and human being.
70	70	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we express our sympathy and extend our
71	71	condolences to Mr. Grindstaff's family and many friends.
72	72	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared
73	73	for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy and upon proper request made to
74	74	the appropriate clerk, the language appearing immediately following the State seal appear
75	75	without House or Senate designation.