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Jim Clayton, a
sharecroppers son, was born in a log cabin with no electricity or
running water during The Great Depression in Finger, Tennessee. From
his humble beginnings to the list of Forbes 400 Wealthiest
American's, Jim's resume reads, lawyer, engineer, pilot, TV Host,
country singer, CEO, banker and philanthropist. His journey was
recognized in 1991 when Jim became a proud recipient of the Horatio
Alger Award of Distinguished Americans. |
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As an entrepreneur,
he and his brother, Joe, founded Clayton Motors in 1956 and Clayton
Homes in 1966. Clayton Homes went public and was listed on the New
York Stock Exchange in 1983. As CEO, Founder and Chairman of Clayton
Homes, he reported thirty consecutive years of increased net profit,
results that positioned Clayton Homes as the industry leader in
manufactured housing before selling to Warren Buffett for $1.7 billion
dollars in 2003.
As a banker, Jim
grew a small, troubled east Tennessee bank, Bank First, and merged
it with BB&T in 2000. In 2001 he bought his hometown
bank, which has quickly grown to 18 locations in 12 cities.
Today,
Clayton Bank
and Trust
is one of the top 50 fastest growing companies in Tennessee as
recognized by Business TN Magazine.
Jim’s autobiography,
“First a Dream”
published in 2002, details his life long strive for
success throughout his
entrepreneurial career. The book’s First Edition sold out and raised
$800,000 for charity. The New Edition, published in 2004, captures
the incredible story of Warren Buffet’s call to Jim immediately after
reading “First a Dream” which triggered the $1.7 billion sale
of CMH to Berkshire-Hathaway.
In his most rewarding
role as philanthropist, Jim along with his wife Kay has established
the Clayton Foundations which have awarded over $40 million dollars in
grants since inception, and will carry on his dream for generations to
come.
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