Randall A. Nelson • Robert L. Thornton

• Provide consulting services to local governments, non-profit organizations, and private developers in strategic and city planning, housing, grant-writing, and community development.

• Supervised the Community Development Office with a staff of five and an annual budget of $1.7 million.

•  Provided the city planning function for Union City, Tennessee.

• Prepared economic development plans and administered economic development loans and grants for communities in a four county area.

• Coordinated and conducted statewide citizen participation meetings to identify recreation needs. Assisted in the development of a state recreation plan.

Robert L. Thornton

Bob Thornton continues the Thornton family's commitment to Tennessee as a sixth-generation West Tennessean. His roots in Tennessee were planted even before the state was admitted into the Union.

He was born in Union City, Tenn., in 1949, and attended high school at the Columbia Military Academy in Columbia, Tenn. He received his BS from the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Bob joined the United States Army in 1968 in Memphis and served in Vietnam with the 25th Infantry Division, earning the Combat Infantryman Badge, as well as numerous unit citations.

As for his work experience, Bob has worked for the Tennessee Department of Transportation as a transportation planner. He has also held positions in the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development as a community planner, and the City of Jackson, Tennessee's Community Development Office as a community development specialist.

His hobbies include taking pictures of West Tennessee churches and the study of the Civic War, especially Tennessee's involvement. Many of his ancestors fought in the Confederate 5th Infantry Division throughout the War of Northern Aggression.

Bob is married to the former Jeanie L. Burgess of Union City, Tenn. Jeanie attended the University of Tennessee as well, earning her BS as a registered nurse. She is currently employed at Regional Hospital of Jackson, where the family now resides.

Bob and Jeanie have two sons, William and Robert. Robert Thornton, Bob's oldest son, is 27 and also employed at Nelson Thornton, P.C.. Robert is married as well, to the former Lisa Carol Vincent, and they have two sons, Andrew and Matt. William Thornton is 24, and is a Captain for Nellwyn Air LLC.

For more information about Bob's professional experience, see his resume below.

Resume

Education
University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, Tennessee, Bachelor of Science in Sociology, May 1986.

Work Experience
Robert (Bob) Thornton has over fifteen years of government and private experience in community development at the state and local levels. Mr. Thornton has a professional affiliation with Southern Building Codes Congress, Inc. (SBCCI). The following is a brief profile of Mr. Thornton's work experience from 1987 to 2002:

Officer, Nelson Thornton, P.C.  March 1996 to Present.

• Provide consulting services to local governments, non-profit organizations, and private developers in strategic and city planning, housing, grant-writing, and community development

Rehabilitation Specialist, Community Development Specialist and Economic Development  Specialist, City of Jackson, Tennessee. June 1992 through March 1996.

• As Rehabilitation Specialist oversaw over $3,000,000 of federal and state housing rehabilitations. As Community Development Specialist was project manager of public works projects which included utility relocations, street improvements and construction of drainage improvements. As Economic Development Specialist was Program Coordinator for the City’s Small Business Loan Program.

Community Planner, Tennessee Local Planning Assistance Office, Jackson, Tennessee. October 1990 through June 1992

• As Community Planner for six towns and two counties administered the zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations and made recommendations to zoning commissions.

Transportation Planner, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Nashville, Tennessee, January 1987 through October 1990.

• As planner in Small Cities Planning Office provided urban studies and transportation  planning for cities under 10,000 and managed the state wide Regulatory Sign Program.

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