Ray Blanton

Blanton graduated from Shiloh High School in 1948 and obtained a bachelor's degree in agriculture from the University of Tennessee in 1951. Blanton married Karen Flint in 1988 during his comeback bid for Congress. He made several trips to Africa the Middle East Japan and Europe in an effort to form economic partnerships with foreign investors.

He also served three terms in the U. Though he initiated a number of government reforms and was instrumental in bringing foreign investment to Tennessee his term as governor was marred by scandal namely over the selling of pardons and liquor licenses.