1930 - September 11, 2012
Married: Dorothy Roach Willoughby
Children: Al & Don Willoughby
2 Grandchildren
Charles Willoughby was the second of five sons born to A.H. and Edna Willoughby of Morristown, Tennessee. He was raised on the family farm and began milking cows at age fifteen as part of the family’s Grade B dairy operation.
The family moved to Mt. Juliet in 1946 and purchased Greenhill Farm, which had been widely known for bringing registered Jersey cattle to the area. The family continued the dairy operation with grade Holstein cattle. Charles attended and graduated Mt. Juliet High School in 1947, before enrolling at the University of Tennessee, Martin, where he began his agriculture major while playing football for two years. He transferred to UT Knoxville and completed his degree in Animal Husbandry in 1951, and returned home to Mt. Juliet to become the principal operator of the dairy.
While at UTK, Charles met his future wife, Dorothy Roach, of Columbia. They were married in 1954, and started the family with having two sons a few years later. Charles built the home in which they still reside on part of the family farm, moving in during 1960. During these years, he continued to run the dairy operation with 80 cows, and raised the majority of corn, hay, and silage needed for feed along with tobacco. He received the honor of Outstanding Young Farmer for Wilson County.
In 1965, long-time friend and high school vocational agriculture teacher, Bill Coley, took a job with the state department of education and asked Charles to fill his vacated position at Mt. Juliet High School. He accepted the proposal and taught high school agriculture while maintaining the farming operation. With the sons growing old enough to take a greater role in the farm, Charles accepted an appointment as county Vocational Director in 1975. His duties under a federal vocational reform act were to oversee expansion of what was primarily agriculture and home economics into a diverse program to include metalwork, building trades, electronics, business, culinary arts, nursing and others.
After the dairy cattle were sold in 1980, Charles and sons transformed the farming operation into soybeans, wheat, beef cattle, and hay; which are the main commodities produced on the farm today with the help of grandchildren, Dale and Kate.
Over the years, Mr. Willoughby has been a leader and mentor to men - youth and adult. While an FFA Advisor, he touched the lives of many young men and helped them develop the skills needed for employment and everyday life. He served as scout master, and was presented with the Long Rifle award. He has served as president of Mt. Juliet Kiwanis, Mt. Juliet Little League, and Tennessee Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association. He has been a member of Hermitage and Cloyd’s Presbyterian Churches serving in Deacon and Elder positions. He has served on the Wilson County Commission, West Wilson Utility District Commission, and later on the Farm Bureau Board of Directors and UT Institute of Agriculture Development Board.
Mr. Willoughby continues to advise the operation of the farm and support agriculture in the community. He is a life member of FFA Alumni, and was recently recognized as a member of the Tennessee FFA Foundation’s Century Club.
