Feb. 24, 1948
Married: Anne Buhler
Daughter: Lisa Anne Tomlinson
David Means Tomlinson was born on February 24, 1948, in Lebanon, to Frank and Nettie (Lemons) Tomlinson. He was born a 7th generation Wilson Countian, and farming was his family’s business. On December 21, 1955, he moved from his grandparents' Beasley’s Bend farm along with his parents to their newly purchased farm located off Hartsville Pike. Tomlinson has resided on the farm, now known as Tomlinson Place, for almost 60 years, and has lived intermittently in one of two houses located on the property ever since. He began farming at age ten, and raised sheep, sows, and chickens. He had his first half-acre tobacco crop at age thirteen. He was an active participant in 4H and FFA. He was educated in the Wilson County School System, and graduated from Lebanon High School in 1966.
Tomlinson married Anne Buehler, of Carlyle, Illinois, on April 20, 1968, and reported for basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky on June 3, 1968. He served as a door gunner and first echelon crew engineer of the Bell UH1H helicopter flight line at Vihn Long Airbase, Vihn Long, Vietnam from November, 1968 until November, 1969. He served with meritorious distinction in the United States Army Air Calvary and flew approximately 700 combat flight hours. After returning stateside, he was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas from November, 1969 until April 3, 1970, but was granted a two-month agricultural deferment, to return home to plant more than one hundred acres of crops for the 1970 season.
In 1973, he was honored by the Wilson County Jaycees as Outstanding Young Farmer. During the 1970's, Tomlinson served eight years on the Wilson County Farmer's Co-op board of directors, and "seconded" the motion to build the current Co-op building at its 107 Babb Drive location. In his last years on the board, Tomlinson served as vice president, and then president pro tem. He also served as a director for the Wilson County Farm Bureau, and was an active member of the Wilson County and Tennessee Cattleman's Association. During his farming career, Tomlinson was a producer of beef cattle, hay, corn, soybeans, and tobacco. He and his beloved wife, Anne, will soon celebrate 49 years of marriage, and they have one daughter, Lisa Anne Tomlinson. He continues to raise hay and cattle, and is an active member of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, Blackhawk Vietnam Veteran's Association, and he is an avid sporting clays shooter.
