1928 - 1997

Married: Dorothy Feirick

Children: Katherine (Kellie) and Melissa

Grandchildren: Kathleen Evins, Caroline Evins, Lindsey Laine Simpson, and Fred Maxwell Simpson

Fred was born May 18, 1928 to Howard and Katherine Laine. He married Dorothy Feirich in 1957 and they have two children Kelly and Melissa. They have been blessed with four grandchildren.

Fred attended elementary and high school in Wilson County. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Master of Science Degree. After graduating from college, he joined the United States Army and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1953.

During his military career, he graduated from The Southeastern Signal School as a high speed radio operator. He also attended the Army Language School in Monterey, California majoring in Russian language. Later he attended the Officer Career Course at the United States Army Security Agency Training Center and School (USASATC&S) at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. Fred retired after more than twenty years of military service as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was awarded the Army Security Agency Certificate of Achievement, The Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and many others.

In 1975 Fred was asked to substitute at Lebanon High School teaching Agriculture. It turned into a full-time job lasting fifteen years. During his teaching career, he touched the lives of many of his students and helped them prepare for life after high school. His students won many awards (local, state, and national) because of his mentoring and teaching skills. Awards for the Lebanon FFA Chapter included: Superior Chapter. He also had three students selected as State FFA President and two State FFA Vice-Presidents. Fred was the first FFA Advisor in Wilson County to be eligible to take a team to compete in the National Soil Judging Contest in Oklahoma. After classroom teaching , he served at the Board of Education until his retirement. In 1999 a number of Fred’s FFA students established the Fred G. Laine Memorial Scholarship administered by the Tennessee FFA Foundation. Each year since a deserving Wilson County FFA member has received a scholarship to help them continue their education in the field of agriculture. This scholarship is a loving tribute for the influence he had on his own students and a lasting tribute to the outstanding FFA students that never had the opportunity to know him.

Fred served as a dedicated Wilson County Soil Conservation District Supervisor from 1976 until his death in 1997. The Wilson County Soil Conservation District has given the Fred G. Laine Memorial Land Judging Award to the High Individual since 1997 to honor his contributions to education and conservation in Wilson County.

Fred was a member of the Optomist Club. Governor Ned McWherter appointed him an Honorary Page of the Tennessee House of Representatives and Colonel, Aide de Camp on the Governors Staff. He also received a Senate Joint Resolution to honor his memory from Senator Robert Rochelle and Representative Stratton Bone.

Perhaps quotes from former students say it best: "We learned about Ag, but we learned more about being a man or woman", "Mr. Laine could take any student and instill in them the desire to be better and reach their potential", and "He was my mentor even when I did not understand what that was".

Fred has received many awards and tributes, but he was the most proud of his family and their accomplishments. His daughters and grandchildren were the light of his life.