Born: June 11, 1929
Married: Vondell Green June 12, 1951
Children: Celia Oldham, Lucy Cowley, Jim Lancaster, John Lancaster
12 Grandchildren and 13 Great-Grandchildren
Jim K. Lancaster was born to parents, Edward and Dimple Knight Lancaster, in the Lancaster Community of Smith County. Jim arrived twenty minutes before twin brother Joe and was raised in the log cabin on the family farm. He attended the Lancaster Elementary School and graduated from Gordonsville High School. Both boys attended Tennessee Tech on football scholarships. While at Tech he served as President of the "T" Club and was elected to "Who’s Who among College Students. Athletically, he received "All Conference honors as a single wing tailback. Mr. Lancaster graduated from Tennessee Tech University in 1951 "With Highest Honors" and a B.S. in Agronomy (Soil Science) Agriculture. He then married Miss Green and accepted a position with University of Tennessee Extension as assistant county agricultural extension agent in Morgan County. Then in January, 1952 he moved to Wilson County to head up the Wilson County office of the Tennessee Farm Bureau where he remained as manager for more than 43 years. During this time he led the company in life insurance production every year. In 1972 he earned Certified Life Underwriter – American College in Byrn Pennsylvania. In 1973 he received the Advanced Estate Planning degree and additionally in 1982 became a chartered Financial Consultant. Though he retired as the Agency Manager in 1995, he continued to be one of the company’s top life agents for several more years.
Mr. Lancaster is very humble when discussing his accomplishments at the Wilson County Farm Bureau and gives credit and thanks to the agricultural community for their support and business during his 43 year career. He also is quick to point out that even though he received most of the recognition, Mrs. Geneva Vance was the true reason for his success and the growth of the Wilson County Farm Bureau Office.
Mr. Lancaster is a charter member of Westland United Methodist Church in Lebanon. He also served in many community organizations including: President of Lebanon Jaycees, Lebanon Rotary Club, President of Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce, local camp president of Gideons International. He is an active member of the Cumberland University Board of Trust. He also was the Chairman of the Board of Peoples Bank. Mr. Lancaster has been very involved with Scouting, serving as Chairman of the Walton Trail District and as an Executive Board Member for Middle Tennessee. In 2000, he was inducted to the Robert E. Musto Insurance Hall of Fame and received the honorary degree of Doctor of Literary Letters from Cumberland University in 1994. Mr. Lancaster has received the Jaycees’ Distinguished Service Award and Tennessee Tech’s "Outstanding Service Award in 1983. He has been recognized by his peers and organizations for his career work and community service. But he considers his family his greatest blessing and reward.
Jim and Joe Lancaster continue to own the land in Smith County where they grew up, and the log cabin has been restored. The cabin has been relocated to Fayettville, Tennessee to a city park where generations of children can visit the home of children of the past generations.
