Millard Vaughn Oakley was born on May 11, 1930, in Overton County, TN. He was the youngest of seven children. He attended public schools in Overton County and graduated with the Class of 1947 from Livingston Academy. He attended Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville and graduated from Cumberland University School of Law in 1951.
Mr. Oakley was engaged in the general practice of law in Livingston from approximately 1953 to 1971. During this time he was elected four terms to the State Legislature, one term to the Constitutional Convention, and four elected terms as County Attorney of Overton County. From 1975-1979 he served as State Insurance Commissioner for the State of Tennessee. In 1980 he moved back to Livingston and engaged in a very minimal law practice but was primarily involved in business investments and real estate.
He was instrumental in founding First National Bank of Tennessee which started out in a mobile building located on East Main Street and now has two offices in Livingston as well as offices in several counties in the Upper Cumberland area. This was probably the accomplishment of which he was the most proud. He served on many boards and committees during his lifetime, including Thomas Nelson Publishers, the world’s largest Bible publishing company, as well as the Tennessee Board of Regents and the Tennessee Tech University Board of Trustees.
Mr. Oakley was a generous philanthropist and worked diligently to secure funding for the Overton County Library and the Overton County Services Building, both of which bear his name, and also donated the land on which the Livingston/Overton County Chamber of Commerce building sits.
Mr. Oakley was also a staunch advocate for education, and in 2004 established the Oakley First National Foundation to provide scholarships for financially challenged students who might not otherwise be able to afford post high school education. These scholarships have helped numerous students from Livingston Academy and elsewhere attend Tennessee Technological University, Vol State Livingston and Tennessee College of Applied Technology Livingston.
Not only was Mr. Oakley a generous philanthropist and a staunch advocate for education, he also cared deeply for Overton County and its people and always wanted to give back. His office was an open door for anyone needing his advice and counsel – which he freely gave – whether it be on structuring a complicated business deal or how best to season your turnip greens, he could talk about all of it. He helped more people in this area than anyone will ever know – both financially and otherwise. Once when asked what motivated him, his response was, “I didn’t have the nickel to buy the ice cream when I was in school, and I didn’t like that!”
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