Lendle

J. Percy Priest and His Amazing Race is a gift from Rebecca Harris Stubbs to anyone interested in Tennessee history, American political history, and the heroes who made this country great. With previously unpublished letters, personal commentaries from Priest’s friends and associates, and academic analyses extracted from local, state, and federal records, the author treats us to a light, often delightful, and distinctly tender narrative. She delves into the life of a former schoolteacher and journalist who entered Congress with an upset win after a mere eight-week campaign, and became a powerful committee chairman, an influential Congressional leader, and close friend of Billy Graham. Priest left a pronounced mark on Tennessee and American history, and his name is still associated with integrity, commitment, and honor more than fifty years after his untimely death at the age of fifty-six. For anyone in need of a reminder of what ‘American hero’ means, this is a book that must be read.

John Seigenthaler, Founder, First Amendment Center described the book as “[a]fascinating biography … [Percy Priest was a] hero of Tennessee, his name associated with integrity, commitment, and honor … [he was a] champion … a great patriot. ”

Pat Nolan, News Channel 5 Political Analyst: “Not only does [the book] remind us of an almost forgotten part of Nashville’s political history—the race for Congress in 1940—it also lays out the case for what an important elected official and journalist J. Percy Priest was, and how what he did, and the issues he faced, still impact us today.”

Jim Summerville, noted Tennessee author: “There’s a long and wondrous tradition of Nashville history books, and more appear every year. I’m proud to see this life of J. Percy Priest, especially since it adds to the 20th-century studies of this fascinating city. More, more, more on this somewhat neglected period!”