Ray Knowis

Ray Knowis, Mayor

Phone: 931-455-2648
Cell: 931-247-5113 
Term Expires: August 2024
Email Ray Knowis

Biography

Ray Knowis was elected Mayor August 6, 2020. He was first elected Alderman in 2015 and again in 2018. He has served as liaison from the Board to the Tullahoma Airport Authority, the Planning Commission and the Tullahoma Area Economic Development Corporation (TAEDC). As Mayor, he will continue to serve on the Airport Authority and the Planning Commission. Previously he served on the Consolidated Communications Board. He is also a member of the Tullahoma Area Chamber of Commerce.

Knowis grew up in Lawrence County. His mother was a school teacher and his farther a farmer. After graduating from Lawrence County High School, he attended the University of Tennessee for one year and then enrolled at the Chicago Technical College where he completed a 3-year program in machine design. While working at Micro Craft, he earned his Associate Degree from Motlow State then took a 15-month sabbatical to attend Vanderbilt University, earning a degree in Engineering. He subsequently earned his Master's Degree from the University of Tennessee in Engineering Management.

Knowis is married to his wife, Ann, who served as an Administrative Assistant in the Tullahoma City School System for 18 years. They have one son, Steve, who attended THS and subsequently the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he majored in music performance. After college, he was accepted into the United States Air Force Band where he continued to serve for 20 years, 10 of which were spent in Germany. After retirement from the Air Force, he has become an accomplished woodworker. He and his wife, Brenda, live in Dayton, Ohio.

Knowis is a member of the First United Methodist Church where he enjoys singing in the Sanctuary Choir and serving as a substitute Sunday School Teacher. He and his wife enjoy travel and are avid golfers. To date, they have played in 47 states and plan to play in the other 3 within the next couple of years.

Employment

Knowis is a 54 year resident of Tullahoma coming here to work at AEDC in 1966 until he was employed by Micro Craft in 1968. He continued his employment there until 1999 when he took an early retirement and started his own business, Management Consulting Services.

Community Service

He has been active in a number of civic and service organizations since leaving Micro Craft. He has served on the Board of Directors for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Children (Chair 2 years), Trinity Adult Day Care (Chair), Lakewood Country Club (Vice-Chair), University of Tennessee Space Institute Support Council (Vice-Chair), Hands-on Science Center, Arnold Community Council, The Rotary Club of Tullahoma - serving as president and subsequently being selected to serve as Rotary International's District Governor for 66 clubs in the eastern half of Tennessee.