J. Douglas Overbey

jdo@robertsonoverbey.com

Phone: (865) 521-3016
Fax: (865) 522-7929

Education
University of Tennessee - J.D., 1979
Carson Newman College - B.A., 1976, magna cum laude

Bar Admissions
Tennessee, 1979
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 1980
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1981
U.S. Supreme Court, 1995

Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association
Blount County Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association

State Senator Doug Overbey, senior partner and co-founder of Robertson, Overbey, Wilson & Beeler, graduated magna cum laude from Carson-Newman College in 1976 with a B.A. degree and first in his class from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1979, where he was named to the Order of the Coif and Phi Delta Phi Roosevelt Inn's Graduate of the Year. He received American Jurisprudence Awards in Contracts, Conflicts of Law, and Criminal Law. He is a member of the American, Tennessee, Knoxville and Blount County Bar Associations, has served as a member of the House of Delegates of the Tennessee Bar Association, and has been a presenter at various continuing legal education seminars. On Law Day, May 1, 2009, Sen. Overbey received the prestigious Law and Liberty Award from the Knoxville Bar Association for his contribution to the advancement and protection of law through liberty.

Sen. Overbey is presently serving his first term in the State Senate from District 8, after representing the 20^th district in the House of Representatives for eight years. He has served on the powerful Finance Committees and the Health Committees in both the House and Senate and is also a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Senator Overbey was first spotlighted in the General Assembly for his leadership and work on legislation requiring smoke detectors and sprinkler systems in long term care facilities after two tragic nursing home fires occurred in the state. He also headlined legislative action by successfully passing a major medical malpractice insurance reform bill.  

Since that time, Sen. Overbey has continued to be known for passage of many thoughtful laws that positively impact the state, including legislation passed in 2010 to prevent potentially catastrophic cuts to Tennessee hospitals, a new law providing assistance to homeowners who are about to lose their homes due to non-payment, and an innovative job growth bill creating the TNInvestco program that has become a model for other states and helps provide investment capital to small and start-up businesses. He is an ardent supporter of veterans and known for his efforts to assist and improve services for Tennesseans who need specialized care as a result of intellectual disability, mental illness or addictions.

Sen. Overbey currently serves on the boards of Maryville College, A Secret Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee, Presbyterian Homes of Tennessee, SunTrust Bank of East Tennessee Advisory Board, and Jeff Roth Cycling Foundation. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the East Tennessee Development District and the Policy Council for the East Tennessee Human Resources Agency. He is a member of the Sevier County Ruritan Club, 2009 Class of Leadership Sevier, and 2004 Class of Leadership Blount. Sen. Overbey also holds the rank of Captain in the Tennessee Civil Air Patrol.

Sen. Overbey has been active in the community for many years, having served two terms on the Blount County Commission (82-90), President of Maryville Kiwanis, President of the United Way of Blount County, Chairman of Maryville-Alcoa College Community Orchestra, Chairman of the Johnson Girls Group Home, and board member of the Blount County Chamber of Commerce, Blount County Children's Advocacy Center, and Knoxville Museum of Art.

In recognition of his work in the Tennessee General Assembly, Sen. Overbey has been named or received:

• 2010 Legislator of the Year by the Tennessee Network of Community Organizations (TNCO), the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), the Tennessee Hospitality Association, and the Tennessee Development District Association.
• 2008 Legislative Victory Award by the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations.
• 2007 Statesman of the Year by the Tennessee Optometric Association.
• 2006 Tennessee Legislator of the Year by the American Physical Therapy Association and recognized by the Tennessee Silica Justice Coalition for his sponsorship and passage of the Silica Claims Priority Act of 2006.
• 2004 Legislative Champion by the Tennessee Association of Retired Persons, 2004 Tennessee Fire Service Coalition's Life Safety Award, 2004 Community Service Award for Public Service from the Tennessee Hospital Association, and 2004 Outstanding State Representative by the County Officials Association of Tennessee
• 2003 Legislator of the Year by the Tennessee Association of Utility District.

Sen. Overbey and wife, Kay, live in Maryville, Tennessee, have three daughters, and are active members of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.