1211 East Jackson Boulevard, Suite 1
Jonesborough, Tennessee 37659
Attorney
Jim Wheeler was born in Cookeville, Tennessee and grew up in Columbia, Tennessee.
He moved to Washington County and graduated from law school in 1992. His family is happy to call this lovely region of the state their home.
Jim began his practice of law with one of the largest law firms in our area, practicing as a young lawyer in the General Sessions, Circuit and Chancery Courts, and handling insurance defense litigation, real estate matters, and a general civil trial practice.
His subsequent legal experience includes acting as counsel for the Town of Jonesborough, Tennessee and the Washington County/Johnson City EMS, and an extensive practice in estate planning, probate, guardianships, and conservatorships. Jim completed training in mediation techniques. One of his strongest assets as a lawyer is his ability to build consensus with various parties and their counsel to reach a reasonable resolution in the handling of legal matters.
Jim earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration in 1989 and a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree in 1992 from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. After graduating law school, he was admitted to the Tennessee and Federal bars and has been providing comprehensive legal support to our community ever since.
As a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Jim served as a Board Member and President of the Washington County UT Alumni Association and served a three-year term as a member of the UT National Alumni Association Board of Governors.
Jim has also been involved in many community organizations and served both as a volunteer and in various leadership roles. He is a former member of the Washington County Land Use Coordinating Committee, the local Red Cross Advisory Board, the Johnson City Senior Center Advisory Board, the Johnson City Medical Center Hospice Advisory Board, and as a member as well as past Chair of the Crumley House Brain Injury Treatment Center Foundation Board.
He's been active in the Johnson City/Washington County Chamber of Commerce and is a graduate of the Chamber Leadership 2015 program. He's also a graduate of the Johnson City Citizens Police Academy. He was named as a "40 Under Forty" Emerging Star of the Business Community by the Business Journal of East Tennessee/Virginia in 2000.
In 2018 Jim was elected to the Washington County Commission representing the 14th District. He was then elected Vice-Chairman of the Commission and Chairman of the Public Safety Committee. He has served on the Washington County Regional Planning Commission and the County’s Health Education and Welfare Committee. Jim serves on the County Budget Committee and on the County Rules Committee.
Jim is married to Laura Wheeler and they have two adult children and one grandchild. The Wheelers are members of the Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church in Johnson City, Tennessee, where Jim has served as the Lay Leader of the congregation and has been a member of Munsey's Church Council and Administrative Board for many years. He was previously Chairman of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee, Chairman of the Youth Ministry Advisory Team, the Chair of the Invite Ministry Team, the Chair of the Send Ministry Team, and served a three-year term as Chair of the Global Missions Committee. Additionally, Jim taught the eighth and ninth grade Confirmation Classes for membership in the Church for many years.
In 1996, Jim Served on a mission team to the former Soviet Republic of Estonia in conjunction with the construction of the Baltic Mission Center and Seminary. In 1998, he returned to Estonia as co-leader of a construction team working on the Center.
Jim can be reached via email at jim@firsttownlaw.com