Julian Bibb

Julian Bibb will be the recipient of the Business Legacy Award to be presented Wednesday, July 26, as part of the 11th annual Franklin Tomorrow Exemplary Community Volunteer Awards and Volunteer Spirit Awards, at the Franklin Theatre.

The event will begin at 7 p.m. following a 5:30 p.m. reception at First Bank at Five Points for nominees, their families and ticketholders. New this year will be a champagne and dessert after-party, hosted at PARKS Realty.

The awards presentation will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for $25 per person through the Franklin Theatre at www.franklintheatre.com and include the pre- and post-parties, as well as the main event at the Theatre.

The Franklin Tomorrow Business Legacy Award is a continuation of the Business Legends Award previously presented by the Williamson County-Franklin Chamber of Commerce.

This award recognizes an individual who has made significant impact in the areas of business, quality of life, and leadership, according to Tim Murphy, Franklin Tomorrow Board president.

Bibb, who lists among his biggest passions the pursuit of the law and the Franklin community, most recently finished a term as president of the Heritage Foundation, but has been a leader in the founding of numerous community organizations and activities.

Among the organizations he helped to found is Leadership Franklin and Debbie Henry, associate executive director of the program, had this to say in a nomination.

“Above all, Julian is the epitome of volunteer servant leadership. Each day, he unselfishly rolls up his sleeves, and brings his expertise, his talents, his passion, and his toolbox filled with love for Franklin, Williamson County, and Tennessee, with the goal of continually helping others and bettering the community,” Henry wrote, with the support of Leadership Franklin prepared for her and Leadership Franklin Executive Director Paula Harris.

Mary Pearce, the recipient of last year’s Business Legacy Award and recent retiree as the long-time executive director of the Heritage Foundation, also submitted a nomination for Bibb. She noted he has served more terms as Heritage Foundation president than anyone else in that organization’s 50-year history.

“Julian has served as the leader who can build consensus for projects that profoundly impact our community such as battlefield reclamation, conservation easements, tourism, historic zoning, community visioning, leadership building for youth and adults, purchase of special places like Harlinsdale Farm and support of education,” she wrote. “He does the needed homework for each project, takes the best notes, creates the best teamwork, never gives up and always finds the time to also be an amazingly productive attorney, wonderful family man and great friend.”

Bibb is a member of Stites & Harbison PLLC with a practice specializing in banking and real estate law. Earlier this summer, Bibb and the firm were recognized by The Land Trust for Tennessee for providing $500,000 in pro-bono services to the organization, and also they were recognized by The Civil War Trust for providing pro bono legal services to battlefield preservation in Franklin valued at $1.5 Million.

To list the organizations which Bibb has helped to start would be lengthy, but they include Franklin Tomorrow, Franklin’s Charge, the Education Foundation of Williamson County, and several more. He is active with the Land Trust of Tennessee, Cumberland Region Tomorrow, The Transportation Management Association, and Leadership Middle Tennessee, as well as many professional organizations.

He is married to Jayne, and their children are Julian and Debra, Polly and Chris, Joseph and John. He has six grandchildren.

Making the event possible as partners are FirstBank and Williamson Medical Center. Acting as supporters are Buerger Moseley Carson, PARKS Realty, and Rotary Club of Franklin at Breakfast.

In 2007, Franklin Tomorrow established the Exemplary Community Volunteer Awards to honor the decades of service and tremendous impact of Anne T. Rutherford, with an award which recognizes the collective effort of an individual’s work, the impact on the agencies themselves, and the community at large. Awards will also be presented in the Volunteer Spirit, Youth Initiative, Civic Groups, Corporate Volunteer Teams, and Individual Corporate Volunteer categories.

Patron supporters for the event are The TMA Group, Franklin Lions Club, and Signs First. Supporters are 61st District State Rep. Charles Sargent, 63rd District State Rep. Glen Casada, 23rd District State Sen. Jack Johnson, 65th District State Rep. Sam Whitson, Ernie & Nell Bacon, Deana Hood, Attorney at Law, The BBB Integrity Foundation, Taziki’s, District Attorney General Kim Helper, Lipman Brothers, and the R.S. Lipman Company, and Ryan Search & Consulting.

Franklin Tomorrow is a community visioning nonprofit which seeks to engage the community, foster collaboration, and advocate for a shared vision for the future of Franklin. That shared vision includes a vibrant economy, distinct character, robust neighborhoods, and great people. Visit our Website at www.franklintomorrow.org.