Personal Information
- Born June 16, 1939 and resides in Tipton County, Tennessee
- Three Children; Six Grandchildren
- Episcopalian - St. Matthews Episcopal Church, Covington, TN
- Graduate of Byars Hall High School
- Graduate of University of Tennessee at Knoxville
- B.S., University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Community Involvement
- Former President and Member of Board of Directors - Covington-Tipton County Chamber of Commerce
- Member - South Tipton County Chamber of Commerce & Brownsville/Haywood County Chamber Of Commerce
- Member - Tipton County Veterans Council & American Legion Post #67
- Past President - Covington Rotary Club
- Past President and Member - Tipton County University of Tennessee Alumni Association
- Board of Governors and Directors - ALSAC - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Service in Public Office
- House member of the 89th through 107th General Assemblies
- Member, House Calendar & Rules Committee
- Member, House Education Committee
- Member, House Finance, Ways & Means Committee
- Member, House General Sub-committee of Education
- Member, House General Sub-committee of Finance, Ways & Means
- Member, Joint TACIR Committee
- On December 1, 2008, Jimmy Naifeh was sitting as the longest serving House Speaker, not only in Tennessee, but, also the nation.
- Member of the Tennessee General Assembly (House of Representatives) since 1974
- Elected Speaker of the House-97th, 98th, 99th, 100th, 101st, 102nd, 103rd, 104th & 105th General Assemblies
- Elected Majority Leader of the TN House of Representatives for the 94th, 95th, and 96th General Assemblies
- Majority Floor Leader for the 90th, 91st, 92nd & 93rd General Assemblies
- Past Chairman - Rural West Tennessee Democratic Caucus
- Past Chairman - House Ethics Committee
- Past Chairman - House Rules Committee
- Past Vice-Chairman - Select Oversight Committee on Corrections
- Past Chairman - State Building Commission
- Member - House/Senate Joint Management Committee
- Past President & Member of Executive Committee - National Speaker's Conference
- Member of Executive Committee - Southern Legislative Conference
Military Service
- Served in the U.S. Army Infantry - Honorable Discharge - lst Lieutenant
Honors and Awards
- Legislator of the Year, TN Association of Human Resource Agencies, TN District Attorney Generals Conference, TN School Boards Association, TN Court Clerks Association, TN Sheriffs' Association, TN County Officials Association, TN Business Roundtable, TN Development District (1996 & 1997), TN Trucker's Association (1999), Chiefs of Police & District Attorney Generals Conference, TN Organization of School Superintendents (2006), TN Supreme Court Appreciation Award (2006), TN School Boards Association Legislative Award (2007)
- TN State Employees Association, Long term legislative support of the Association - July 1990
- NCSL Leadership Award - August 1990
- Harry Burns and Good Guys Award, Women's Political Caucus - May 1993
- William M. Bulger Excellence in State Legislative Leadership Award (2006)