Omar Ernest "Ernie" Bacon, Jr.

Omar Ernest “Ernie” Bacon, Jr., age 87 of Franklin, TN passed away January 20, 2025. Happily married to Nell Crawford Bacon for 66 years (married in McKenzie, Tennessee, December 28, 1958), Father of Lisa Dawn Bacon Hackney (Clay) of Dalton, Georgia, and Steven Ernest Bacon (LaDonna) of Franklin. Grandchildren Julia Louise Hackney Cagle (Mitch) of Dalton, Georgia, Amanda Erin Hackney Thomas (Charles) of Newnan, Georgia, and Jackson Ross Bacon of Franklin. Great grandchildren Hayden Michael Cagle, Leah Anderson Cagle, Charlotte Nell Cagle, Charles Broadrick Thomas, and Erin Rose Thomas. Sister Marialice Baker of Nashville and brother Ellis Sutton Bacon of East Tennessee, several Nieces and Nephews survive, as does his beloved dog, June Bug.

Born to the late Omar Ernest “O.E.” Bacon Jr and Mary Elizabeth Sutton Bacon in Chattanooga on May 9, 1937. 

Ernie was Senior Class President at Tyner High School (1955) in Tyner, TN, and Senior Class President of the UT Pharmacy Class in 1960. He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve at age 17 and served eight years. Active in the 4-H Club, he was elected President of the Tennessee 4-H Club Congress. He was a member of Zeta Chapter, Pi Kappa Alpha at UT Knoxville.

Ernie received his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Tennessee (Memphis, 1960) where he met Nell in a chemistry class and practiced retail and hospital pharmacy in Chattanooga. He was a member of Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity and Rho Chi Academic Honor Society in Pharmacy.

He and Nell were the first pharmacists for the then newly opened Moccasin Bend Psychiatric Hospital. He was appointed by the Hamilton County Quarterly Court to the Hamilton County School Board, where he served as Chairman. At that time, he was the youngest school board member in Tennessee.

He then obtained his Master of Hospital Administration degree from the Medical College of Virginia (Richmond 1968). He thoroughly enjoyed a long career in hospital administration and Healthcare management, working in facility and corporate executive positions for HCA and HealthTrust. He served as president of the Georgia Hospital Association and chairman of the Southeastern Hospital Association, covering thirteen southern states. His professional career led to residencies in Dalton, Dunwoody, and Gainesville, Ga., and Fair Play, S.C., and Memphis, Chattanooga, and Nashville, Tenn.

After his retirement from Community Health Systems as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, he did independent consulting for numerous other companies and individual hospitals, both for-profit and non-profit. He also used his business background for long-term service as a Board member for Independence Trust Co.

A proud professional achievement was developing future hospital executives, and he was an adjunct professor for several colleges, including Virginia Commonwealth, Georgia State, University of Alabama-Birmingham, and Washington University. He was a published author on healthcare ethics and management. His most memorable professional achievement was collaborating with Dr. Thomas Frist Sr and Minnie Pearl in creating the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center.

He and Nell shared recognition for this commitment to preservation by receiving the Patron’s Award from the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County. Along with Nell, he was instrumental in forming and leading the Downtown Neighborhood Association.

Active in Civil War and historic preservation endeavors, he was a founding member and President of Franklin’s Charge, Board Member, Vice Chair, and Treasurer of the Tennessee Preservation Trust, past Chair of both the Historic Carnton Plantation and the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County. He was an initial member and Vice Chair of the City of Franklin Battlefield Commission; and a Board Member of the Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association, the Battle of Franklin Trust, and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area. 

Gov. Bill Haslam appointed Ernie in 2015 as a member of the Tennessee Historical Commission. He was awarded the Bob Ragsdale Award by the Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association, which recognizes leaders from across the state for work in their communities to protect and interpret our Civil War sites.

Bacon was twice elected as City of Franklin Alderman, serving from 1999 to 2007, and was on the City Planning Commission. He considered his greatest public contributions as a public official to be the city’s purchase and development of three public parks, those being Harlinsdale Farm, the Eastern Flank Battlefield, and the Carter Hill Battlefield Park, all of which have expanded open green space for everyone to enjoy. 

While Alderman, he was a founder of Franklin Tomorrow, Franklin Sister Cities, and the Franklin Transit Authority. Franklin Tomorrow in 2014, named Ernie as a recipient of the Anne T. Rutherford Exemplary Community Volunteer Award. The Council of Aging of Middle Tennessee honored him as a recipient of their 2021 SAGE Award, which is given to those who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to working to improve the quality of life in their communities.

As a resident of Fourth Avenue South for more than 30 years, Ernie and Nell were generous with their home, whether with neighbors or the community. Their home, the Bacon-Campbell House, was featured on many home tours and as a point of welcome for visiting dignitaries and politicians. While many enjoyed the hospitality of the front porch and its beautiful swing, getting an invite to Ernie’s office in what he called “The Depot” in the carriage house was the mark of a friend and was the site of many in-depth conversations.

Never one to be idle or stop learning, most Tuesday mornings, he would gather at Merridee’s Breadbasket just up the street on Fourth Avenue South with longtime friends for a coffee group that discussed the important issues of the day from their various perspectives. He was enrolled in an online course at Vanderbilt University at the time of his death, studying the Bible as part of his pursuit of his faith. He and Nell were members of Franklin First United Methodist Church, attending at the Historic Sanctuary, and prior to that, also attended Historic Franklin Presbyterian Church. 

Funeral services will be conducted 11:00 AM Friday, January 24, 2025 at Franklin First United Methodist Church Historic Sanctuary, Dr. Bryan Brooks officiating with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment Mt. Hope Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Steve Bacon, Clay Hackney, Jackson Bacon, Hayden Cagle, Mitchell Cagle and Bob Martin. Charles Thomas will serve as honorary pallbearer.

Memorials may be made to Franklin’s Charge, P.O. Box 573, Franklin, Tennessee, 37065 or Friends of Franklin Parks, P.O. Box 549, Franklin, Tennessee, 37065.

 Also visitation will be 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM Thursday at WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, 615 794-2289 williamsonmemorial.com