After a combined 60 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Grundy County, Sholey and VanHooser are closing one chapter of their lives and beginning another.

Their careers have been different, but their commitment has been the same: to serve their community with integrity, professionalism, and a genuine desire to help others.

Tammy Sholey — 28 Years of Service

Tammy Sholey began her career in Grundy County government on September 1, 1998, when she joined the County Clerk’s Office under the leadership of County Clerk Jimmy Rogers, working alongside Rogers and Lucyle Hampton. Those years provided the knowledge and experience that prepared her to one day lead the office.

Following Rogers’ retirement, Sholey entered a field of 13 candidates seeking election as Grundy County Clerk. She earned the confidence of Grundy County voters and took office on September 1, 2010.

For the past 16 years, Sholey has led the County Clerk’s Office with professionalism, innovation and a commitment to making county government more convenient and accessible to the public.

During her tenure, the office embraced new technology and expanded services, including TWRA hunting and fishing licenses and registrations, same-day duplicate titles, handgun permit renewals and the ability for citizens to conduct business by telephone using debit or credit cards.

Sholey also partnered with Citizens Tri-County Bank to establish two vehicle tag-renewal kiosks, located in Tracy City and Coalmont, giving citizens additional convenient options for renewing their registrations.

In addition to serving as County Clerk, Sholey has served as Clerk of the Grundy County Commission for 16 years, recording and preserving the official minutes and records of county government.

She has also administered the county’s five percent hotel and motel tax since its implementation in 2015. During the current fiscal year, the tax has generated more than $500,000 in revenue for Grundy County.

Sholey’s commitment to professional development is reflected in her Certified Public Administrator designation through the University of Tennessee.

Her service to Grundy County has extended beyond the courthouse through her community and church involvement at Bivens Chapel in Gruetli-Laager.

Sholey and her husband, Jeff, make their home in Coalmont. They have two children and four grandchildren.

After 28 years of service, Sholey is looking forward to retirement, spending more time with family, enjoying new adventures and embracing the next chapter of her life.

Gayle VanHooser — 32 Years of Service

For 32 years, Gayle VanHooser has served the citizens of Grundy County as Register of Deeds.

First elected in 1994, VanHooser took office in September of that year and began a career that would transform the Register of Deeds Office and leave a lasting mark on Grundy County government.

When she began her tenure, the office was largely a traditional paper- based operation, with handwritten receipts and handwritten indexes. Over the next three decades, VanHooser led the office into the modern era, transforming it into a technologically advanced, efficient and accessible recording office.

Under her leadership, Grundy County’s historical land records were digitally preserved, including records dating back to the earliest history of the county. The project was completed at no cost to county taxpayers, creating a permanent digital archive that will protect the county’s history for generations to come.

Her leadership and innovation earned the Grundy County Register of Deeds Office the distinction of Tennessee Outstanding Register of the Year three times. Van-Hooser was also honored with the Tennessee Outstanding County Official of the Year Award, the highest distinction presented by the County Offi cials Association of Tennessee. She also served as President of the Tennessee Registers Association and held numerous other statewide leadership positions.

Yet VanHooser is quick to say that none of these accomplishments happened alone.

For nearly 30 years, she had the privilege of working alongside Connie Gallagher, her Chief Deputy, trusted colleague and best friend. Gallagher was her right-hand woman, her sounding board and her partner through the many challenges of running a public office. Together, they navigated technology changes, courthouse flooding, a pandemic and the countless challenges that come with serving the public.

The accomplishments of the Register of Deeds Office were truly a team effort, and VanHooser considers the people she worked alongside throughout the years to be among the greatest blessings of her career.

Her service also provided an unexpected and treasured gift—the opportunity to build true and lasting friendships with Registers of Deeds and county officials across Tennessee. What began as professional relationships grew into friendships. Through conferences, meetings, legislative issues, training and the everyday challenges of county government, they worked together toward one common goal, serving the citizens of Tennessee with respect, integrity and compassion. “The bond we share is difficult to put into words,” VanHooser said. “We worked together, learned from one another, supported one another and celebrated one another. I will miss my Tennessee Register family more than they will ever know.”

VanHooser’s commitment to Grundy County has also extended far beyond her official duties. She has been a supporter of Youth leadership initiatives, Grundy County Veterans, church activities and numerous civic and charitable efforts just to name a few.

And while her professional accomplishments are many, VanHooser says her greatest blessings are her family. She and her husband, Jerry, have three children, 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, with another great-grandchild on the way.

VanHooser officially retired as Register of Deeds on August 31, 2026, bringing to a close 32 years of service to Grundy County.