Jackson County’s Doug Stafford Named 2023 Governor’s Volunteer Stars Award Recipient

Doug Stafford is a county commissioner in Jackson County, Vice President of the local Chamber of Commerce, Board member of the Friends of Cordell Hull Lake, and on six boards through the county commission.

Stafford has also been named a 2023 recipient of the Governor’s Volunteer Stars Award. 

Stafford said the original notice for his Governor’s award was hidden in his spam box.

Stafford said County Mayor Randy Heady advised Stafford to take a good look at his email. Afterward, Stafford said he kind of had to go fishing to find the person who nominated him.

“Nobody really wanted to take credit for recommending me,” Stafford said. “So Miss Hope Mayberry (Vargas), our Chamber of Commerce Director, we were out there at the Cummins Marathon. We were feeding the runners out there, the chamber was. And I just said something about that. And she said, ‘Yes Doug I was the one that nominated you. I really believe in you.'”

In his younger days, Stafford lived on the flip side of community volunteers and assistance. Stafford said he knew what it was like to see his mother’s face after receiving much-needed help.

“I’m the oldest of my brothers and sisters and I remember growing up right there in Gainesboro, grew up pretty poor,” Stafford said.  “And we had a real high light bill and they were fixing to cut off our lights. And my grandmother lived with us and she actually went to a church and the church helped. And they kept our lights on in the dead of winter.”

Stafford said he’s a big Tennessee football fan and a true volunteer.

“That is our motto, that’s our state motto,” Stafford said. “We’re volunteers. I understand the history and I’m very proud of that.”