Millard Oakley Dead At Age Of 91

Longtime Upper Cumberland lawyer, business man and philanthropist Millard Oakley died Thursday morning. Oakley was 91.

Local church members were asked to pray for Oakley Wednesday after he suffered a stroke. He passed away overnight according to sources.

Oakley graduated from Livingston Academy in 1947 and then attended Tennessee Tech. Oakley graduated from Cumberland University Law School in 1951 and began practicing law. He worked in his Main Street law office most days into his 90s.

He served in the state legislature, was General Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Select Committee on Small Business, and became the state Insurance Commissioner.

Oakley often said his first job in business was shining shoes on the downtown streets of Livingston. He was involved in numerous business projects including ownership of WLIV Radio until two years ago.

Oakley’s named adorned the Overton County Library he helped fund as well as the new county services building in Livingston.

Oakley’s legacy reaches beyond the streets of Overton County and Livingston, like the Millard Oakley STEM Center that resides in Ray Morris Hall at Tennessee Tech. The STEM Center brings a influx of knowledge to students and educators.

Two other existing buildings bear the Oakley name today. Oakley Hall being home to classrooms and offices for the College of Agriculture and the J.J. Oakley Health Services at the corner of 7th and Mahler Avenue.

The newest building that will bear the Oakley name starts construction this year. The residence hall be honored after Oakley’s wife Joyce Arnette, otherwise known as “J.J.” The J.J. Oakley Innovation Center and Residence Hall will house 300 students with an innovation space. It will be located at the corner of University Drive and Whitney Avenue.

Recently, he gave Cumberland University the largest donation in the school’s history. The $5 million gift includes the naming of the School of Humanities, Education and the Arts.