New TVA Board Member, Tom Gilliland, Takes Oath

March 28, 2008

ATLANTA – Tom Gilliland of Blairsville, Ga., today was sworn in as a member of the TVA Board following his nomination by President Bush and confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

U.S. District Judge Charles Pannell administered the oath to Gilliland at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building and Courthouse in Atlanta. He becomes the seventh member of the current TVA Board.

“I am honored to serve on the TVA Board and look forward to serving with my colleagues on the board to help TVA meet the challenges of the 21st Century and make the Tennessee Valley a better place to live and work for everyone,” said Gilliland. “I am grateful to President Bush for nominating me, and I appreciate the support I received from Senators Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss.”

President Bush nominated Gilliland for the Board post last July, and the Senate confirmed the appointment March 13. His term expires May 18, 2011.

“On behalf of the board, I congratulate Tom Gilliland and welcome him to the TVA Board,” said TVA Chairman Bill Sansom. “He will begin working with the board immediately and plans to participate in our upcoming meeting on April 3 in Knoxville.”

A native of Atlanta, Gilliland and his family live in Blairsville, where he recently retired as executive vice president, general counsel and secretary of United Community Banks Inc. He is a former chief of staff to Georgia Lt. Gov. Pierre Howard and served as chairman of the Stone Mountain Authority under Georgia Govs. Roy Barnes and Sonny Perdue.

Gilliland is a graduate of the University of Georgia and has a law degree from Emory University.

He joins Sansom and Directors Dennis Bottorff, Don DePriest, Mike Duncan, Skila Harris, and Howard Thrailkill on the TVA Board. William Graves of Memphis and Susan Richardson Williams of Knoxville have been re-nominated for new terms on the nine-member board and are awaiting confirmation by the Senate.

Media Contact:

John Moulton, Knoxville, 865-632-8048
TVA News Bureau, Knoxville, (865) 632-6000

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