Mark Hayes Appointed to Serve on the THRC Board of Commissioners
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NASHVILLE, TN- Governor Bill Lee appointed Mark Hayes of Dyersburg, TN to serve on the Tennessee Human Rights Board of Commissioners in January 2020. Commissioner Hayes will represent West Tennessee through the end of his term on June 30, 2025. This seat was formerly held by Rev. Ralph White of Memphis who suddenly passed away in May 2019.
Tennessee Human Rights Commission Chair Robin Derryberry said “Mark Hayes joins the commission at a critical time. With a new strategic plan for the commission, we’re focused on ways to provide services that are both effective and efficient with the investment of taxpayer dollars. Mark’s expertise is welcomed as he joins us and we’re grateful to Governor Lee for his appointment.”
Mark Hayes resides in Dyer County, Tennessee and has been in private law practice since 1982. His practice includes civil litigation, farm and commercial real estate transactions, business formation and litigation, wills and estate and banking law. Commissioner Hayes is also a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 listed mediator and provides mediation across west Tennessee. He is the city attorney for Tiptonville and Ridgely Tennessee.
Commissioner Hayes is a native of Tiptonville, TN, he attended Lake County High School, earned a B.S. in Municipal Management and Public Administration from the University of Tennessee at Martin and earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville College of Law.
Commissioner Hayes and his wife are members of the Dyersburg First United Methodist Church. He is active in Rotary and received Rotary Internationals highest service award, the Service Above Self award in 2015 for his ongoing work in Honduras for providing electricity and clean water to communities there. Commissioner Hayes is a member of the Tennessee Bar Foundation and has served on the grant review committee and as chair of the Board of Trustees. He is a past board member of the Board of Professional Responsibility. Commissioner Hayes is a frequent presenter at continuing education seminars.
Commissioner Hayes is married to Kelli and they have four children.
The Tennessee Human Rights Commission is an independent state agency responsible for enforcing the state’s anti-discrimination laws, which prohibit discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodation and coordinates compliance with Title VI of the Civil rights Act of 1964.
The Commission's role is to enforce and prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation based on race, creed, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age (40 and over in employment), familial status (housing only) and retaliation in employment, housing and public accommodations.
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Contact:
Veronica McGraw
Communications Director