I was wrong. . .
Some years ago, I read An American Life, the autobiography of one James Cannon Gentry of Franklin, TN. At the time, I told Jimmy, “After reading your book, I realize that they will never make a movie about you. . . because John Wayne is dead.”   But I was wrong. . . and on the evening of February 16, I entered the 4th Avenue Church of Christ to view the premiere of “An American Adventure—The Living Legacy of Jimmy Gentry.” (Jimmy donated the proceeds to the Save the Franklin Theatre project.) It was a gala affair. There were proclamations read from Governor Bredesen and Representative Marsha Blackburn, as well as a flag which flew over the U.S. Congress presented to Jimmy from Marsha. Jimmy’s story begins in a Franklin of long ago. . .

Jimmy Gentry was born in Franklin in 1925. His Dad died just after the Depression — leaving Edna Butner Gentry with seven children. Mrs. Gentry gathered the seven around his casket and told her husband, “You have left me more wealth with these (children) than silver or gold could ever buy.” Jimmy credits his mother with many of the character lessons he learned in life as well as the spiritual foundation of living a Christian life. Times were hard for an unemployed widow with seven children. The boys hunted, fished, and sold animal skins to provide for the family. In the film, Jimmy described the methodology behind catching catfish with one’s bare hands. . .

December 7, 1941 changed the world of the Gentrys as it did all of America. Jimmy was 16 at the time — he heard the news on the radio in the drugstore at Five Points. His older brother David enlisted as did many in the Franklin area. Mrs. Gentry hung a blue star in the window, signifying that a family member was serving in the Armed Services. When David was killed in Italy in 1943, Mrs. Gentry hung a gold star in the window, that a family member had made the supreme sacrifice for his country.

At age 17, Jimmy sensed that it was his “time to go” after David’s death. Mrs. Gentry “signed off” though Jimmy was not yet 18 years old. A young boy who had literally never been out of Williamson County was now about to be shipped to the “utmost parts of the earth.”
Jimmy attained the rank of Sergeant and “slugged it out” with millions of others during his two years of active service. On April 29, 1945 Jimmy saw something which “rocked” his world — and has shaped him ever since. He was involved in the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp at Dachau, discovering boxcars of corpses as well as the “living dead” whom he has never forgotten. (He and his grandson returned to Dachau in 2007.)

After the war, Jimmy married Rebecca Channell—the “prettiest girl in the world.” She was the only girl he ever dated in his entire life. Their love affair lasted 63 years—until her death in June, 2006. (The film is dedicated to Edna Butner Gentry and Rebecca Channell Gentry.) Jimmy visits Rebecca’s grave daily in the cemetery on the farm.
Jimmy played football at Vanderbilt and Tennessee Tech and earned his degree from Peabody. He entered education —a long teaching/coaching career at Franklin High School, Battle Ground Academy, and Brentwood Academy. Last fall, at age 82, he returned to the sidelines, coming “full circle” by volunteering at Franklin High School.

Every fall, CPA elementary students — along with 30,000 other Tennesseans — visit Gentry’s Farm to see God’s bounty and to learn about His creation in nature. When they do, they see an American hero (though he doesn’t like to be called that) along with sons Jim, Allen, and Scott. The farm has been in their family for eight generations.
Maybe John Wayne isn’t dead after all. . .