Bennie Jennings, a Fayetteville native, has been honored for his distinguished service in both law enforcement and community sports. Jennings recently retired from the Tennessee Highway Patrol after 26.5 years, where he held the position of Lieutenant for Criminal Investigations for the past seven years. However, his commitment to public service remains strong as he prepares to take on the role of chief of police for Fayetteville in October.
Jennings, a former star football and basketball player at Lincoln County High School, continues to be heavily involved in local high school sports. He can often be found attending games and supporting local athletes. This month, he was awarded the TSSAA Distinguished Service Award for his efforts in organizing and providing security for various TSSAA State Championships events.
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Reflecting on his involvement, Jennings said, “It was important to me because I played sports growing up. Here in Lincoln County, I think we lost just five games in those three years total from 1982 to ’85, and we were state champions in 1982 in football. My love of sports and seeing what it means to our communities keeps me involved.”
Jennings is also a University of North Alabama Hall of Famer and had professional football stints with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the World League’s Sacramento Surge. He attributes many life lessons to his sports background, particularly the importance of unity and teamwork.
Jennings’ work ethic can be traced back to his upbringing. Raised on his grandparents’ farm, he learned the value of hard work from a young age. His mother was a chef and house cleaner, and his father was a construction worker often away for extended periods. “If you didn’t help, you didn’t eat,” Jennings recalls, noting that he was milking cows by the age of 8.
The Jennings family tradition of giving back continues with his son, Jauan, a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers. Earlier this year, Jauan made a significant donation to his high school alma mater, Blackman High School, to support their football and cheerleading programs.
“There are no words for it, because that’s just something I’ve always known and tried to instill in my kids, to always do the right thing and give back,” Bennie Jennings said. “It gives me chills to think about it. I’ve often thought about this a lot, I’ve been all over the state and been around in work and in school, and whenever I’m asked where I’m from, I proudly say Lincoln County or Fayetteville, Tennessee.”
The TSSAA acknowledges Bennie Jennings for his years of service and contributions to TSSAA events and student-athletes.
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