The reviews are in on Jerry Summers’ new book, “Tennessee Trivia No. 1,” a compilation of short articles about persons, places and events in the Volunteer State.
Fellow Chattanooga attorney, author and historian Sam Elliott calls the tome “a well-researched volume of history and folklore that will delight the reader.”
Elliott lauds Summers for how he brings to light “the often forgotten persons, places and events that make southeast Tennessee a marvelous place.”
Equally enamored with Summers’ latest writing endeavor is Linda Moss Mines, Chattanooga and Hamilton County’s historian, who urges readers to “grab the book, pour a cup of coffee and ... enjoy Tennessee’s most fascinating historical tales.”
“Jerry Summers excels at storytelling, and you’ll be disappointed when the stories end,” she says.
“I tried to pick out unusual personalities and events to fill in a few gaps of the known and lesser known parts of our state’s history,” Summers says.
Featuring people like Martin Littleton (whom Summers calls a “rag to riches lawyer”), places like Chattanooga’s law school (which closed in 1960) and events like the city’s divorce mill scandal, “Tennessee Trivia No. 1” clocks in at 190 pages and contains over 60 brief pieces and dozens of historical photos.
Proceeds from the book will go to Orange Grove Center, a Chattanooga nonprofit that serves families with loved ones with an intellectual or developmental disability.
“Tennessee Trivia No. 1” can be purchased through Orange Grove’s website, orangegrovecenter.org, for $22.
Tera Roberts, CEO of Orange Grove, calls the book “a captivating collection that exposes the reader to noteworthy people and places.”
“Jerry’s entertaining accounts of events propel the reader into a deeper appreciation of local history,” she says.
Summers is a practicing attorney in Chattanooga. He has served as an assistant district attorney, a criminal defense attorney and a personal injury and labor lawyer since he began the practice of law in 1966.
Summers has argued cases before the U.S. and Tennessee Supreme Courts and has been involved in numerous landmark decisions in both civil and criminal law.
Summers is still practicing, but says his second career as an author has added excitement to his life.
“My first career as a trial lawyer of 53 years ... is not over, but the joy of researching my county, state and the South has made the transition to part-time lawyer much easier.”
Sources: Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers; Orange Grove Center; “Tennessee Trivia No. 1”