Whether an elected official or appointed official, there are hundreds of people serving Maynardville and its neighboring communities within Union County in local, county, and state government offices every day. Some carry familiar titles (thanks to fictional TV characters and highly publicized local elections), such as City Commissioner, Mayor, or County Sheriff. There are dozens of other titles, not as commonly known but no less vital, that are given to people who are as dedicated to our communities as high-profile positions. Today, I will introduce Union County’s, County Attorney, whose station calls upon him to handle such important legal matters as advising the county mayor and members of the county legislative body and other elected officials on legal matters and preparing ordinances and resolutions for passage, among other significant law-related responsibilities, and representing the county in litigation.

Born and raised in Maynardville, TN; Mr. K. David Myers, Attorney at Law, was influenced early by an uncle and cousins from Newport who also practiced law. Myers also had the good fortune of knowing attorneys Howard Collett and Roy Moore who practiced law in Maynardville. Before graduating from high school, Myers had decided he, too, would pursue a career in law. After graduating from Horace Maynard High School, Myers attended Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City majoring in Political Science and History and then Wake Forest University School of Law in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Myers was eligible to sit for both the North Carolina and Tennessee bar, but ultimately chose Tennessee, returning home and being near family and friends, and establishing his own General Practice Law Firm.

When asked what excites him about being our County Attorney and what he believes would help with our community development, Myers first made it clear he “loves this place he calls home.” He stated he is looking forward to Highway 33 being widened to 5 lanes, which is currently scheduled to begin in early 2021. He feels that Union County has a strong future, especially as people begin to gravitate away from the cities to embrace the rural lifestyle. Myers stated that he enjoys seeing new jobs being created by new businesses, whether a small business venture start-up with one or two employees or a larger manufacturing facility with a significant number of jobs. He relayed that small businesses tend to struggle the most because entrepreneurs have to burn the candle at both ends and can get burnt out. They may also have difficulty competing for and securing the most reliable or highest skilled employees due to a lack of ability to provide benefits. Myers believes we need a branch of Walters State or Pellissippi State Community College or LMU to come to Union County to offer better growth opportunities and to develop a local skilled workforce. Finally, of course we know that only about 50% of our community has broadband capabilities, and this isn’t even about affordability, it’s about availability! Overall, Myers believes Union County is well-poised for growth, considering the scheduled highway expansion and our proximity to Knoxville and Tazewell. Myers expressed gratefulness for living in a community/county where we have so much face-to-face contact with so many people and opportunities to get to know one another (pre-pandemic, of course).

During the pandemic, his office originally saw a slowdown of people coming in, which allowed time to regroup and catch up on paperwork. While the pace has picked up a bit, things are different, with much of his practice now being conducted via telephone or online. Courtrooms are mostly empty, other than litigants and essential personnel; some hearings are conducted online through Zoom. The biggest change since the early days of his career is the utilization of electronic media for storage and retrieval of documentation, which makes things much easier and more convenient. Myers enjoys his work, in part, because he gets to meet and assist people in a variety of ways and he gets personal satisfaction from helping them with legal matters that impact their lives and livelihoods.

For anyone considering a career in law, Myers advises that to be successful—at practicing law or any other calling—one must stay with it each day and each week and adjust to the needs of the clients and remain open to any opportunities that arise. Myers believes that education paves the path to success; yet what that education looks like depends on one’s goals.

When asked for a personal snapshot of who County Attorney Myers is, Myers said he enjoys Knoxville, being close enough for when he wants a taste of the bustling city but also appreciates serene time at home, keeping up his lawn, working in his garden, and making music. A talented musician, Myers studied the organ and piano and has played at First Baptist of Maynardville most of his life.

Attorney Myers’ office, located on the Courthouse square at 105 Monroe Street, is open Monday through Friday or you can reach him by phone at (865) 992-5939. His staff includes legal assistants, Elaine Clay, Amanda Oliver and Maddy Oliver, and in addition to his service as our county attorney, his office handles civil and domestic matters, estate planning, litigation, personal injury cases, probate, and title work and closings.