GOVERNOR/GOVERNOR'S STAFF SERIES - PLAIN LOW NUMBERS
Began 1928, issued to Governor only.
Nashville Banner, 2/5/1928:
"SPECIALLY DESIGNED LICENSE FOR GOVERNOR'S CAR"
"Plates bearing the number 1 for 1928 were reserved for the
governor this year for the first time, and the title of his
office was stamped on the tags in relief just above the figure.
Gov. Horton said he disliked the idea and had the tags painted
over to keep the word from showing."
(Photo of plate has blank-looking area at top where the presumed
legend "GOVERNOR" was painted black, and a small-die "1" with two
widely spaced stars flanking the number.)
1930 is plain #1 at left (no staff yet). Issued to Governor and
his honorary staff, but also to a wide variety of other politicians
and supporters. Numbers in bold indicate verified assignments.
"A" suffix first seen 1955 for owner's second car; 1959 #27B seen.
1928 *1* 1940 112 1953 300 1965 550
1929 1941 1954 264 1966 1099
1930 1 1942 1955 527 1967 957
1931 1944 1956 612 1968 640
1932 1945 67 1957 777 1969 662
1933 100 1946 1958 743 1970 863
1934 100 1947 87 1959 550 1971 1079
1935 26 1948 200 1960 673 1972 1170
1936 200 1949 332 1961 550 1973 1136
1937 1 1950 400 1962 550 1974 1128
1938 100 1951 331 1963 889 1975 87
1939 112 1952 200 1964 936 1976 1A
COLOR VARIATIONS
In 1953-55, reverse-color plates were issued to the State
Legislature; numbers appear to duplicate the normal-color series.
The 1957-63 variations are probably House/Senate members who
chose to order non-legend plates, and 1975 is Judicial colors.
1953: Silver/Dark Blue 9
Dark Blue/Silver 74, 135, 300
1954: Black/Yellow 44
Yellow/Black 59, 255, 264
1955: White/Red 3, 34, 130, 134
Red/White 42, 71, 132A, 527
1957: White/Orange 19, 95
1959: Black/White 15, 57
1960: White/Black 93, 94A
Black/White 29, 162, 353, 656, 673
1962: White/Black 14A, 96A (legend bottom, no map)
1963: Blue/Tan 12A (legend bottom, no map)
1975: White/Dark Blue 7, 26
REGISTRATION FIGURES: (Not all politicians ordered their plates)
1951 200 1954 503 1957 702
1952 330 1955 552 1958 761
1953 247 1956 562 1964-70 (See Regs. page)
Chattanooga Times, 10/28/1932: "As usual...passenger car numbers
from 1 to 100 will be allotted the governor, other state officials
and members of the governor's staff."
KNOWN ASSIGNMENTS
1933: #1 Governor, #2 Secretary of State, #3 State Treasurer,
#4 Comptroller.
1934: #6 Commissioner of Finance and Taxation.
1936: #1 - 16 state officials, #17 - 100 "Colonel"s,
#101 - 157 and 200 to individuals.
1937: #1 - 17 state officials.
1938: #82 - 83 U.S. Senators, #84 - 93 U.S. Representatives.
1939: #1 Governor, #1C and 1D Governor's mother and father, respectively.
1940: #1-B and 1-C Governor's mother and father, respectively.
#1 Governor, #2 Speaker of the Senate, #3 Speaker of the House,
#4 State Treasurer, #5 Comptroller, #6 Secretary of State,
#7 - 19 Commissioners in the Governor's Cabinet,
#24 - 25 U.S. Senators, #41 - 49 U.S. Representatives,
#51 - 100 Colonels.
1948: #1 - 6 same as 1940 and 1949, #7 Governor's Secretary,
#8 - 17 Commissioners in the Governor's Cabinet,
#24 - 25 U.S. Senators, #41 - 48 U.S. Representatives,
#50 - American Legion, #51 - 200 other dignataries.
1949: #1 Governor, #2 Senate Speaker, #3 House Speaker,
#4 State Treasurer, #5 Comptroller, #6 Secretary of State,
#7 Governor's brother, #24 - 25 U.S. Senators,
#201 - 232 State Senators, #233 - 331 State Representatives.
1950: #1 - 6 same as 1949, #7 - 19 Governor's Cabinet,
#24 - 25 U.S. Senators, #41 - 48 U.S. Representatives,
#190-200 Capitol reporters,
#201 - 331 State Senators and Representatives.
1951: #1 - 3 same as 1949-50; #2 now retitled "Lt. Governor".
#201 - 331 State Senators and Representatives.
1953: #1 - 500 listed, with assignments up to about #450.
#1 - 3 same as 1949-51,
#4 - 6 constitutional officers, #7 - 40 Senate,
#41 - 140 House. (No mention of colors.)
1954: #34 - 35 U.S. Senators, #35 - 44 U.S. Representatives.
Another report states Black/Yellow #1 - 133 issued as
follows - #1 Governor, #2 Lt. Governor, #3 House Speaker,
#4 Senate Floor Leader, #5 House Floor Leader, #6 - 133
alphabetically to Legislature, and Yellow/Black up to
#500 for Governor's Staff, Colonels and newsmen.
1955: #1 - 600 assigned, plus #612 and 775; #1 - 31 staff
members, #32 - 543 Colonels and individuals.
1959: #1 - 600 assigned.
House Joint Resolution #14 passed 3/30/1949, reserving #201 - 232
for 32 Senators and #233 - 331 for 99 Representatives, assigned
alphabetically by surname.
Senate Joint Resolution #31 passed 3/3/1953, assigning numbers
as follows: #2 = Speaker of the Senate, #3 = Speaker of the
House, #4 to 134 = Senate or House. This is probably when the
separate reverse-color low-number series began, duplicating
Governor's Staff numbers.
Senate Joint Resolution #52 passed 4/9/1953, allowing duplicate
plates for legislator's second car. "These two sets of plates
may or may not be designated by the suffix 'A' after their
duplicate numbers."
LEGENDS: No legend, #1 to 1200 1930-74, 1975 #87, 1976 #1A,
"19 HONORARY STAFF 75/GOVERNOR OF TENNESSEE" top,
state flag top center 1975,
"TENNESSEE/AMERICA'S FIRST FRONTIER" flanked by
Bicentennial logo and state flag top,
"1776 VOLUNTEER STATE 1976" bottom 1976,
"HONORARY GOVERNOR'S STAFF" below state name top
1977-78. Embossed, painted date 1963-76.
Bolt holes 1962, 1964-65, slots 1963.
COLORS: Passenger colors 1930-74, 1975 #87, 1976 #1A, except
some reverse colors additionally seen 1953-55, 1960,
Red and Dark Blue/White 1975, Blue and Red/White 1976.
Partially reflective 1956. Passenger graphic design
1977 with 1978 sticker.
1975-78 have formats AA-575,205, 575-AA-205, or 575,205-AA.
575,205 represents the number of votes Governor Ray Blanton
garnered in his 1974 election. All letter combinations were
produced, 676 in each format = 2,028 P total. The fee was
increased in 1975 from $10 to $50 for these plates.
Last seen 1978. Discontinued 1/20/1979 after Blanton left
office; his administration noted as being among the most corrupt.
