Mr. Conner was elected to the board in 1980. He held various positions such as Vice President 1987-1989, Chairman 1991-1993, and as an Executive Board member. He has acted as the board’s legal counsel and served on the Board Development Committee. Lew was elected to the Lifetime Board in 2001 and since then continues to offer his support.

Financially speaking, one of the ways Mr. Conner has impacted his local organization is by creating the Ingram Cup Golf Challenge. The Ingram Cup raises funds for the local Boys & Girls Club and will celebrate its 23rd year this fall. The Ingram Cup also honors another significant contributor, supporter, and present board member, Orrin Ingram.

Strategically speaking, Mr. Conner has always chosen to ensure the Club was in the forefront and moving forward. As a dedicated and involved board member, Lew was always encouraging growth. As Charlie Finchum, would say, “Lew was often seen pulling and pushing everyone towards growth. He was the encourager.” Such was the case when Clubs were opened in Murfreesboro in 1986, and later in Franklin in 1989. Since then, these Clubs have “birthed” four other Clubs. In addition, Lew’s vision and support for the Clubs to get back into the inner city was evident with the growth of the Clubs into the Andrew Jackson Community and other locations such as Martha O’Bryan, Preston Taylor, Vine Hill, St. Luke’s, and Magness Potter Clubs. He was also a strong leader during the transition from “Boys Clubs” to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee in 1990.

Mr. Conner has been recognized previously by BGCA and BGCMT through a Service to Youth Award, 10 years (1991) and 15 years (1996); and a National Service to Youth Award, 20 years (2001). He received the National Boys & Girls Clubs Medallion Award in 1993; Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, and the national distinguished Service Award in 2003. Within the community, Lew had also been recognized with The Hope Award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in 2007. Lew also significantly contributed to the merging of the PGA and the TGA, joining amateurs and pros in the state of TN. As one of the co-founders of the Golf Club of TN and The Vinny Golf Classic, which raises funds for junior golf. He was also recognized in 2006 when the Little Course at the Golf House in Franklin was renamed the Little Course at Conner Lane in his honor.

Highlights from Mr. Conner’s service to the community also include the following: licensed to practice before the Supreme Court of U.S., Supreme Court of the Sixth Circuit of Appeals, and all Tennessee U.S. District Courts; selected as the Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” in both 2010 and 2011 by Best Lawyers in America; listed as one of the 150 Best Attorneys in Tennessee by the Tennessee Business Journal; listed as one of Tennessee’s 100 “Super Lawyers”; Member, Vanderbilt University School of Law, Alumni board of Directors; presently a member of Waller, Landsden, Dortch & Davis in Nashville.

Mr. Conner has been married to his wife, Ashley, since 1960. They have 2 children, Holland Ashley and Lewis Forrest. They are proud grandparents of Walker, Elizabeth, and Virginia. Along with his many accomplishments and associations, Lew has been a long-standing member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church.