Dub Blakley

William Dexter “Dub” Blakley (June 4, 1932 – September 27, 2011) was a Scott County businessman who served as Road Superintendent in the 1970s and 1980s.

Biography

Born June 4, 1932 in Lenoir City, Tenn., Dub Blakley was the son of Jessie Monroe Blakley (1896-1995) and Flora E. Shultz (1897-1992). His father was born in Sullivan County, Tenn., but his grandfather, David Richard “Dock” Blakley, later moved to Scott County.

Dub’s siblings included Betty Ruth Aldridge (1928-2006), Enoch Blakley, J.C. Blakley, Albert Blakley, Faye Bradshaw, and Sarah “Sug” Sexton.

He married Aileen Boshears (1932-2006), the daughter of Joseph Riley Boshears (1889-1983) and Lola Lay (1906-1995). Their children included Judy Ann Najar (1952-2021) and Yvonne “Buncy” West.

Buncy married Jim West, long-time pastor of White Rock Baptist Church in Huntsville.

At the time of his death, Dub had six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Professional Life

Dub and his wife, Aileen, owned and operated Blakley Supermarket from 1959 to 1970. Later, Dub joined his son-in-law, Jim West, West’s brother, Frank West, and their nephew, Greg West, to open Denim Processing, an industrial plant in Oneida. Dub served as vice president of Denim Processing until his retirement.

He was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1970, serving a single two-year term. He returned to Scott County to serve on the Scott County Election Commission in 1973 and 1974.

Dub left the Election Commission to run for Road Superintendent in 1974. He won re-election in 1978, and later resigned.

He also served as a member of the Scott County Industrial Board in 1982 and 1983. Late in life, he served on the board of directors of Scott Appalachian Industries in 2009 and 2010.

Death

Blakley died on September 27, 2011 at Mercy Medical Center in Knoxville, Tenn., at age 79. He was buried at Daniel Memorial Cemetery in Helenwood, next to his wife, who died in 2006.