John & Joan Gregory: Generous Donation To Tennessee Right To Life For Political Intervention

Today's online edition of the Kingsport Times-News is posting the news article "John Gregory uses checkbook to promote conservative causes" by Hank Haynes detailing how John M. Gregory and his wife Joan have donated $75,000 to the Tennessee Right To Life anti-choice group, along with pledging to provide an additional $75,000 matching donation to TRTL. The Haynes article quoted TRL President Brian Harris saying that "...one church responded with a $50,000 gift.", although Haynes article did not indentify the location (Bristol, perhaps?) of the generous church.

This Kingsport Times-News article pertaining to the Gregory generosity toward the TRTL organization failed to disclose some other important background information concerning "Gregory's spokesman, former state Sen. Jim Holcomb":

"This is the first time a donor has ever stepped forward in such a significant fashion and offered to use his generous gift as a tool to encourage others to give," Harris said of the Gregorys.

Gregory's spokesman, former state Sen. Jim Holcomb, said Gregory has given about $600,000 to political advocacy groups and an estimated $1 million to political campaigns and political action committees over the past five years. Gregory is now managing partner of his own Bristol-based investment firm and has served as president of the King Benevolent Fund, an international ministry.[ I seem to recall that Gregory's stint as KBF president was prior to the King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. haggling with the federal courts over the pricing of King pharmaceutical drugs sold to Medicare; also there is no mention here of the Gregory owned Leitner Pharmaceutcials,Inc.]

"Much credit for the shift in Tennessee's political landscape relating to pro-life efforts is due to the enormous vision, commitment and generosity of John and Joan Gregory..." TRL said in an e-mailed news release. "In particular, the Gregorys have made it possible to place field representatives in critical regions of the state allowing for more effective chapter development and the strengthening of relationships and profile of the Right to Life movement. Simply put, strong local chapters translate into legislation passed, elections won and lives saved."

Holcomb also happens to be the current campaign chairman for State Rep. David Davis. Davis won the 2006 Republican Primary election in August and will be facing Democratic Primary winner Rick Trent of Morristown during the November general election in his second attempt to be elected as U.S. Representative from the Tennessee 1st Congressional District.

Brian Harris is president of the 501(c)(4) Tennesssee Right To Life, Inc, (EIN 62-1009171), president of the 501(c)(3) Tennessee Volunteers for Life Education Fund, Inc. (EIN 58-1544801), and president of the 501(c)(3) New Life Resources (EIN 62-1604218) all headquartered at the 4802 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37209 address. Harris drew $25,804 in annual compensation from New Life Resources during 2004.

An artice "About Tennessee Right To Life & Brian Harris" posted by Harris within the Christain Activites web site cites that he is also a "...a director on the board of the National Right to Life Committee in Washington, D.C.", although the information is not readily verified through a review of the IRS Form 990s or related paper filed by the National Right To Life Committee, Inc., the National Right To Life Educatonal Trust Fund, or National Right To Life Conventions, Inc.