Tom Marshall is a proud son of Hixson Tennessee. He grew up here and is raising his own children here. For many years, Tom ran a successful business that was an integral part of the fabric that makes up the Hixson community. From being a part of the Hixson High Marching Wildcat Band Equipment Team to teaching Sunday School at Dallas Bay Church, Tom Marshall is a servant ready to lead our community on the important issues and challenges facing District 3 and the City of Chattanooga.
Born in 1971, Tom was raised in the Hixson community by parents who strongly believed in being active in the community. Tom grew up playing baseball at the Middle Valley ball fields, where his dad coached and his mom volunteered for many years. They were members of Burk’s United Methodist Church, where Tom’s mother, Pat, is still a member. In 1980, Tom’s Dad, Billy T. Marshall, opened up Billy T’s, a sign shop that also leased spaces for local artists and businesses so that more community members could grow their own businesses. As a young kid, Tom started his first business at Billy T’s, selling baseball cards, and he still treasures the first business card his dad printed for him. After graduating from Hixson High in 1989 where he participated in multiple sports and volunteer clubs, Tom went on to Chattanooga State, receiving an Associate’s Degree in Science and Fine Arts, and then on to UTC to receive his Bachelor's Degree in Science and Fine Arts. Today, Tom remains an active member of the Kappa-Sigma Alumni Association.
After Tom graduated, Tom’s dad made him a partner in the family business, renaming it Billy T & Tom Signs. Tom worked to bring the business of hand-painted signs and computer graphics together. The business ran for 40 years before being sold to another local graphic design company. Tom joined Defoor Brothers Development, a large local development and investment company, in 2017 as Project Development Manager, where he still works to reinvigorate the Chattanooga landscape and economy.
Tom has a long history of volunteering. He has volunteered for and held
positions with many nonprofit and community-based organizations over the years
including: Hixson Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Chattanooga, Chamber of
Commerce - Small Business Council, North River Chamber of Commerce, YMCA
North River, Downtown YMCA, YMCA YCAP, Downtown Chattanooga
Alliance, Kappa-Sigma Alumni Association, Burks United Methodist, Kidney
Foundation, Bethel Bible Village, McConnell Elementary,
Loftis Middle School, Hixson High School, Soddy Daisy High
School, Make-A-Wish, Orange Grove Center, Goodwill Industries of Greater
Chattanooga, Culture Fest, Association of Visual Arts, Northside Neighborhood
House, Chattanooga Food Bank, Community Kitchen, Middle Valley Athletic
Association and Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians.
