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Cityview: What are your thoughts concerning the current state of the
Knoxville business community? How has it evolved and what’s changing?

Sam Furrow: The Knoxville business community is vibrant. The old monies

in town have basically changed generations—and there is a new vanguard of
business leaders. We have a very entrepreneurial community. Knoxville is a

place of opportunity.

CV: What does entrepreneurship mean to you today?

SF: It’s a broad term, but I think it’s where hustle and good judgment

and research and feel come together based on an opportunity that is
either there or that a person creates. And then the ultimate result of all

those things coming together, I guess, is an entrepreneurial experience.

I don’t think, though, that one deal makes an entrepreneur. I think it’s
an overall personification of risk taker or a judgment-based hustler. By

the way, of all the elements necessary to make one successful, money
is one of the least important. Because if you have a deal and/or you

can make a deal, money will find the deal. You’ll find the money.

CV: What kind of business advice would you give a young

person these days who wants to stay in Knoxville, is
business-minded, and is searching for the dream?

SF: It’s a function of what their interests are. I remember [business magnate

and financier] T. Boone Pickens came and spoke here during the 1982 World’s
Fair, and he was asked, “What would you like your children to do? What

would you suggest they do?” And he said, “That is so personal—whatever they

want to do. But the one thing I would advise them is that whatever they do,
they should make sure that they’re involved in the international portion of

it.” And what an interesting thought back then! And it’s even more important
today. My son, who lives in Los Angeles, would go on business to Japan as I

would to Sweetwater. I think, whatever you do, don’t be locked in to this small

space on the planet. Our auction company, for example, can have an equip-
ment sale—and 30 percent of the bidders will be from around the world, all

on the Internet. So whatever you do, I think you need to be able to respond
to the international side—whether pricing your product, or sourcing of your

product, or whatever. We’re basically one world economy at this point.

CV: What makes East Tennessee and Knoxville so special?

SF: I’m amazed at the number of people who have come here over the years to
run a company—or for whatever reason—and end up retiring here. Knoxville

is a great place to live. We already have what the rest of the United States—
and the world—wants. We’ve got plenty of water. We’ve got a level economy.

We’ve got honest people. We have minimal racial issues. We’ve got one of the

best public education systems in the state of Tennessee. Want to take your
kids to the boys’ club to play ball? 10 minutes. Go to church? 12 minutes. Want

to go to the grocery store? Five minutes. That’s unheard of in Atlanta or Nash-
ville. We’ve got mountains, we’ve got lakes, we’ve got the four seasons. Could

things be better? Sure. But, when you look at everything, Knoxville is one of
the best places in the world.

interview conducted and edited by Steven friedlander

january february 2014 cityviewmag.com 85