Sheriff Ashe was born in Wilson County, Tennessee.  He was born November 22, 1948 to Joseph Henry Ashe and Audrey Clark Gregory.  He was raised on a farm in the Tuckers Cross Road Community and later moved to Lebanon, Tennessee.  He was a paper boy at age 10, and has been at public working since then.  He was educated in the Wilson County/Lebanon School System.  He was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1966 and served in Vietnam from 1967-1968.  He later served his Country with the Tennessee National Guard.  He later owned his own restaurant and a small farm, while working as a General Forman for the Robert Shaw Corp.  In 1972 he entered Law Enforcement part-time and in 1974 full-time.  He has worked as the Counties Chief Deputy, the City of Lebanon Chief of Detectives, and Sheriff of Wilson County since 1982.  He and his wife, Beth attend Immanuel Baptist Church and his daughter, Jesse, is a student at Vol State Community College.

MILITARY SERVICE

• Served United States Army 101st Airborne Division Infantry Republic of Vietnam 1967-1968

• Ft. Bragg N.C. 82nd Airborne Division Infantry 1968-1969

• Tennessee Army National Guard 3/109 Armor Tank Division 1970-1978

MILITARY AWARDS

• 3 Purple Hearts

• 2 Bronze Stars

• 1 Air Combat Medal

• 1 Army Commendation Medal

• 1 Vietnam Cross of Gallantry

• 1 Vietnam Campaign Medal - 3 Stars

• 1 Vietnam Service Medal

• 1 United States Service Medal

• 1 Good Conduct

• 1 National Guard Service Medal

• Combat Infantry Badge

• U.S. Army Parachute Wing

• 2 President Unit Citations

• Served on Tennessee Peace Officers and Standards Commission for 12 years, 2 years as Chairman.

• 1st Sheriff in the State to serve on the Governors Juvenile Justice Committee.

• Served as President of the Tennessee Sheriffs Association from 1985 - 1994.

• Chairman of the 15th Judicial District Drug Task Force 1987-1990.

• Served on the Emergency 911 Board 1998-Present

• Served on County Finance Committee 1991-1994.

• Former Chairman Wilson County Youth Ranch Board

• Governing Board - U.M.C. Hospital

• Board of Directors - Potter House

CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS

• Exchange Club

• American Legion

• Veterans Foreign Wars

• Disable American Veterans

• American Cancer Society

• March of Dimes

• American Heart Association

• Leukemia Foundation

• Community Help Center

• Tennessee Sheriffs Association

• National Sheriffs Association

• Middle Tennessee Law Enforcement Executive Committee

• National Law Enforcement Executive Development Assoc.

• A.A.R.P. - Wilson County Chapter #5023

AWARDS

• Law Enforcement Officer of the Year - Citizens Club - 1981

• Outstanding Service Award - Corps of Engineers - Nashville District - 1984

• Sheriff of Year - Tennessee - 1986

• Resolution before the 101st United States Congress for Public Service - 1989

• Governors Award - Outstanding Tennessean - 1990

• Law Enforcement Officer of the Year - Buford Pusser Foundation - 1996

• Outstanding Alumni Award - Lebanon High School - 1998

• Outstanding Service Award - Wilson Co Foster Care 1998-2000

• Local Government Award - Senior Citizens Program - 13 Counties & 52 Cities 2001

• Outstanding Public Servant Award - Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce - 2003

• Child Support Enforcement Recognition Award - South Eastern Law Enforcement Training Seminar - 2004

EDUCATION