I was born on January 17, 1962 in Bluefield, West Virginia, and was raised by my parents, Velva Lane Jackson Tabor and Thomas J. Tabor Sr. at our home in Falls Mills, Virginia, where I attended the local elementary school. As I grew up, I attended Graham Junior High, and eventually graduated Graham High School in Bluefield, Virginia in June 1980. During those times, I enjoyed participating in football, baseball, and track. I am the eldest brother of two sisters and one brother.
After graduating high school, I worked part-time jobs and construction jobs prior to my entrance into Bluefield State College, Bluefield, West Virginia. I majored in Mining Engineering Technology and began working during the summers as an apprentice underground coal miner for Elk Run Coal Company, Inc., in Boone County, West Virginia for Douglas Blackburn. My success in my academic studies allowed me to receive the West Virginia Board of Regents scholarship and the A.T. Massey scholarship. Upon recommendation of faculty at Bluefield State College, I was placed into Who's Who among American College Students. During my studies at Bluefield State, I was elected President of the Student Government prior to my graduation. I graduated from Bluefield State College with an Associate Degree in Mining Engineering Technology, with honors, and with a Bachelor's Degree in Mining Engineering Technology, cum laude, during December 1984.
I immediately went to work underground for Elk Run Coal Company after finishing college and worked approximately nine months before enrolling in Virginia Tech to pursue a Master's Degree in Mining Engineering. I attended Virginia Tech for the 1985-1986 school terms, and was offered another underground mining job with Consolidation Coal Company at its Buchanan No. 1 Mine in Mavisdale, Virginia. I accepted the job with Consol in 1986 until I accepted another job as a supervisor at Consol's Matthews Mines at Tackett Creek, Tennessee in June 1987.
I spent three years in Tennessee and found that I loved the Claiborne County, Tennessee and Bell County, Kentucky area. I discovered that I enjoyed the area when I began hunting the grounds where Daniel Boone walked and enjoying Norris Lake. During this time, I met my wife, Shelia Karen Inman Tabor from Straight Creek, Kentucky, and we married in 1989. Unfortunately, due to the poor mining conditions and economics in Tennessee, and I was transferred to Beckley, West Virginia to work at the Consolidation Coal Company, Rowland Mines in Clear Creek, West Virginia in September 1990. My wife and I moved into a new home in Beckley with our two children.
My mining experience grew from my work history which had exposed me to several different mining systems from continuous mining to Longwall mining. I received state certifications as a mine foreman in Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and later, in Kentucky. I learned a great deal of mining knowledge, and also witnessed many fellow miners either retire or become disabled.
Again, due to economic conditions and the continuing changing face of the mining industry, we were faced with another transfer to Eastern Kentucky. In September 1991,1 was transferred to Consolidation Coal Company of Kentucky Jones Fork Operations. My family and I moved to Van Lear, Kentucky (better known as Loretta Lynn's home place).
We lived there and I continued to work for Consol until I realized that I was working extremely long hours and was never home.
After realizing that I was not happy with my career in mining, I consulted God for guidance and He urged me to sell all my possessions and go to law school. I immediately began preparations for law school. In the spring of 1998,1 took the law school entrance exam, and in August 1998 my house sold, and I went to attend Appalachian School of Law, in Grundy, Virginia.
My family and I lived at Hurley, Virginia, Grundy, Virginia, and finally at Mavisdale, Virginia. We met and made many friends in those areas.
Law school was definitely a learning experience. I studied law under the late Tony Sutin, Academic Dean, and other fine faculty members too numerous to mention. I was provided with the opportunity to work part-time for the school's founder, Attorney Joe Wolfe. The Appalachian School of Law became provisionally accredited by the ABA during the year of 2000-2001. I graduated from the law school during May 2001.
I took the bar exam at the end of the summer of 2001 in Knoxville, Tennessee. While I waited for the results, I worked as a clerk for the Honorable Circuit Judge Stephens and Honorable Circuit Judge Murensiky in McDowell County, West Virginia. I received notification that I had passed the Tennessee Bar Exam in October 2001.
At the end of the summer of 2002, I moved back to the Claiborne County, Tennessee area with intentions of making my home here. I recognized that God had moved for me and had granted my request to return to the Claiborne County, Tennessee area. I began working in the legal arena. I was given a job by Attorney Benjamin S. Pressnell, in Tazewell, Tennessee in 2003. I was admitted in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee in 2002-2003. After awhile, I found that I had a desire to start my own law practice.
In November 2004, my solo law practice was started and I began practicing out of my own office at 1724 Main Street, Suite #3, Tazewell, Tennessee. I have acquired extensive trial and court experience in Claiborne, Union, Campbell, Knox, Grainger, Hancock, Jefferson, and Scott Counties, and State appellate court experience.
Since that time, my family has grown to include two fine grandsons and our roots have become anchored in Claiborne County, Tennessee. My family and I are members of the Upper Room Ministries Church, pastured by Ual Russell. Recently, my wife and I along with several other members were ordained as ministers of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I love the seasons of Tennessee, especially the fall seasons of hunting, and watching the Tennessee Volunteers play football. I have become a Volunteer by choice and I plan to stay here.
CONCLUSION
I have met many fine persons in our area and the surrounding areas. I believe that my work and life experiences have given me a real perspective on the practice of law, and what it really means to argue a case that my clients sincerely believe in proving to the Court. I believe as a lawyer, I bring a lot of "real life" vision to what my clients want to project to the Court for resolution of their problems. I sincerely hope that my biography has shed some light upon what you are potentially looking for when you seek a lawyer to argue your case.
As our country, state, county, and municipality face the on-coming problems of the future, I hope that I can be of service to you. I appreciate your consideration, and I hope to talk with you at my office if you desire to consider me for employment. Please call for an appointment so that I can set aside time to talk to you about your problems.
