By Brian Hornback | September 20, 2026
I was saddened today to read of the passing of F. Rodney Lawler, a man for whom I have nothing but love, admiration, and respect.
Rodney completed his earthly journey on September 19, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. He was 86 years old.
For many in Knoxville and East Tennessee, Rodney Lawler was a successful businessman, a community leader, a philanthropist, and a man who helped make our community a better place.
For me, he was all of those things, but he was also a man I had the privilege of knowing personally. And when I think of Rodney, I think of a man who understood the meaning of friendship, loyalty, and doing the right thing for the right reasons.
My First Memories of Rodney and Dell
I first met Rodney and his beloved wife, Dell, (passed January 26, 2023) shortly after I was elected to the Knox County School Board in 2000.
They were part of a dedicated group of individuals working to bring Project GRAD to Knox County Schools. Their mission was to create opportunities for young people, particularly those who needed additional support to succeed in school and pursue their dreams beyond graduation.
Rodney and Dell weren’t simply lending their names to a worthwhile cause. They were personally invested in helping young people succeed.
I had the opportunity to get to know Rodney better when we traveled to Houston, Texas, to see Project GRAD in action.
That trip gave me an opportunity to spend time with Rodney, to listen to him, and to see firsthand his passion for making a difference in the lives of others.
What I remember most was that Rodney wasn’t interested in who received the credit. He was interested in what could be accomplished and how we could bring something meaningful back home to help the children of Knox County.
That was the Rodney Lawler I came to know.
He believed in investing in people. He believed in opening doors of opportunity. And he believed that those who had been blessed had a responsibility to help others.
Loyalty Is Something I Never Forget
Several years later, Rodney and his business partner, Pat Wood, both stood with me in my 2004 campaign, I have never forgotten that.
Throughout my life, I have learned that people will come and go. Some will stand beside you when it is convenient, when everything is going well, or when there is something to be gained.
But there are others who stand with you because they believe it is the right thing to do.
Rodney Lawler and Pat Wood were those kinds of men.
Both founders of Lawler-Wood were men I respected, and their loyalty and friendship meant more to me than they probably ever realized.
I remember people who do things for the right reasons. I remember people who are loyal. I remember those who stand with others because of principle rather than convenience.
Rodney and Pat were two of those men, and I will always be grateful for the friendship and support they extended to me.
A Lifetime of Faith, Service, and Giving
Rodney’s life was a remarkable journey of faith, determination, and service to others.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, on November 30, 1939, Rodney overcame polio early in life. He accepted Christ at the age of twelve and began serving his church in whatever capacity was needed, from janitor and bus driver to youth minister.
That willingness to serve others would become a defining characteristic of his life.
At Woodlawn High School, Rodney met Dell, the love of his life and his wife of 62 years.
Together, they built a family, a business, and a legacy of giving that has touched countless lives.
At just 22 years old, Rodney became the youngest City Manager in Tennessee history when he accepted the position in Dayton. He later served as City Manager of Maryville before becoming Executive Director of Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation.
In 1975, Rodney and Pat Wood founded Lawler-Wood, Inc., initially focusing on affordable housing. Over the next five decades, the company expanded across the Southeast into commercial development and property management.
But Rodney’s accomplishments were never limited to business.
He and Dell gave generously of their time, talents, and resources to organizations and causes that made a difference in the lives of others.
They founded the Cornerstone Foundation with a vision of helping Knoxville reach its God-given potential.
Their generosity reached into education, youth development, charitable ministries, and countless other efforts throughout our community. I saw a small part of that generosity firsthand through their involvement with Project GRAD.
And I know that my experience was just one of many.
There are countless people throughout East Tennessee whose lives are better because Rodney Lawler cared enough to get involved.
A Legacy That Will Continue
What particularly touched me as I read Rodney’s obituary was learning that even in his final days, his thoughts remained focused on helping the charities he supported, appreciating the friendships he had developed, and caring for his children and grandchildren.
That speaks volumes about the man he was.
Even as his earthly journey was coming to an end, Rodney was still thinking about others.
Rodney and Dell’s legacy is not simply measured in the businesses they built, the organizations they supported, or the financial resources they contributed.
Their legacy lives in the people they helped, the opportunities they created, the families they strengthened, and the lives they changed.
Our community, our state, and our country are better because F. Rodney Lawler lived among us.
And I am personally better for having known him.
Until We Meet Again, My Friend
To Rodney’s children, Robin and Jon, his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the entire Lawler family, I extend my heartfelt condolences.
I know Rodney’s passing leaves a tremendous void in your family and in the hearts of the many people who knew and loved him.
But I also know that the example he set will continue to inspire others to serve, to give, to love, and to do what is right.
I am thankful that God allowed my path to cross with Rodney and Dell Lawler.
I am thankful for the opportunity to travel with Rodney to Houston, to see his passion for helping children, and to experience his friendship and loyalty in the years that followed.
I will never forget the kindness and support Rodney and Pat Wood extended to me.
And I will always remember Rodney as a man who used the blessings God gave him to make life better for others.
As Matthew 25:21 reminds us:
“Well done, good and faithful servant.“
Rest in peace, Rodney. Thank you for your friendship, your loyalty, your example, and the countless lives you touched.
Until we meet again, my friend.
— Brian Hornback
Celebration of Life
Thursday, September 24, 2026
Receiving of friends: 2:00–4:00 p.m.
Celebration of Life: 4:00 p.m.
Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church
Sanctuary – Knoxville, Tennessee
In lieu of flowers, the Lawler family encourages donations to two ministries that were especially meaningful to Rodney and Dell:
Emerald Avenue Youth Foundation
1014 Heiskell Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37921
Young Life Blount County
315 Lamar Street, Maryville, TN 37804
