By Johnny Birdsong

 

Hello Everyone! Spring has sprung! As we were putting our annual “Home & Garden” issue together and thinking about this column, I immediately thought of Andy Ferguson, Vice President of Legend Homes. I have known Andy since YOUR Williamson started. He is always, smiling, friendly and knows how to build amazing homes. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Andy to get to know him better and discuss what it means to be a Southern Gentleman.

 

Andy: I grew up in Atlanta. Atlanta is a wonderful city with a lot to offer, but I knew early on that I wanted to try and make my way in a smaller city. I left for college in 1994 and attended Sewanee on Monteagle Mountain. If you have ever been to Sewanee, you know that it’s the extreme opposite of Atlanta—a small town that moves at a snail’s pace. It was the right place at the right time for me. I fell in love with Tennessee and never left. My folks still live in Atlanta, so we love to visit and make our way to Braves games and the Varsity. But, I love coming home to Franklin even more. Ha!

 

 

Andy: Did you ever watch Andy Griffith? My work was in Franklin and I lived in Nashville. I remember driving through downtown Franklin in early 2000s and thought to myself – I could live in this Mayberry-like town and still have all the benefits of Nashville. My wife, Cara, and I saw it as a great opportunity, and made the move about twenty years ago. It was and still is our Mayberry.

We are fortunate to call Franklin home. It’s been fun to watch downtown grow —it continues to get better and better. 

 

Anyone that knows me knows that the Franklin Theater is one of my favorite places. I’m not sure how they do it, but their popcorn is the best in the country. If there’s an old movie showing, I’ll be there!

 

 

Andy: My first home building experience was working with Habitat for Humanity in college. It was a great introduction into building, and it sparked the idea of becoming a home builder. After college, I applied for a job with a large, regional builder that was building homes in Atlanta and in Franklin. They offered me the choice of an entry level job in the Atlanta office – which had about 2,500 employees – or the Franklin office, which had about fifteen employees. They thought I was crazy when I took the job in Franklin. It was a sort of trial by fire experience, but I loved it from the start. I was learning new things every day and solving problems with a team of team of trade partners. That was twenty-two years ago—and it’s still fun and I am learning new things every day.

We try to do great business. Treating everyone fairly and hire great people. It’s just more fun that way. I feel very blessed.

Andy: The most instrumental person in my business life is my business partner and close friend, Doug Herman. Doug was my first boss after college. I was in my early twenties and Doug was in his forties. I remember thinking that Doug seemed like a pretty good guy to emulate and try to stay to close to. I worked for Doug for five years and he taught me a lot of the nuts and bolts of the business. But more importantly, I saw how Doug treated everyone – clients, coworkers, trade partners – with respect and he always did the right thing, no matter what. We went our separate ways for a few years until he started Legend Homes in 2007 and I joined him in 2009. We have now spent more time together than with our wives for the last fifteen years. Doug started as a boss, then a mentor – and now I am fortunate to call him a best friend. 

 

During Covid, Doug and I got together with a couple of friends to play music, and it was the highlight of each week. Next thing you know, we had a real garage band. I play rhythm guitar, Doug is on the drums, John is on the base and Eric is the lead guitarist and vocalist. We had our first gig last year at the Pond—hopefully we’ll be back soon!

 

Andy: My advice to a younger me would be to slow down and enjoy each day. Don’t worry too much about what the future holds. Surround yourself will incredible people—at work, in life—and then trust that things will work out as they should. You don’t have to have everything figured out!

 

These “good decisions” we make in life don’t just happen by circumstance. We are blessed to be led. The best decisions I have ever made are 1. Marrying my wife 2. Moving to Franklin 3. Staying close to Doug Herman as a friend and mentor.

 

Andy: Being a Southern Gentleman is treating all people with respect and treating others as you’d like to be treated. A Southern Gentleman is someone that is accepting of all people, is patient with others as well as themselves and is constantly striving to be the best version of themself!