From the Gridiron to the Gavel
As we continue our Road to 10 Years, we’re looking back at some of the special people who have helped make the Knox St. Patrick’s Parade what it is today—including our 2018 Grand Marshal, The Honorable Tim Irwin.
A Knoxville native, Tim’s story is one of remarkable achievement, but perhaps even more importantly, one of service to the community he calls home.
A graduate of Knoxville Central High School, Tim went on to play football for the University of Tennessee Volunteers before being selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round of the 1981 NFL Draft. He built an impressive 14-year NFL career as an offensive tackle, spending the majority of those years with the Vikings before finishing his playing career with the Miami Dolphins.
But football was only one chapter.
While still an NFL player, Tim began preparing for life beyond the game, ultimately earning his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1990. After practicing law in Knoxville, he was appointed Juvenile Court Judge for Knox County in 2005, beginning a new chapter devoted to serving children and families in our community.
And for Tim, that commitment to young people is deeply personal.
From 1966 to 1973, Tim was a member of the Boys Clubs of Knoxville. Decades later, the young man who once benefited from the organization became one of its most passionate advocates. He has served on the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley corporate board since 1995, supporting the same mission that played a role in his own childhood.
In 1987, Tim and his father founded the Irwin Food City Bass Tournament to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs. Over its first 28 years, the tournament raised more than $1 million to help provide opportunities and brighter futures for young people throughout East Tennessee.
Tim’s lifelong commitment to the organization was recognized with his induction into the Tennessee Boys & Girls Clubs Hall of Fame, an honor recognizing individuals whose achievements and service have made a lasting impact on children across Tennessee.
His dedication to young people extends into athletics as well. Tim helped establish the Catholic Youth Football League in Knoxville, providing local children opportunities to compete, grow and experience the values of faith, teamwork and sportsmanship.
The honors throughout his career tell quite a story of their own. Tim was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2011, served as Grand Marshal of the Knox St. Patrick’s Parade in 2018, and was named a Knoxville Catholic “Irish Legend” in 2021. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of Knoxville Catholic High School.
From protecting quarterbacks on Sundays to protecting and advocating for children in his hometown, Tim Irwin has spent a lifetime showing that strength comes in many forms—and that some of our greatest accomplishments are measured by what we give back.
We were proud to have Judge Tim Irwin lead the Knox St. Patrick’s Parade as our 2018 Grand Marshal and even prouder to count him among the people who have helped shape the first decade of our parade.
Here’s to Judge Tim Irwin—and to the people, stories, service and Irish spirit that have carried us along the Road to 10 Years. ☘️
