“The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.” ~ Ferdinand Foch

By Catherine Austin Fitts

Denny Hastings is a homebuilder and serial entrepreneur from Shelbyville, Tennessee. He and his wonderful wife Thesa grew up in middle Tennessee and have lived, worked, and raised their family there. Their Tennessee roots are deep, as is their contribution to their local culture, economy, and politics.

I met Denny and his brilliant ally Gordon Brown through Franklin Sanders—these three were “in cahoots” to make sure the State protected individual and state sovereignty. Denny has exceptional business and leadership skills—and an eagle eye for what corruption can do to harm and destroy an economy, markets, and family and community wealth. He can appreciate and discuss the economics of anything from penny candy and green beans to the most complex patent law as it relates to his business recycling tires. His success is driven by a passion for people. Denny is a people investor—he listens to and likes people. As the patriarch of a large family, he understands what “building wealth” means—and that it is living equity that creates financial equity, and financial equity that protects living equity. It is a virtuous circle.

I have had the opportunity to stay with Denny and Thesa on several occasions and have spent many hours with Denny, road-tripping and exploring the local economy and farms. Denny and Thesa are devout Christians. Their home is filled with a love of Christ and from it pours exceptional attention to and support for family, friends, and community.

Denny calls me “Blondie.” I call him “Johnny Cash” because with his black shirts, beautiful cars, and down-home soulful way of putting you at ease, he does remind me of one of Tennessee’s greatest country artists.

It is hard to explain Southern hospitality if you have never experienced it. It is far more than just good manners and magnolia blossoms. My good friend John Edward Hurley was the head of the Confederate Museum in Washington. While giving a lecture on Southern culture at the Smithsonian Museum, he was challenged by a young man as to how Southern culture was relevant to him. John Edward reared his shoulders and said with his deep Southern accent: “Young man, culture is the integration of the divine in everyday life.”

People are moving into Tennessee for many reasons. Yes, the taxes are lower and the land is beautiful. But in a world filled with growing cruelty, culture matters. When I go anywhere in the world, people understand where I am from because that is “where Elvis lived.” If you visit Elvis’ home Graceland and see the displays of what he did to support family, friends, and community, you will understand why I call Elvis the “best neighbor who ever lived.”

You understand Southern hospitality when you work, play, and travel with people for whom practicing it is an intuitive part of their very nature. Combine that with an endless energy to create and build—and a near boundless generosity of spirit—and you have our Hero this week, Denny Hastings.

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