About Chuck Ward. . .
Chuck Ward has lived in South Knoxville his entire life, attending public school in the South Knoxville community and graduating from South-Doyle High School. Chuck started working at a very early age, noting that whatever spending money he needed as a youngster would have to be earned.
“I learned pretty early on, a person needed to work for what he wanted and I think that was one of the most valuable lessons I ever learned as a kid,” Chuck said.
Chuck worked with his Mom at her antique business on Chapman Highway, as well as later working for a production company. Chuck’s work with the production company led to his going to work for the City of Knoxville. Later Chuck decided to start his own small business on the side.
“I’d always had a real fascination for the notion of taking a house that was kind of an eyesore maybe and doing something with it. We’ve had all kinds of folks re-zoning property, subdividing it and building all kinds of new houses, but there weren’t all that many people interested in taking existing homes and restoring them,” Chuck said. “The idea of taking current housing stock and restoring in and making it a quality home for someone just really took hold of me.”
Chuck’s small business soon grew and he quickly had all he could handle. Chuck left his job with the City of Knoxville to concentrate on his small business full-time this year.
“Things just reached the point where I felt I was doing well enough that I really needed to concentrate on my business. I’ve really been blessed and I’ve pretty much invested everything I’ve got into this dream of re-building South Knoxville one house at a time.
“I’m not knocking new development, every community needs new development,” Chuck admitted, “but there really is something special to my mind about taking something old and making it new again. Not only is it potentially a good business, it gives something back to the community, to neighborhoods, and to the folks who end up living in the house. It’s a great way of making a living!”