Some people arrive in a community. Others invest in it. Pam Lewis is firmly in the second category. The founder of Nashville's celebrated PR and marketing firm, PLA Media, came to Tennessee by way of an exciting journey: a childhood in the rural mid-Hudson Valley town of Red Hook, New York, a transformative summer in Japan as a Lions Club youth ambassador, a year studying at a division of the Sorbonne in France, and an early career that put her on the ground floor of one of the most consequential moments in music history, the launch of MTV. She went on to build PLA Media into one of Nashville's most respected firms, restored a historic East Nashville bungalow, and saved a National Register home and farm after putting down roots in Franklin. In a gesture as civic-minded as the parents who raised her, Lewis has made a gift to the city she loves: the donation of the Benjamin Franklin statue.
How did the idea first come about to donate the statue to the city?
I am interested in legacy projects especially at this stage of my life. I have always loved, studied, and collected art and love history. I have been on the TN State Museum Board and Belmont Mansion Board for years. I feel that sharing art in public spaces is particularly important in enhancing communities, encouraging creativity, quality of life, and overall mental health. When I was serving as alderman, I looked at the uninspiring beige walls in city hall and asked why can't we hang art here and beautify this place?
Can you tell us a little about the process of selecting the artist for the statue? And how long did the entire project take from initial concept to the statue finding its permanent home in Franklin (outside the Williamson County Archives and Museum on Main Street)?
We first started talking last spring 2025. Fast forward to the unveiling on January 17, 2026, on Ben's birthday.
I was speaking with my friend Mary Pearce and we were scheming as usual about preservation projects and discussing Ben Franklin, what were the city and county doing around the 250th, etc., and she said she'd heard rumblings about a group of ladies with the DAR and Buffie Baril talking about trying to do something.
I called and we met with Julie Brown at the post office. They had not yet selected a sculptor and had no funds and after listening, I said, 'This is too important a project. The sculptor must be world-class and there must be someone who has done Ben Franklin before. There are places all over the country named after Ben with splendid, appropriate artwork. Let's research and find a genius craftsman worthy and I will be happy to pay for it as a legacy gift to the people of Franklin and Williamson County who've blessed and embraced me for over 30 years.' We are so lucky to have a piece of art so captivating by George Lundeen. The amazing thing is George had created this sculpture for a private collector who enjoyed it for years, then passed away and his family no longer wanted it, so George bought it back and it was in his barn for a year till we called and said we have a new home for ole Ben. Are you interested?
Were there any unexpected challenges or surprises along the way that you didn't anticipate when you first embarked on this project?
No, I was going to pay in three installments, but the county needed the statue shipped as soon as possible so they could plan the installation, lighting, and positioning. Ben was shipped and put in storage until everything was prepped. Kevin Benson, Williamson County Property Manager and his team did an amazing job, along with Director of the County Museum and Archives, Bradley Boshers, and his stellar team, have been truly a joy to work with. There were lots of moving parts - the weight, height of the statue, for example. We could not use brick which would have cracked under the weight. So a special pad was laid, stenciled, stained and sealed. I asked if we could have some lights so that was installed and then the county even added some lovely landscaping with small boxwoods which was a nice surprise. The DAR prepared the plaques outside, as well as the inside extensive wall exhibit hung on the grid at the January 17th unveiling.
Ben Franklin is one of America's most beloved and complex historical figures. What qualities of his do you find most relevant or inspiring today?
Ben is an enigmatic figure. I would argue he is our DaVinci, America's first rock star which sparked my idea to write a book by that title, Ben Franklin America's First Rockstar and another companion book for children, Ben Franklin Visits Franklin for A Day. Along with his role as a patriot in the Revolutionary War and work on the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, he was instrumental in starting our first library, post office, and fire department. He wrote and played music even creating the glass harp which composers like Bach and Beethoven wrote music for. Obviously, all his work in discovering electricity, the printing press, Poor Richard's Almanac, the pot belly stove and so much more. He wore many hats- author, philosopher, humorist, inventor, bon vivant. He was not perfect nor are any of us. He was complicated but continues to influence our world.
What do you hope people feel when they encounter the statue, whether they're longtime Franklin residents or visiting for the first time?
It makes me happy to drive by. He is smiling looking over the bifocals he designed and glancing at the Constitution. I love the attention to detail that sculptor George Lundeen has captured - the veins in his hands, the buckles on his shoes. I hope visitors have fun, take some photos, share Ben with their family and friends. I hope he will spark an interest in our shared history and become a must-see stop for visitors.
For someone who has spent a career amplifying other people's stories, what does it feel like to be on the other side and have your own act of generosity in the spotlight?
Well, it takes a bit of getting used to may I say, but I am genuinely happy and proud. January 17 was one of the happiest days. So many excited folks and smiles. I am humbled and so appreciate the notes of thanks and recognition. I hope Ben brings people to our museum and archives, our town, and businesses. He is a great ambassador and maybe even bring some healing to our country. We can ask ourselves, what would Ben do?
"I love the attention to detail that sculptor George Lundeen has captured."