From Out of the Smokies - by Charlie Tombras (Paperback)

About the Book

"In Knoxville and here at the University of Tennessee, Charlie Tombras is perhaps best known for his nationally recognized advertising firm and his namesake school of advertising and public relations. But Tombras, in this fascinating and well-written memoir, notes that at heart he is a son of the Smokies who spent his childhood in the mountains and streams of Appalachia. Upon his graduation from UT and prior to assuming a position with the Tombras Group, Charlie served a tour of duty in Vietnam as a platoon commander with the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 8th Cavalry. His service earned him the Bronze Star and Air Medal and a rank of first lieutenant. Additionally, Charlie discovered boat racing, parlayed his love of fly fishing into deep-sea adventure fishing, and began ranching, all while growing the Tombras Group to 300 employees and leading the firm to a top 25 ranking among independent ad agencies in the United States. All told, this manuscript presents a captivating look at a life well-lived from one of Knoxville's most successful people"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Knoxville native Charlie Tombras may be best known for his fifty-seven-year leadership of the nationally recognized advertising firm the Tombras Group, but in his moving memoir, From Out of the Smokies: Stories of Fly Fishing and Life, he chronicles his personal journey, letting business take a backseat.

Born and raised in the Smokies, Tombras grew up exploring mountains and streams, fostering an appreciation for nature and fly fishing that would follow him through a tour of duty in Vietnam and into adulthood. With a relatable, often humorous style, Tombras recollects adventures spanning eight decades and the resulting lessons of friendship, loss, and love that he learned along the way. Emphasizing the value of hard work and perseverance, Tombras thoughtfully examines his lifelong love of fly fishing and leaves no stone unturned as he takes readers from childhood to adulthood in vivid memories and captivating prose. From exhilarating tales of white-water canoeing in Northern Labrador to grief-stricken seasons of loss, Tombras's memoir of spirit and adventure provides a nuanced portrait of a successful man--in business and in life.

Through his sporting adventures and other personal experiences, Tombras continues to learn how to weather storms in whatever shape they may take and how to grow in the face of adversity. Much like the wild rivers that Tombras explored and loved, From Out of the Smokies will inspire readers to accept and marvel at forces beyond our control.

Review Quotes

"Tombras reminds us that fishing is about more than catching fish and, in fact, engenders much else, including life-long friendships, self-reliance, ingenuity, and an abiding appreciation for nature's beauty."

--David Brill, author of As Far as the Eye Can See: Reflections of an Appalachian Trail Hiker and Into the Mist: Tales of Death Disaster, Mishaps and Misdeeds, Misfortune and Mayhem in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

About the Author

CHARLIE TOMBRAS was the Chairman of 2025 Advertising Agency of the Year Tombras Group--a 475-person creative, digital marketing, media buying, and branding agency headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, with offices in New York, Atlanta, Washington, DC, and Buenos Aires, Argentina.