I found this article too from a 1998 edition of The Oak Ridger. It seems Ed Bruce, who wrote and sang the music for the commercial was involved in a remake of it about 10 years ago, which I have never seen. It was Don Sundquist's idea; he apparently had always loved the psa. I'll paste the article to save any who wants to read it the trouble of the required registration at this site.
Tuesday, September 15, 1998
'Tennessee Trash' is back to lay down law about littering
by Vicki Brown
Associated Press
NASHVILLE -- Actor Ed Bruce doesn't mind being known as "Tennessee Trash" if it means his beloved state is a little cleaner.
A grungy Bruce, dressed in a dirty, torn undershirt, drove on the Bicentennial Mall on Monday, tossing junk from a dilapidated white convertible.
But none of the eight Tennessee Highway Patrol litter officers there arrested him.
The stunt was part of Gov. Don Sundquist's announcement that the popular 1970s "Tennessee Trash" anti-littering campaign is being brought back and will be broadcast on television and radio stations beginning this week.
Bruce, a 58-year-old actor who lives in Hickman County, said littering really upsets him.
"Somebody can carry a case of beer for miles, but they won't carry one empty can 10 feet. They throw it out the window," said Bruce, who sang the catchy jingle in the original ad.
Sundquist said the popular ad was one of the best he had ever seen and he thought bringing it back would convince people to stay clean.
"As much as we do to pick up trash and as much as we do to pick up litter, the more of it there seems to be," said Sundquist, who reviewed all the state's anti-littering and beautification programs.
But he has no plans to introduce a returnable bottle and can bill that would require deposits on such items to encourage users to return rather than toss bottles and cans.
"I hadn't thought that was the answer," he said.
Bruce, an actor and songwriter known for his performances on the television show "Maverick" and for writing such songs as "Momma, Don't Let You're Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys," took the "trashy" role played by the late Irving Kane as the littering guy in the car and sings again.
The ad shows Bruce driving along U.S. 70 near Murfreesboro in a Chevy Nova with the roof and windshield removed, cheerfully tossing trash as the country-sounding jingle plays. He ends up at Percy Priest Lake near Nashville as the final words are sung, "Lord there ain't no lower class than Tennessee Trash."
The ad, which cost $45,000, will be shown under existing contracts the state Tourism Department has with the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters. Whit Adamson, executive director of the TAB, said those contracts are for some paid spots with additional public service airings.
He said the number of broadcasts will vary with individual radio and television stations.
Sundquist said an anti-littering law that offers a $100 reward to those who turn in litterbugs who are convicted presents some problems since the person is required to testify in court to get the reward.
Sgt. John Moore, the litter officer for the Cookeville District of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, said he has had one person turn in a litterbug.
"He saw someone dump an ashtray in a Hardee's parking lot in Crossville and got the license number and called me. I ran a check and issued a citation," Moore said. He said the case is still pending.
Dana Keeton, a spokeswoman for the THP, said that was the only case any of the litter officers knew of under the law that went into effect in July.
The trash tossed onto the mall was picked up before the governor and his entourage departed.
Copyright 1998 The Associated Press
