Before entering public service，Bredesen was a successful healthcare entrepreneur（〈法〉企业家，主办人）．Between research trips to the public library，he drafted a business plan at the kitchen table that led to the creation in 1980of HealthAmerica Corp．，a Nashville－based healthcare management company that eventually grew to more than 6，000employees and traded on the New York Stock Exchange．He sold the company in 1986．
State Bird州鸟
嘲鸟能模仿很多鸟的“歌声”。嘲鸟长约10英寸，包括它相当长的尾巴。它有淡灰色的外衣和白色的内腹。它的羽翼和尾巴较灰暗且有白色斑纹。雄雌嘲鸟看起来很像。幼雏胸部有斑点。常见的嘲鸟是优秀的鸣鸟和模仿者。它的歌声轻快、多样且反复。它常常整夜的唱歌，尤其是在伴有月光的春季。本州在1933年将此鸟作为州鸟。
According to the Nashville Banner of April 16，1933，the mockingbird，Mimus polyglottos，was selected on April 11，1933，as state bird of Tennessee in an election conducted by the Tennessee Ornithological（鸟类学的）Society．The choice was confirmed by Senate Joint Resolution 51adopted by the General Assembly in 1933．
The Mimus polyglottos，as the mockingbird is known scientifically，is about ten inches in length，including its relatively long tail．It has a light gray coat and a whitish underside（下腹）．Its wings and tail are darker gray with white patches．The male and females look alike．Juvenile（幼雏）has spotted breast．
The common mockingbird is a superb songbird and mimic．Its own song has a pleasant lilt，varied and repetitive．Often it will sing all night long，especially in bright springtime moonlight．Unmated（未交配的）male mockingbirds sing more than mated ones．Both sexes sing in the fall to claim winter feeding territories．These areas are often different than their spring breeding territories．
The song of the mockingbird is，in fact，a medley（［音］集成曲）of the calls of many other birds，each repeated several times．It will imitate（模仿）other species’songs and calls，squeaky（吱吱响的）gates，pianos，sirens（汽笛），barking dogs，etc．Each imitation is repeated two or three times，then another song is started，all in rapid succession．In the above sample audio（音频的，声频的）file，the songs of four distinct species were recorded in the span of about seven seconds．It is common for an individual bird to have as many as 25—30songs in its repertory（仓库）．
The mockingbird is also known as a fierce protector of its nest and environment．It is sometimes seen swooping down on a dog，cat or predator that may be venturing too close to the bird’s protected territory．
Abundance：Common urban bird
Length：10inches
Wing Span：14inches
General description：Diurnal，omnivore（不偏食的），altricial（晚成雏的）
Sexual maturity：1year
Mating season：Spring and early summer．Mockingbirds usually nest twice a year sometimes 3or 4times when conditions are favorable．
Breeding territory：1pair per 20acres
Gestation：Eggs hatch in 12－13days，the young fledge 11－13days after that．
Number of young：Eggs are blue－green with brown markings．The 2－6，usually 3－5，eggs per nest are a pale blue－greenish with brown spots．
Nest Location：Ground－low nesting
Nest Type：Open－cup The nest，a joint male／female project，is a bulky（体积大的），open cup of grass，twigs（嫩枝）and rootlets（支根）carelessly arranged in a dense．
Migration Status：Permanent resident．This year－round resident is known for its fierce defense of the family nest．
Diet：Mockingbirds require open grassy areas for their feeding，thick，thorny（多刺的）shrubs for hiding the nest and high perches where the male can sing and defend his territory．Gardens are among its favorite dwelling places especially if winter berries are available．The Mockingbird’s primary diet is insects［beetles，ants，grasshoppers（蚱蜢，蝗虫）and spiders］，berries and seed．
Facts：
1．Only unmated males sing at night．
2．Mockingbirds often form long－term pair bonds．
3．Mockingbirds vigorously defend their territory against many other species including dogs，cats and man！
4．Female mockingbirds often build a new nest while the males finish feeding older fledglings（羽毛初长的雏鸟）and teaching them to fly．
5．Scientists have found that female mockingbirds are attracted to males that can make the most different sounds．
6．Mockingbirds are the state bird of Arkansas，Florida，Mississippi，Tennessee，and Texas and one of the few birds found in every kind of habitat，from desert to forest to city．
7．Mockingbirds are thought to raise and lower their wings in order to scare up a meal of insects，frighten snakes and impress their mates．
State Flower州花
鸢尾是一种草本单子叶植物，开的花像蝴蝶，大而美丽，所以民间常叫它蝴蝶花。鸢尾花由同色彩的花瓣组成，无花萼、花冠的区别，合称为花被，共有6片，3片在下，3片向上，形成1只大蝴蝶状。鸢尾花的中央，有1个“下位”的子房，柱头3裂，形成3枚小花瓣，各把1个雄蕊遮盖着，所以增添了花的美丽和神秘。本州在1933年将此花作为州花，1973年再次将此花指定为州花。
In 1919，the General Assembly，by Senate Joint Resolution 13，provided that a state flower be chosen by the school children of Tennessee．Accordingly，a vote was taken and the passion flower was chosen．The January 26，1919issue of the Nashville Banner listed some of their favorites：the daisy（雏菊），red clover（苜蓿），rose，water lily（百合），elder bloom，goldenrod，wild rose，sunflower，and violet．The eventual winner，the passion flower，wasn’t even mentioned！Although the passion flower was adopted asTennessee’s state flower in 1919，Tennesseean’s loyalty shifted．Nashville，Tennessee became known as the Iris City．Iris fans joined forces and campaigned for the adoption of the iris（鸢尾属植物）as the Tennessee State flower．In 1933，however，the Legislature adopted Senate Joint Resolution 53designating the iris as the state Flower of Tennessee，but failed to formally rescind the designation of the passion flower as the state flower．To eliminate（消除）this confusion，in 1973the 88th General Assembly，by Chapter 16，designated the passion flower the state wildflower and the iris the state cultivated flower．
The iris（genus Iris）was designated as the state cultivated flower by the Legislature in 1933．While there are several different colors among the iris，the purple iris is commonly accepted as the state flower．