After WWII in 1946, several McMinn County WWII veterans ran for local office in hopes of removing an entrenched county government deemed corrupt. On August 1, 1946, local officials locked themselves in the county jail with ballot boxes. Suspecting foul play, the veterans armed themselves in revolt, exchanged gunfire, and the local officials surrendered, many with injuries but no casualties. The ballots were counted and the veterans’ ticket was elected ending the brief Battle of Athens that received national attention.