KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam granted clemency Tuesday to five people, including a man who was convicted of a drug offense 45 years ago.

Joseph Hultquist received a pardon for his 1972 and 1973 convictions of unlawful sale of controlled substances, both in Knox County, when he was 18 years old.

“For over 45 years, Hultquist has been a positive contributor to the Knoxville community,” said the governor’s office in a statement. “In addition to being self-employed in the construction industry, he was elected to and served on the Knoxville City Council for several years and has been a strong supporter of economic development initiatives in the Knoxville area.”

“In 1971, I was arrested in Knoxville’s first big drug operation, ‘Operation Aquarius,’ and that was during the counterculture days, the old, early hippy days,” said Hultquist.

He says he doesn’t know how his life would be different with the conviction.

“It definitely affected me in a positive as well as negative way. The effects are mixed. It’s a difficult experience and yet, you have to deal with it. I tried to deal with it as best I could,” said Hultquist.

Hultquist also ran for mayor of Knoxville in 2011.

He says he called “so many” after he received the news via a phone call from the governor’s office Tuesday because he was so grateful. He submitted a clemency application 4 years ago, not knowing when or if it would be successful.

“I would’ve made it from here, this is so good. I really can’t express what this feels. I just really wish my Mom was here to see,” said Hultquist.

Hultquist’s citizenship rights were judicially restored in 2001. The Board of Parole unanimously recommended granting him a pardon.

Executive clemency is an act of mercy or leniency by the governor after a criminal conviction, and more specifically, a pardon is a statement of forgiveness that may assist with restoration of rights or expungement of a criminal record by a judge or overcoming the collateral consequences of a conviction with respect to obtaining housing and employment.