1


    

REVOCABLE PROXY             HARTSVILLE BANCSHARES, INC.             EXHIBIT 99.1
                         SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                                DECEMBER 23, 1996

         The undersigned hereby appoints Joseph H. Crabtree, Sr. of Hartsville
Bancshares, Inc. ("HBI") or any successors, with full powers of substitution, to
act as attorneys and proxies for the undersigned to vote all shares of the
Common Stock of HBI which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Special
Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting"), to be held at HBI's main office, 328
Broadway, Hartsville, Tennessee, on Monday, December 23, 1996, at --:-- a.m. and
at any and all adjournments thereof, as follows:

1. The approval of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, as amended (the
"Agreement"), by and between HBI and First American Corporation ("First
American") which provides for the merger of HBI with and into First American
(the "Merger") pursuant to which (i) shareholders of HBI will receive for each
share of HBI's common stock, $10.00 par value (the "HBI Common Stock"), the
number of shares of common stock of First American; $5.00 par value ("FAC Common
Stock"), determined in accordance with the Agreement and cash in lieu of any
fractional share.

                        [ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN

2. The adjournment of the Meeting to a later date, if necessary, to solicit
additional proxies in the event insufficient shares are present in person or by
proxy at the Meeting to approve the Agreement, all as more fully described in
the Prospectus/Proxy Statement herewith.

                        [ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN


 THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" EACH OF THE LISTED PROPOSITIONS.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, BUT IF NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE SPECIFIED, THIS
PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH OF THE PROPOSITIONS STATED. IF ANY OTHER BUSINESS
IS PRESENTED AT THE MEETING, INCLUDING MATTERS RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF THE
MEETING, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED BY THOSE NAMED IN THIS PROXY IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE DETERMINATION OF A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AT THE PRESENT
TIME, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS KNOWS OF NO OTHER BUSINESS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE
MEETING.  
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Should the undersigned be present and elect to vote at the Meeting or at any
adjournment thereof and after notification to the Secretary of HBI at the
Meeting of the shareholder's decision to terminate this proxy, then the power of
said attorneys and proxies shall be deemed terminated and of no further force
and effect.

The undersigned acknowledges receipt from HBI prior to the execution of this
proxy of the Notice of Meeting and the Prospectus/Proxy Statement. The
undersigned hereby revokes any and all proxies heretofore given, with respect to
the undersigned's shares of HBI Common Stock.



                                       27


   2


                                        Dated:                , 1996
                                              ----------------


                                        -----------------------------
                                           Print Name of Shareholder


                                        -----------------------------
                                            Signature of Shareholder

                                        PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME APPEARS
                                        ON THIS CARD. WHEN SIGNING AS ATTORNEY,
                                        EXECUTOR, ADMINISTRATOR, TRUSTEE OR
                                        GUARDIAN, PLEASE GIVE YOUR FULL TITLE.
                                        IF SHARES ARE HELD JOINTLY, EACH HOLDER
                                        SHOULD SIGN.

                                                                                
PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND MAIL THIS PROXY PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED
POSTAGE-PREPAID ENVELOPE.




                                       28