Winfield Dunn
Winfield Dunn | |
---|---|
43rd Governor of Tennessee | |
In office January 16, 1971 – January 18, 1975 | |
Lieutenant | John Wilder |
Preceded by | Buford Ellington |
Succeeded by | Ray Blanton |
Personal details | |
Born | Bryant Winfield Culberson Dunn July 1, 1927 DDS) |
Occupation | Dentist |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1944–1946 |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Bryant Winfield Culberson Dunn (born July 1, 1927) is an American businessman and politician who served as the 43rd governor of Tennessee from 1971 to 1975. He was the state's first Republican governor in fifty years.[1] Dunn was an unsuccessful candidate for a second term in 1986, losing to Democrat Ned McWherter. He has remained active in the Republican Party and the medical field since the end of his term as governor.[2]
Early life
Dunn was born in
Dunn graduated with a
Inspired by Barry Goldwater's views on conservatism, Dunn ran unsuccessfully for the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1962.[3] He was elected Chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party, and as such campaigned for Goldwater in the 1964 presidential race.[3] He was a delegate to the 1968 Republican National Convention, and campaigned for the eventual nominee, Richard Nixon.[2]
Governor
In 1970, Dunn sought the Republican nomination for governor. His opponents for the nomination included Speaker of the Tennessee House William L. Jenkins, Nashville industrialist Maxey Jarman, former chair of the state party Claude K. Robertson, and the 1962 nominee, Hubert Patty. Boosted in part by a large turnout in his populous home county of Shelby, Dunn won the nomination, edging his nearest opponent, Jarman, by ten thousand votes.[1] His opponent in the general election was John Jay Hooker, the Democratic nominee.
Prior to the 1970 election, Democrats had controlled the governor's office for 50 years, and had largely dominated state politics since the end of
Upon taking office, Dunn sought to unify the state, and offered state appointments to both Republicans and Democrats. Democrats, who controlled the
In spite of frequent Democratic opposition, Dunn managed to obtain a 0.6% increase in the state sales tax, allowing him to boost highway construction and give pay raises to state employees. He also created the Department of Economic and Community Development and the Department of General Services (to administer state purchases), and reorganized the Department of Personnel in an attempt to enhance efficiency in the hiring of state workers.[2] Dunn supported the state's ratification of the 26th Amendment, which lowered the voting age to 18, in 1971.[6]
In November 1973, Dunn hosted the Republican Governors Conference in Memphis, where President Nixon, beleaguered by the Watergate scandal, privately assured the governors present that no more surprises would arise from the scandal that would hurt the party.[4] In his 2007 book, From a Standing Start, Dunn recalled being "shocked" and "disappointed" when a news broadcast on the following evening revealed there was an 18-and-half minute gap in the White House tapes.[4]
Later life
Dunn's term ended in 1975; at the time, the
After the 1986 campaign, Dunn focused on business and charitable interests. He worked as chairman of Memphis-based Medshares, and has been a member of the boards of healthcare companies Phycor and Behavioral Healthcare Corporation. He has also been active in the
Dunn remains an "elder statesman" in the state Republican Party. He was chair of the state steering committee of the presidential campaign of
Family and legacy
Dunn and his wife, Betty, have three children: Charles (Chuck), Gayle, and Julie.
Further reading
- Dunn, Winfield. From a Standing Start: My Tennessee Political Odyssey. Magellan Press, 2007. ISBN 1928622135.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Phillip Langsdon, Tennessee: A Political History (Franklin, Tenn.: Hillsboro Press, 2000), pp. 370-381, 396-397.
- ^ a b c d e Michael Rogers, "Winfield Dunn," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, 2009. Retrieved: 30 December 2012.
- ^ a b c Finding Aid for the Winfield Dunn Autobiography Manuscripts, University of Tennessee Special Collections. Retrieved: 30 December 2012.
- ^ a b c Bill Dries, "Dunn's Book Details GOP Comeback in Tennessee," Memphis Daily News. Retrieved: 30 December 2012.
- ^ Rodney Stanley and P. Edward French, Tennessee's John Wilder: The Longest Tenured State Legislator in Tennessee History (University Press of America, 2007), p. 105.
- ^ Margaret Phillips, The Governors of Tennessee (Pelican Publishing, 2001), pp. 170-175.
- ^ 2004 Certificate of Ascertainment of Electors Appointed, U.S. National Archives, NARA database. Accessed: 30 December 2012.
- ^ Electoral College - 2008 Presidential Election, U.S. National Archives, NARA database. Accessed: 30 December 2012.
- ^ Chas Sisk, "Mitt Romeny Picks Up Endorsements from Winfield Dunn, 13 State Reps," The Tennessean, 8 December 2011. Retrieved: 30 December 2012.
- ^ Winfield Dunn Center, Austin Peay State University website. Retrieved: 30 December 2012.
External links
- Governor Winfield Dunn – entry at the National Governors Association
- Governor Winfield Dunn Papers (finding aid) – Tennessee State Library and Archives
- Portrait painting of Governor Dunn – Tennessee Portrait Project
- Portrait photograph of Governor Dunn – Tennessee State Library and Archives