Don Sundquist, a Republican who served as governor of Tennessee for two terms and spent 12 years in Congress, passed away on Sunday at the age of 87. Sundquist peacefully passed away at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis after undergoing surgery and battling a brief illness. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee expressed his condolences and praised Sundquist for his dedication to bringing people together for the greater good.
Sundquist was a highly successful politician, never losing an election in his eight attempts in Tennessee. He served in Congress from 1982, representing parts of West and Middle Tennessee, and later became Tennessee’s 47th governor after winning the election in 1994. Sundquist was re-elected in 1998.
During his first term as governor, Sundquist implemented the “Families First” program, which aimed to transition welfare recipients into employment by providing them with training, job search assistance, transportation, and daycare services. In return, recipients were required to participate in job-related activities and were limited to 18 months of welfare support, with a maximum lifetime limit of five years.
Throughout his tenure, Sundquist advocated for various initiatives such as privatizing the state’s prison system and repealing the sales tax on groceries. However, his popularity dwindled in his second term due to financial challenges related to TennCare, the statewide healthcare initiative, and his proposal for a state income tax.
Sundquist’s political career was marked by his opposition to banning assault weapons, support for a comprehensive ethics code, and advocating for tax cuts. He was also involved in grassroots work for the Republican Party and held leadership positions in the Young Republican National Federation.
Outside of politics, Sundquist was a successful entrepreneur, founding Graphic Sales of America Corp. and establishing a bank in Germantown. He was also the national chairman of the Young Republican National Federation and served in the Navy before pursuing his career in politics.
Don Sundquist will be remembered as a dedicated public servant who made significant contributions to the state of Tennessee.
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