'Class act': Community reflects on former TN Gov. Don Sundquist's impact in & out of office

Current and former elected officials, alongside family, paid tribute at a celebration of life for former congressman and Tennessee Gov. Don Sundquist at Christ Church Memphis on Thursday.

Sundquist died Sunday at Baptist East Memorial Hospital in Memphis following surgery and a short illness. He was 87.

Memphis police and Tennessee State Troopers dotted the area outside of Christ Church, escorting mourners across Poplar Avenue. Inside of the church, attendees listened as close friends and family described the impact of Sundquist's life, weaving in personal anecdotes amid commentary about what Sundquist achieved as a politician.

Kellye Cash, the great-niece of Johnny and June Carter Cash who won Miss America in 1987, opened the ceremony with a rendition of "I Bowed on My Knees and Cried Holy."

After Cash, U.S. Rep. David Kustoff spoke and recalled first meeting Sundquist through being friends with his son. Eventually, Kustoff said, Sundquist helped shape his career.

“Don wasn’t the congressman, he was my friend's father," Kustoff said. "He was my teacher and my mentor… He encouraged me to go shoot for the U.S Attorney’s Office.“

Kustoff also said Sundquist balanced "what is important in Washington, and what’s important to your constituents at home" and said he made the lives of those around him better.

“You had an impact on each and every one of us. Job well done,” Kustoff said.

Rep. Steve Cohen: Sundquist remembered West Tennessee needs

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, in attendance Thursday, said he first developed a relationship with Sundquist during their time as a state senator and governor, respectively.“I was in the Senate the whole time he was governor,” Cohen said. “He was a class act. He had no airs about him. He was very approachable and open, and we worked on a lot of projects together… I’ve never had a better relationship with an administration in my life.”Cohen remembered Sundquist’s time as governor fondly. Sundquist, he said, said did not forget about West Tennessee's needs. “He never forgot Memphis,” he said. “He helped us with appropriations for the city. He helped me with the baseball park. One of the things we did was pass a tax program to help AutoZone Park get constructed and continue to pay off the bonds. Without that, the park would never have happened.”

Cohen added that he would like to see something near AutoZone Park be named after Sundquist, because “that was one of the things we worked on together and was really important for Downtown Memphis."

'He was always just Don'

Former Shelby County Mayor Jim Rout, who was county mayor at the same time Sundquist was governor, described the former governor as someone who could always be called upon when needed. Rout said he was a friend and "someone who was always looking out for how to help."

"He was a great guy," Rout said. "He was a great family man, he was a good businessman, he understood business very, very well, and, of course, he was a good governor."

Rout said Sundquist provided essential support and assistance in getting the Grizzlies to Memphis as well as helping secure funding for Shelby Farms Park. He also praised Sundquist's ability to stay relatable, no matter what office he held.

"He was always down-to-earth. He was always just Don," Rout said.

While Sundquist was proud to be a Republican, Rout said, he would work with anyone ― Republican or Democrat ― to get things accomplished, both in Washington, D.C., and in Nashville.

"It's a loss, but because he's had a number of health issues lately, he's in a much better place," Rout said.

Sundquist was the 47th governor of Tennessee from 1995 to 2003 and represented Tennessee’s 7th District in Congress for 12 years.

An Illinois native, Sundquist met his wife, Martha, while at Augustana College in Rock Island. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War and moved to Memphis in 1972. He became active in Republican politics after moving to Tennessee, eventually leading the National Young Republicans for three years. He was an organizer for Sen. Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign and served as a delegate to the 1976 and 1980 Republican National Conventions.

Sundquist was elected to Congress in 1982, defeating Democrat Bob Clement by a margin of fewer than 1,500 votes. He went on to be easily reelected five times before seeking the governor's office. When Democratic Gov. Ned McWherter was term-limited in 1994, Sundquist ran for governor and defeated then-Nashville Mayor Phil Bredesen by nearly 10 points.

A man of integrity, principles

State Rep. G.A. Hardaway did not serve with Sundquist but said he spoke with him at various events. He called the former governor a man who "stood on his principles."

"I think you heard some of it during the service," Hardaway said. "He kind of set the example of how to live by how he lived, and was similar to how he handled governing and politics. If he said he was trying to do something, he was going to try to put that effort in. There's a sense of integrity that you get from being around him, and his willingness and courage he had to follow through on his convictions."

Chris Day and Vivian Jones contributed to this report.

Micaela Watts is a reporter for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at micaela.watts@commercialappeal.com.

Lucas Finton is a criminal justice reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com and followed on Twitter @LucasFinton.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Celebration of life held for former TN Gov. Don Sundquist in Memphis