Former Governor of Tennessee Don Sundquist Passes Away at 87

Former Tennessee Governor and U.S. Representative Don Sundquist passed away Sunday morning. He was 87 years old.

Tennessee U.S. Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) was the first to offer his condolences on Twitter, writing, “I’m sorry to hear my friend Don Sundquist died this morning. He served in Congress and also as our 47th Governor of Tennessee.”

I’m sorry to hear my friend Don Sundquist died this morning. He served in Congress and also as our 47th Governor of Tennessee.

— Tim Burchett (@timburchett) August 27, 2023

State Senator Ken Yager (R-Kingston) also commented on Sundquist’s passing, offering his condolences to the former governor’s wife, Martha, and his children.

The former governor, born in Illinois on March 15, 1936, received a bachelor’s degree from Augustana College in 1957 and served in the U.S. Navy until 1959. He was the first member of his family to finish high school and attend college.

Sundquist’s first elected position was in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served six terms representing Tennessee’s 7th congressional district and earned a reputation for being a “fiscal conservative,” according to the National Governors Association.

In November 1994, Sundquist was elected Governor of Tennessee – defeating Nashville mayor Phil Breseden by 807,104 to 664,252 votes – and was reelected in 1998 by a record margin.

His gubernatorial campaigns, according to the Tennessee Historical Society, revolved around “welfare reform, law enforcement, and increased governmental efficiency.”

Most notably, Sundquist’s Families First welfare reform program reduced the number of families on welfare from 70,000 to 30,000 and, during his tenure, the Volunteer State became the first state in the nation to offer universal health insurance.

In 2000, however, Sundquist failed in his efforts to force a state income tax on Tennesseans. To this day, Tennessee remains one of nine states in the nation that does not levy a state income tax.

Sundquist was succeeded as Tennessee’s 47th governor by Phil Bredseen.

Memorial services for Sundquist will be held in Memphis and in Nashville before the former governor is laid to rest in Townsend, according to Action News 5.

– – –

Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Former Gov. Don Sundquiat” by The Tennessee Republican Party and “Tennessee Capitol” is by Kayfishup CC 3.0.