Winfield Dunn
Encyclopedia
Bryant Winfield Culberson Dunn (born July 1, 1927) was the 43rd Governor of Tennessee, from 1971 to 1975.
. He graduated from the University of Mississippi
in 1950 with a B.B.A.
, and from the University of Tennessee
Medical Units in Memphis
in 1955 with a D.D.S.
Dunn served with the U.S. Navy
in the Asia-Pacific Theatre during World War II
. Dunn was also a reserve lieutenant
in the U.S. Air Force.
Settling in Memphis after completing dental school there, Dunn established a flourishing dental
practice and soon became active in local Republican
politics. The Southern
political
landscape was changing rapidly at that time, and Dunn rose to the position of chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party
. There was a massive crossover of voters in the South from the Democratic Party
to the Republican Party in the late 1960s, in reaction to the Civil Rights Movement, and the trend was stronger nowhere than among white voters in Memphis. Dunn was a delegate to the 1968 Republican National Convention
.
In 1970, Dunn decided to run for the Republican nomination for governor of Tennessee. The party had not even fielded a nominee in the gubernatorial election four years prior, but suddenly the nomination seemed valuable, in large measure to the factors cited above, and in the primary
Dunn defeated four opponents, including 1962 Republican nominee Hubert Patty, then-Speaker
of the Tennessee House of Representatives
(and future 1st District-Congressman
) William L. Jenkins
, Claude K Robertson, Knoxville attorney, and industrialist Maxey Jarman, head of Genesco Corp.
After winning the Republican nomination, Dunn narrowly defeated Democratic attorney
and entrepreneur John Jay Hooker
and became the first Republican elected governor of Tennessee in half a century. During his tenure, Dunn was a member of the National Governors' Conference Executive Committee from 1971–1973, and he chaired the Education Commission of the States from 1972 to 1973 and the Republican Governors Association from 1973 to 1974. The Tennessee State Constitution
did not allow governors to succeed themselves at the time that Dunn's term expired in 1975. He did not return to his dental practice in Memphis, but became a successful businessman in Nashville.
In 1986, he was prevailed upon to run for governor again. However, he was haunted by his opposition to a medical school at East Tennessee State University
in Johnson City
during his first term. At the time, Dunn felt that Tennessee could only devote adequate staff and resources to the existing school in Memphis. However, Johnson City was located in the district of powerful Congressman
Jimmy Quillen
, the de facto leader of the Republican Party in East Tennessee
. Although the school was built anyway, Quillen was still enraged at Dunn and never forgave him. He didn't endorse Dunn, and encouraged other East Tennessee Republicans to withhold their endorsements as well. Although Dunn won the Republican primary, the lack of support in East Tennessee cost him any realistic chance against Democratic State House Speaker Ned McWherter
. Only a large turnout from his former base in the Memphis area kept the margin of defeat to just under nine points.
Retiring from active politics, Dunn returned to his business interests, especially banking, with notably strong results. He continues to serve the Tennessee Republican Party as something of an "elder statesman" who is still very popular with grass-roots party members in Middle Tennessee
and West Tennessee
. In the 2004 presidential election, he served as one of Tennessee's 11 presidential electors, casting his ballot for George W. Bush
.
Biography
Dunn was born in Meridian, MississippiMeridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
. He graduated from the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
in 1950 with a B.B.A.
Bachelor of Business Administration
The Bachelor of Business Administration is a bachelor's degree in Commerce and business administration. In most universities, the degree is conferred upon a student after four years of full-time study in one or more areas of business concentrations; see below...
, and from the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee system
The University of Tennessee system is one of two public university systems in the state of Tennessee. It consists of three primary campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga and Martin, a health sciences campus in...
Medical Units in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
in 1955 with a D.D.S.
Doctor of Dental Surgery
There are a number of first professional degrees in dentistry offered by schools in various countries around the world. These include the following:* Doctor of Dental Surgery * Doctor of Dental Medicine * Bachelor of Dentistry...
Dunn served with the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in the Asia-Pacific Theatre during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Dunn was also a reserve lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the U.S. Air Force.
Settling in Memphis after completing dental school there, Dunn established a flourishing dental
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
practice and soon became active in local Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politics. The Southern
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
political
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
landscape was changing rapidly at that time, and Dunn rose to the position of chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party
Shelby County Republican Party
The Shelby County Republican Party is the Republican political organization for Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee. It has a long history of impacting politics in Shelby County long before the Republican Party was popular in the south....
. There was a massive crossover of voters in the South from the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Republican Party in the late 1960s, in reaction to the Civil Rights Movement, and the trend was stronger nowhere than among white voters in Memphis. Dunn was a delegate to the 1968 Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
.
In 1970, Dunn decided to run for the Republican nomination for governor of Tennessee. The party had not even fielded a nominee in the gubernatorial election four years prior, but suddenly the nomination seemed valuable, in large measure to the factors cited above, and in the primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
Dunn defeated four opponents, including 1962 Republican nominee Hubert Patty, then-Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the Tennessee House of Representatives
Tennessee House of Representatives
The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower house of the Tennessee General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional requirements:...
(and future 1st District-Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
) William L. Jenkins
William L. Jenkins
William Lewis "Bill" Jenkins is a politician from the state of Tennessee. He represented the state's 1st Congressional district, centered around the Tri-Cities , from 1997 until his successor was sworn in on January 3, 2007....
, Claude K Robertson, Knoxville attorney, and industrialist Maxey Jarman, head of Genesco Corp.
Genesco Corp.
Genesco Inc. , based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, is a publicly-owned retailer of branded footwear, licensed and branded headwear and licensed sports apparel and accessories and is a wholesaler of branded and licensed footwear...
After winning the Republican nomination, Dunn narrowly defeated Democratic attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and entrepreneur John Jay Hooker
John Jay Hooker
John Jay Hooker, Jr. is a Nashville, Tennessee attorney, entrepreneur, perennial candidate and political gadfly.- Early life :John Jay Hooker was born to relative wealth and privilege in one of the Nashville area's more prominent families...
and became the first Republican elected governor of Tennessee in half a century. During his tenure, Dunn was a member of the National Governors' Conference Executive Committee from 1971–1973, and he chaired the Education Commission of the States from 1972 to 1973 and the Republican Governors Association from 1973 to 1974. The Tennessee State Constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
did not allow governors to succeed themselves at the time that Dunn's term expired in 1975. He did not return to his dental practice in Memphis, but became a successful businessman in Nashville.
In 1986, he was prevailed upon to run for governor again. However, he was haunted by his opposition to a medical school at East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University is an accredited American university located in Johnson City, Tennessee. It is part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system of colleges and universities, the nation's sixth largest system of public education, and is the fourth largest university in the state...
in Johnson City
Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City is a city in Carter, Sullivan, and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, with most of the city being in Washington County...
during his first term. At the time, Dunn felt that Tennessee could only devote adequate staff and resources to the existing school in Memphis. However, Johnson City was located in the district of powerful Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Jimmy Quillen
Jimmy Quillen
James Henry Quillen, usually known as Jimmy Quillen was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee from 1963 to 1997.-Early life:...
, the de facto leader of the Republican Party in East Tennessee
East Tennessee
East Tennessee is a name given to approximately the eastern third of the U.S. state of Tennessee, one of the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee defined in state law. East Tennessee consists of 33 counties, 30 located within the Eastern Time Zone and three counties in the Central Time Zone, namely...
. Although the school was built anyway, Quillen was still enraged at Dunn and never forgave him. He didn't endorse Dunn, and encouraged other East Tennessee Republicans to withhold their endorsements as well. Although Dunn won the Republican primary, the lack of support in East Tennessee cost him any realistic chance against Democratic State House Speaker Ned McWherter
Ned McWherter
Ned Ray McWherter was an American politician who served as the 46th Governor of Tennessee from 1987 to 1995. He was a Democrat.McWherter was born in Palmersville, Weakley County, Tennessee...
. Only a large turnout from his former base in the Memphis area kept the margin of defeat to just under nine points.
Retiring from active politics, Dunn returned to his business interests, especially banking, with notably strong results. He continues to serve the Tennessee Republican Party as something of an "elder statesman" who is still very popular with grass-roots party members in Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee is a distinct portion of the state of Tennessee, delineated according to state law as the 41 counties in the Middle Grand Division of Tennessee....
and West Tennessee
West Tennessee
West Tennessee is one of the three Grand Divisions of the State of Tennessee. Of the three, it is the one that is most sharply defined geographically. Its boundaries are the Mississippi River on the west and the Tennessee River on the east...
. In the 2004 presidential election, he served as one of Tennessee's 11 presidential electors, casting his ballot for George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.