Randell "Randy" Tyree (born 1940) is a Tennessee politician who served as mayor of Knoxville from 1976 to 1983 and was the Democratic candidate for Governor in 1982.
Randy Tyree | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee | |
| In office 1976–1983 | |
| Preceded by | Kyle Testerman |
| Succeeded by | Kyle Testerman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1940 (age 83–84) |
Biography
editTyree was born in Carthage, Tennessee, in 1940.[1] He received a bachelor's degree from Middle Tennessee State University, where his major was political science. Subsequently he earned a law degree from the University of Tennessee.[2] Tyree, now divorced, was married to the former Mary Pat Dukas. The couple has four children.[2]
For a ten-year period early in his career, he worked in law enforcement, including a four-year stint with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as well as a period as a police officer in Knoxville. He also served as a police commissioner in the City of Knoxville.[3][4]
He was elected mayor of Knoxville at age 34 in 1975, the city's youngest candidate ever to hold that office, defeating Republican incumbent Kyle Testerman. He took office the following year.[5] In 1979 he won re-election to a second four-year term, and presided over the city during the 1982 World's Fair.[5]
In 1982 Tyree ran for Governor with support from Jake Butcher. He won the Democratic nomination by defeating Anna Belle Clement O'Brien in the primary election,[6] but lost to Republican incumbent governor Lamar Alexander in the November general election.[5]
Tyree unsuccessfully sought to again become mayor in the 1987 election.
Tyree was a candidate for sheriff of Knox County in 2006 and 2008. In the May 2006 primary he ran as a write-in candidate, winning over 5% of the vote and thus earning a place in the August general election, which he lost to Republican incumbent Tim Hutchison.[4][7][8] In 2008 he won the Democratic primary held in February, but lost to J.J. Jones in the August general election.[9]
References
edit- ^ The Political Graveyard
- ^ a b Randy Tyree (D) - Sheriff, Knoxville News Sentinel, July 20, 2008
- ^ Randy Tyree (D) - Sheriff, Knoxville News Sentinel, January 13, 2008
- ^ a b Tyree will be on August ballot for Knox County sheriff, WATE-TV website, June 8, 2006
- ^ a b c Chronology for World's Fair issues, Knoxville News Sentinel, April 28, 2002
- ^ Sarah McCally Morehouse, The Governor as Party Leader, page 86, University of Michigan Press, 1998, ISBN 978-0-472-10848-0
- ^ Catharyn Campbell, Hutchison wins fifth term as Knox County sheriff, WATE-TV website, August 3, 2006
- ^ Tyree to run again for Knox Co. sheriff, WATE-TV website, December 12, 2007, updated January 11, 2008.
- ^ Primary & General Election Results, August 7, 2008, WATE-TV website, accessed April 5, 2011