Tennesse Former Rep. James Quillen Dies

[GoGo1]

Tennessee Former Rep. James Quillen Dies


The Associated Press
Sunday, November 2, 2003; 4:37 PM


KINGSPORT, Tenn. - Former Rep. Jimmy Quillen, Tennessee's longest-serving congressman with 34 years in office, died Sunday morning at a Kingsport hospital. He was 87.

Quillen, a Republican who served from 1963 to 1997, had been in ill health for several years, officials said.

"Today's news comes with shock and most certainly sadness," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn. "Since leaving Congress, Tennessee leaders have continued to look to him for guidance."

Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen said Quillen "was always gracious to me and I'll miss him."

[TennesseeWalker]

1. My congressman for many years.

Constituent service was his hallmark. No national policies, no partisanship, nothing. Just bringing things home to the people of Northeast Tennessee. I appreciated him, as did many others here.

[jiacinto]

2. An interesting factoid

That seat was heavily Republican even during the era of the "Solid South". No Democrat has won either the 1st or the 2nd districts since the Civil War. The Republican tradition there has been solid for more than a century.

[TennesseeWalker]

3. The Ultimate Outsiders

This part of Tennessee was actually sympathetic to the Union during the Civil War, but really all they wanted was to be left alone. We even tried to form our own state back in the day when that was fashionable. It was to be called the State of Franklin.

Around here, if you're not a Baptist and a Republican, you're bound for Hell.

[TennesseeWalker]

4. Kick for Old Jimmy Quillen

[mlawson]

5. I remember him joking about Rock Hudson's death

from AIDS. It was in the Johnson City Press at that time. I do not remember the joke itself, but it was a limerick and ended with "...if you had liked women you'd still be with us." That RW rag newspaper printed on the OP ED page, as a humorous quotation from a Congressman who was just so 'well loved'. Not be me, he wasn't!!!!

[TennesseeWalker]

6. I don't remember that.

It sure doesn't surprise me. This area is pretty backward culturally. Way too much Southern Baptist Church influence. I love things over on your side of the mountain, though. Asheville is my idea of how a city should be. :)