Long-time educator and former state Rep. Paul Starnes has died at 80.
He served Chattanooga in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1972 until 1990 and for that entire 18 years he was a member of the Education Committee and the House General Welfare Committee. Among many other General Assembly leadership roles, he also was the Democratic Whip in 1973 and 1974.
But that was just a small part of his great service to Chattanooga and Southeast Tennessee.
The graduate of Central High School, Hiwassee College and Tennessee Wesleyan College (where he was senior class president), also was a member of more than 50 boards commissions, including the Tennessee Advisory Council on Libraries, the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library, WTCI-Channel 45, University of Chattanooga Foundation, the UTC Arena Advisory Board, the National Dropout Prevention Network and the Chattanooga Regional Council of Governments.
Most of all, he was a great compromiser -- something we have far too few of now -- and long after his days on political panels were done, he remained a mentor to aspiring young leaders, especially Democrats, throughout the region.
We thank him, and his family, for his strong service.