Former state Rep. Gerald McCormick, a Republican who represented Hamilton County in the Tennessee General Assembly for 14 years, has died. He was 63.
McCormick served as the House majority leader and resigned in 2018 to work in the private sector. In 2020, he was diagnosed with ALS.
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Rep. Gerald McCormick. We were elected to the legislature together in 2004, and I saw firsthand how honorably he served and fiercely fought for all of his constituents,” state Sen. Bo Watson, R- North Chattanooga, said in a statement. “He was an exceptional legislator and a strong leader for the state of Tennessee.
“He faced his battle with ALS with incredible courage and strength,” Watson continued. “He was a good friend. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”
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Watson said McCormick had a unique way of being able to deal with complicated issues that made people respect him. He could get stirred up, Watson said, but he had a relaxed style about him.
“Gerald was one of those guys that everybody just seemed to like. Even if they were on the opposite side of the issue from him, they seemed to like him,” Watson said by phone. “That was just part of his unique personality. It was one of those kinds of traits that many of us wish that we had, but that was his skill set.”
Watson said that McCormick was politically seasoned — he had been in the political game since the mid-’90s and acted as a mentor. Watson was McCormick’s Sunday school teacher at First-Centenary United Methodist Church, where the two would talk about politics at the weekly meetings when Watson first ran for office.
Before holding office, McCormick attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and then finished his degree at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He served in the U.S. Army and was elected to the Tennessee House in 2004.
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However, he was not always a Republican. Democrats recruited him in 1992 to run against then-Rep. Ken Meyer, an East Ridge Republican, in a race Meyer won, former U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp said in a 2022 interview.
Bob Corker, who served as Chattanooga mayor and in the U.S. Senate, also praised McCormick.
“Gerald was an outstanding public servant who led with grace, calm, humility and a strong sense of purpose,” Corker said. “He was a remarkable model of human excellence, especially in the way he handled his health challenges.
“His style of leadership, optimism and kindness is greatly missed because of the positive impact it had on so many,” Corker said.
Watson said McCormick employed crafty strategies during state budget negotiations, like walking out and waiting 10 minutes and then walking back in, but no matter what, his fellow legislators and the public felt he was sincere and honest.
(READ MORE:McCormick: Replace Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest bust with Davy Crockett)
Former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said he and wife Crissy Haslam were sad to learn of McCormick’s death.
“He was a great partner in his role as majority leader while I was in office, and I always appreciated the mix of passion and reason that he brought to everything he sought to accomplish,” Bill Haslam said said. “While he was a great leader for Tennessee, I was even more impressed with the courage and spirit he maintained while he battled ALS. All of us can learn from Gerald and the life he lived up until the very end.”
Watson said he visited McCormick three weeks ago. His condition had worsened, Watson said, but nonetheless, they laughed about some old times.
“He was a good person. Everyone in Chattanooga knew it,” Watson said. “Even though he was from Memphis, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, had really become his home.”
McCormick lived in Hixson. In 2023, a building on the Chattanooga State campus was named after McCormick — the Gerald McCormick Center for Engineering, Technology, Arts and Sciences.
“I’m saddened to learn of the passing of Gerald McCormick, a devoted Tennessean and veteran who dedicated his life to public service,” said U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Ooltewah, in a post to X. “As a longtime state representative and former House Majority Leader, Gerald was a strong voice for our state’s conservative values. He served with passion, honesty, and a deep commitment to making Tennessee stronger for future generations.”
Contact politics reporter Ruby Rayner at rrayner@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6556.