William Jack BensonWilliam “Jack” Benson, a longtime Chattanooga City Council member and educator in the public school system here, died Thursday night, surrounded by his family.
Benson, 85, had been battling a brief illness.
He and his wife, Kathleen “Kay” Benson, have three grown sons and have lived in Chattanooga for most of their lives.
U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, a former mayor of Chattanooga who worked with Benson when he was a councilman, described him as “one of a kind.
“He cared deeply about our community, his district, public education and, most of all, beamed with pride when he talked about his outstanding family,” Corker said in a written statement. “I was honored to serve with him in Chattanooga, and Kay and the children are in my thoughts and prayers.”