Judge Robert Summitt is re-entering private practice as an attorney and mediation judge.Two former public servants, whose combined 75 years of giving back to Chattanooga and Hamilton County included stints as deputy governor, county mayor, sheriff, state legislator, Circuit County judge, assessor of property, county commissioner, county attorney, county coroner and school board attorney, have died.
One a Republican, Claude Ramsey, 75, made his most significant contributions as county mayor between 1994 and 2011. One a Democrat, Bob Summitt, 94, made his biggest impact as Circuit Court judge from 1968 to 1998.
Though divided in party, together they exemplified humble but strong and effective leadership.
One, Summitt, made his career in the law, as he intended. The other, Ramsey, started out as a third-generation strawberry farmer.
Both found time beyond their careers and public service to give back to their communities.