John P. Guerry, a retired banker and philanthropist who once headed Chattanooga’s biggest savings and loan association and served as a volunteer leader on numerous business and community organizations, died Tuesday at his home on Lookout Mountain, according to family members. He was 98 years old.
Guerry, who worked at both the Chattanooga Medicine Co. (later Chattem) and American National Bank (later SunTrust and Truist), was chief executive of First Federal Savings and Loan Association from 1978 until 1987. During his career, Guerry served as president and chair of the United Way of Greater Chattanooga, chair of Memorial Hospital and president of Chattanooga’s YMCA, Rotary Club and the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce.
Guerry was also an elected commissioner for the town of Lookout Mountain and served as chair of the Lookout Mountain School Board. Guerry served on the corporate boards for First Federal, Chattem Inc., and Volunteer State Life Insurance Co., and was on the UC Foundation Board. He was chair of both the 1986 Centennial Campaign and the Challenger Center fundraising campaign at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
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