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Free Press Opinion: Ex-Republican Majority Leader McCormick was a battler in legislature and against ALS

Staff File Photo / Former state Rep. Gerald McCormick speaks to a Chattanooga State Community College audience on Feb. 10, 2023, when the engineering, technology, arts & sciences building was named in his honor.
Staff File Photo / Former state Rep. Gerald McCormick speaks to a Chattanooga State Community College audience on Feb. 10, 2023, when the engineering, technology, arts & sciences building was named in his honor. Staff File Photo / Former state Rep. Gerald McCormick speaks to a Chattanooga State Community College audience on Feb. 10, 2023, when the engineering, technology, arts & sciences building was named in his honor.

By Clint Cooper 2 min read

Gerald McCormick tackled amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) the way he did legislation in the Tennessee House — with full force.

Unlike with most of his legislation, Lou Gehrig’s disease was a battle he knew he wouldn’t win.

(IN THE NEWS: Former Rep. McCormick has died after battling ALS)

McCormick, 63, a Gulf War veteran and 14-year state representative who rose to be Republican House majority leader, died Thursday. From 2005 to 2019, he served District 26, later represented by Robin Smith and now Greg Martin.

Few remember he started his electoral career in 1992 as a Democrat, losing to state Rep. Ken Meyer in a District 30 House race.