Bud Willis
ough respectively.
“Marshall was articulate. He certainly had the best of our state and country at heart. He was an extremely keen politician. I remember how hard he worked on so many issues, not the least n Continued from 11 of whichlegewas whenat he bring raised,” he says with a laugh. of medicine East helped Tennessee State UniHis wife, Janet, has been at his the side and versity, and that caused many people here General Assembly to meet in to shared the decades of involvement. A former turn against him. But he was an exceptional chair-man of the Washington County Jonesborough Republi- man and a in fine1970, governor.”which as far ‘Think of the men who have fought for can Women, she is a member of the WashingDunn’s veto placed him in they opposition to an as I know is the only time have ton County Election Commission. East Tennessee triumvirate of Sen. Marshall this country over all these years. Think of outside of Elizabethton Nashville. And, even though they are not as met active as Nave from and Reps. Bob Good
the people who set up the country, the families who struggled to make it live. Think of your own mothers and fathers, or grandmothers and grandfathers.
their parents, Willis is pleased that his chil- and P.L. Robinson, from Johnson City and likedrespectively. Bob Good. He dren – Wes, and his wife, Lisa; Anne, and“Iheralways Jonesbor-ough husband, Phillip Patrick; Lydia; andworked Blaine, hard “Marshall was He medical certainly had to helparticulate. get the and his fiance, Meg Eason – “are all very the best of our state and country at heart. He school. was I don’t think either ofI them patriotic. They all vote, and never miss. an extremely keen politician. remember “I’ve told my own children, just like I how hard he worked on so many issues, got anywhere near the credit they not would tell anyone else, it is very important the least of which was when he helped bring ThereAssembly should beinaJonesborough building that you vote. That freedom could deserved. easily be the General to meet taken from us. It is a duty you have,named to God for in 1970, which as far as I know the only each one of them –isthey and this country, to go vote. I say God be- time they have met outside of Nashville. did the work. They it.” cause He is at the foundation of the coun“I always liked earned Bob Good. He worked hard try.” to help get the medical school. I don’t think Mayor Willis was just out of high school and Former serv- eitherJohnson of them gotCity anywhere near theMay credit Longtime Northeast Tennessee ing in the U.S. Navy when he sent home for his they deserved. There should be a building Ross McDowell was “a wonderful first ballot, en-abling him to vote absentee. He named for each one of them – they did the political activist was and comhas not missed a single election since.lady. She work. Theyvery earned honest, it.” “Whether it was a contested race pletely or not, I dedicated. Former Johnson Citytold Mayorme May Ross McShe once went and voted,” Willis said. “I feel like it’s Dowell was “a wonderful lady. She was very thatelse. shehonest, couldandtake me, Jim Cloyd my duty, and it’s the same for everyone com-pletely dedicated. She told Get out and vote, or surely don’t com-plain me once that she could take me, Jim Cloyd and Fred Brandt” – the late oil busiabout the results.” and Fred Brandt” – the late oil busi-nessman nessman Johnson City attorney, Willis laughed at his wife’s rec-ollection of andand Johnson City attorney, respectively – “and Baker once saying: “If you don’t wantrespectively to know win any – elec-tion.” “and win any electhe truth, then don’t ask Bud.” McDowell was instrumental in her suption.” And he said he tried to do just that, as he port of the Washington County Singing Re- got to play hard and mean in order to get the Willis recalls a dozen stories of poll watchbecame associated with many of the most publicans, in which Willis participated. With huge amount of money it takes to run. And ing on election days – including the time he McDowell was instrumental in her County prominent names in politics. the encouragement and support of Baker and support then there’sof the the mediaWashington to deal with.” foundSinging a man tryingRepublicans, to buy votes. “I followed He lauded former Congressman B.inCarroll Quillen, the group took on the name TennesWillis said he can understand the general him everywhere, even out into the the woods. Just which Willis participated. With the encouragement and support of Baker and Quillen, Reece for “having a great reputation across see Singing Republicans and took off from feeling of distrust about politics. watching. If they’re trying something dirty, onAirport the name TennesseeDCSinging andAlltook off they from Airport the state, and throughout the nation group as well.” took Tri-Cities in a McDowell-financed “It’s Republicans what people can see. they see, can’tTri-Cities stand that. They don’t wantin anyone Reece served 17 terms in Congress, a andMcDowell-financed also 9, bound for Miami and a debut as the first and hear, is that all politicians are crooked, to see.” DC-9, bound for Miami and a debut as the first non-professional singing as chair of the Republican National Com- non-professional singing group to perform at in it for the money. And they think, ‘my vote “We used to roam around on election day, group perform at aconvention national politicaldoesn’t convention in 1968. mittee in the 1940s. He died just after being toa national political in 1968. count.’ just watching, trying to make sure than nothsworn in for his 18th term and his wife, LouMcDowell and Willis were also part of the I don’t believe that at all,” he says with a ing dirty or underhanded went on. I remember McDowell Willis were also partsweep of the that supported famed country ise, filled out his unexpired term. group thatand supported famed country music of hisgroup arms to add emphasis. one time we put outmusic the word star that every preFormer Congressman Jimmy Tex Quillen star Tex Ritter when he made a bid for U.S. One election day, in a particu-larly tight cinct was going to be checked, and by George, Ritter when he made a bid for U.S. Senate in 1970. and Willis didn’t always see eye-to-eye. “He Senate in 1970. race, “it got down to two paper ballots. The next we did it. Dale Archer and I went to every one of wasn’t too enthusiastic about Baker. I think “Texjust was just outstanding man. man. He was He to the last one had been andHe changed. them, and some of them twice,to before “Tex was ananoutstanding was warm anderased real. and Dorothy were a joy bethe day he thought that somehow it would take away warm and real. He and Dorothy were a joy to Which meant it was not a legal ballot. So then was over.” around. And heAndwas very, very smart. smarter than gave him for ofbeing.” from him here in the First District to have a Re- be around. he was very, very smart. Much Much it was down to one. And that people one vote decidWilliscredit echoes many the founders of the publican senator. But of course it wouldn’t, and smarter than people gave him credit for be- ed the election. There are plenty of examples republic when says he knows of only one thing has high praise for Sen. Lamar Alexander, having been friends since both were young didn’t. But Quil-len was quite a politician,Willis and ing.” where liter-ally one vote does matter, and many that will keep the passion of his life honest, and he became known for that excellent constituent Willis has high praise for Sen.“He’s Lamar Alwhere just a job. few votes de-cide the outcome,” people inhe rightful control. ran for men working to elect Baker. done a fine I’m proud of him. the I think probably service from his office.” exander, having been friends since both were Willis said. “Think of the men who have fought for Willis “thought the world of former Rep. young men working to elect Baker. “He’s done “ItContinued used to beonthat candidates had to be pow- this country over all these years. Think of the Page 8 Leon Cox,” who was later appointed to the cabi- a fine job. I’m proud of him. I think he proba- erful in the precincts, or districts, in order to people who set up the country, the families net of then-Gov. Winfield Dunn. bly ran for president too quickly, but that was even run. Now we’ve got a lot of good people who struggled to make it live. Think of your “He was a good and honest man. And Win- his decision and I respect it. I believe he, just who haven’t really had much political experi- own mothers and fathers, or grandmothers and field was too. I just loved him. Of course, he like Howard, would have made an exceptional ence stick their necks out and run for office. I grandfathers. made the mistake with vetoing the bill for col- president. But it is a mean game, and you’ve think that’s a good thing.” “Then get involved and stay involved.”
“Then get involved and stay involved.’ Calvin C. ‘Bud’ Willis
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Out ‘ N About Magazine