William “Ward” Crutchfield, 88, of Chattanooga, a longtime colorful politician from Chattanooga, died on Sunday.

He had a long life of public service as a political force and former Democratic member of the Tennessee Senate for the 10th District, including Marion County and parts of Hamilton County from 1963-1967 and again from 1987-2007, during which he held the leadership role of Senate Majority leader during the 101st through 103rd General Assemblies. He was also a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1957 to 1959 and 1961-1963.

Senator Crutchfield was a graduate of the McCallie School Class of 1946. He attended the University of Chattanooga, and received a J.D. from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, College of Law, in 1951. He received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army. He served as a member of the Metropolitan Government Charter Commission as well as the acting attorney for Hamilton County and an attorney for the Hamilton County Board of Education.



He was known for his work in civil rights and the African American community. He brought the first African American onto the floor of the Tennessee General Assembly in the 1950s. It was noted when he brought C.B. Robinson onto the floor, His colleagues jeered at him and he even received death threats for supporting civil rights. To which, Senator Crutchfield said, “Get used to it. I’ll be bringing him back again.” C.B. Robinson went on to become a statesman himself, and served as a state representative for years.



This and many other anecdotes like it express his long career of public service.

His family was among the first settlers of Chattanooga. Thomas Crutchfield built some of the town's first brick homes and stores. Thomas Crutchfield Jr. operated the Crutchfield House. His brother, William Crutchfield, had a famous clash with Jefferson Davis and later was in Congress.



Ward Crutchfield is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joan “Bunny” Crutchfield; two daughters, Candis Ward “Candy” Crutchfield Kinsey, married to developer and former Chattanooga Mayor Jon Kinsey, and Margie Nel “Missy” Crutchfield; grandchildren, Morgan Ward Kinsey, and James Ward Corn; niece, Mary Louise “Weezy” Crutchfield and nephew, Tom Crutchfield.

