1. Riley Carlisle Darnell was an American politician and lawyer who served in the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 67th district, Tennessee Senate from the 22nd district, Majority Leader of the Tennessee Senate, and as Tennessee Secretary of State as a member of the Democratic Party.
Riley Darnell unsuccessfully sought the position of Speaker of the Senate against incumbent John Shelton Wilder in 1986.
Riley Darnell lost re-election in 1992 but successfully defeated incumbent Secretary of State Bryant Millsaps and served in that position until 2009.
Riley Carlisle Darnell was born on May 13,1940, in Clarksville, Tennessee, to Elliot S Darnell and Mary Anita Whitefield.
Riley Darnell graduated from Clarksville High School in 1958, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Austin Peay State University in 1962, and graduated with a juris doctor degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1965.
Riley Darnell was accepted into the Tennessee State Bar in 1965.
Riley Darnell married Penny Corckarell, with whom he had five children.
Riley Darnell won the Democratic nomination and faced no opposition in the general election.
Riley Darnell was reelected in 1972,1974,1976, and 1978.
Riley Darnell was appointed to serve on the Judicial and Finance committees in the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1971.
In 1975, Riley Darnell was selected over state Senator Doug Henry to succeed Representative John Hicks as chairman of the Fiscal Review committee.
Riley Darnell announced in 1980 that he would seek the Democratic nomination for a seat in the Tennessee Senate from the 22nd district to succeed Halbert Harvill.
Riley Darnell won the Democratic nomination against Perkins Freeman and Max Nichols and won in the general election against Republican nominee Alton Boyd.
Riley Darnell was reelected in 1984, and 1988, but lost reelection to Carol Rice in 1992.
Riley Darnell was appointed to serve on the Finance Ways and Means committee, as vice-chairman of the Transportation committee, and as chairman of the Ethics committee in the Tennessee Senate in 1981.
Riley Darnell was selected to serve as chairman of the Select Committee on Children and Youth in 1987.
On November 9,1992, Riley Darnell announced that he would seek the office of Tennessee Secretary of State against incumbent Bryant Millsaps after he had lost reelection to the Tennessee Senate.
Riley Darnell won the Democratic nomination against Millsaps on November 19, and was elected as Secretary of State on Tennessee General Assembly on January 13,1993.
Riley Darnell lost reelected to Republican nominee Tre Hargett in 2009.
Riley Darnell died from cancer in Clarksville, Tennessee, on October 2,2020, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery.