15 Facts About Tommy Irvin

Thomas Telford Irvin was an American politician who served as Georgia's Commissioner of Agriculture from 1969 until January 2011.

Tommy Irvin holds a record as the longest-serving Commissioner of Agriculture in the United States, and the longest-serving statewide official in Georgia.

Tommy Irvin was one of the last Democrats to win statewide in Georgia until 2020, when Joe Biden won the presidential election.

Tommy Irvin was the Governor's Floor Leader and later served as Executive Secretary to the Governor.

Tommy Irvin was a delegate to the 2000,2004, and 2008 Democratic National Conventions.

In 2000, Tommy Irvin made his first trip to Cuba, representing Georgia agriculture in support of free trade with the country.

Tommy Irvin was elected to his 10th and final four-year term in November 2006.

Tommy Irvin's department was tasked with licensing the shelters and enforcing the new law, through the Department's Animal Protection Division.

However, Commissioner Tommy Irvin insisted the issue was a local one, and did not abide by the terms of the law.

In March 2007, the Georgia Department of Agriculture and Commissioner Irvin were sued by former State Representative Chesley V Morton, who had sponsored the law.

When his father died, Tommy Irvin quit school to take care of his mother and sisters, running the business for several years until he got into local politics.

Tommy Irvin was inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame in 2007, and he and his wife funded scholarships for youth.

Tommy Irvin was a trustee at several schools, including Piedmont College and Truett-McConnell College.

Tommy Irvin served as school board chairman and president of the Georgia School Boards Association.

Tommy Irvin died at his home in Mount Airy, Georgia, on September 14,2017, at the age of 88.