18 Facts About Winfield Dunn

Bryant Winfield Culberson Dunn was an American businessman and politician who served as the 43rd governor of Tennessee from 1971 to 1975.

Winfield Dunn was the state's first Republican governor in fifty years.

Winfield Dunn remained active in the Republican Party and the medical field from the end of his term as governor until his death.

Winfield Dunn subsequently served as a reserve lieutenant in the US Air Force.

Winfield Dunn initially practiced with his father-in-law before opening his own practice in Memphis.

Winfield Dunn was elected Chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party, and as such campaigned for Goldwater in the 1964 presidential race.

Winfield Dunn was a delegate to the 1968 Republican National Convention, and campaigned for the eventual nominee, Richard Nixon.

Winfield Dunn created the Department of Economic and Community Development and the Department of General Services, and reorganized the Department of Personnel in an attempt to enhance efficiency in the hiring of state workers.

Winfield Dunn supported the state's ratification of the 26th Amendment, which lowered the voting age to 18, in 1971.

In November 1973, Winfield Dunn hosted the Republican Governors Conference in Memphis, where President Nixon, beleaguered by the Watergate scandal, privately assured the governors present that no more surprises would arise from the scandal that would hurt the party.

Winfield Dunn's term ended in 1975; at the time, the Constitution of Tennessee barred governors from serving consecutive terms.

Winfield Dunn returned to the private sector, working for several years as the vice president of public relations for the Nashville-based Hospital Corporation of America.

Winfield Dunn easily defeated Hubert Patty and Charles Vick in the Republican primary, but questions over party unity dogged his campaign.

Winfield Dunn worked as chairman of Memphis-based Medshares, and was a member of the boards of healthcare companies Phycor and Behavioral Healthcare Corporation.

Winfield Dunn was active in the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority, as well as with various charities, including the American Cancer Society, the Nashville Heart Association, and the United Way.

Winfield Dunn died on September 28,2024 from natural causes at his home in Nashville at the age of 97.

The Winfield Dunn Center, built during Dunn's tenure as governor, is home to the indoor athletic teams of Austin Peay State University.

The Winfield Dunn Dental Building, housing the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, is named after Governor Winfield Dunn.