Lamar Alexander
LAMAR ALEXANDER

Lamar Alexander may have held more high political offices than any other living Tennessean. Currently one of the state's two U.S. Senators (the other is Bob Corker), Alexander was the governor of Tennessee from 1979 until 1987 and the U.S. Secretary of Education from 1991 until 1993. Education has been his primary interest. The statewide standardized testing done today in Tennessee's public schools came out of one of Governor Alexander's initiatives, and he has sponsored several programs as U.S. Senator to help the teaching of social studies and history.

A cover of Time magazine in the early 1990s
Here are some things about this famous Tennessean you might find interesting:

* He grew up in Maryville and was active in politics by the time he got to high school. In fact, he was elected governor of Tennessee Boys State in 1957.
* He went to Vanderbilt University and was a columnist for the school newspaper.
* He is a great piano player.
* When he ran (successfully) for governor in 1979, Alexander wore a red and black plaid shirt and walked 1,000 miles across the state.
* He ran (unsuccessfully) for president of the United States in 1996 and 2000.

Click here to be taken to Senator Alexander's official website.

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