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2024 MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS
Memorial to
William “Bill” Thomas Alt
As prepared and presented by William G. Colvin
I want to speak of William T. Alt, the adversary who became my friend. Those of us who knew Bill as an adversary knew him as a ferocious advocate for his client. And I mean ferocious advocate in the most positive way. He meticulously developed the facts and studied the law to present the best possible argument on behalf of his clients. I bore the brunt of that preparation more than once. But I also saw another side of Bill when I had the good fortune to be a co-counsel and collaborator with him.
While Bill could exhaustively question a witness in deposition, he was no less exhaustive questioning his own client to learn the facts as well as to understand what motivated the client to do or not do, whatever the client had done, or not done. Bill documented this questioning of his own clients, and witnesses, with thorough notes in beautiful cursive writing with an elegant fountain pen. He studied the law applicable to his cases with the same attention to detail.
If you knew Bill only as a lawyer and advocate, then you really didn’t know Bill. Bill was devoted to his family. If you saw Bill out to dinner with Fran, his love for and devotion to her was palpable. He would light up and glow when introducing her. In private, he always spoke of his stepchildren and children and their families with great love and pride. And he quietly and humbly bore their burdens as well. Few lawyers know that Bill and his wife Fran provided end of life care in their home for Fran’s daughter Elizabeth Ann Matthews as she endured early onset dementia until her death. Few lawyers saw his pride in and concern for his step-grandchildren after both Regina Christine Matthews Oehmig and her husband Lewis West Oehmig, Jr., passed away. Few of us saw his joy in all of his large family. Few of us knew that half of his home library consisted of books about Christ and living a life centered on faith and belief in salvation.
And he never tired of learning. He shared with me that instead of listening to the routine books on tape while driving, he listened to a variety of academic pursuits from a vendor called The Great Courses. He said, “it really passes the time well.”
William "Bill" Thomas Alt of Lookout Mountain, Georgia died peacefully at his home on Friday, June 16, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. Bill is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William George Alt of Brooklyn, New York.
Bill was born on November 5, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1958 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering, where he was a member of Chi Epsilon— a National Honorary Civil Engineering Fraternity. In 1959, he earned an M.S. in Civil Engineering from The California Institute of Technology. He earned an L.L.B. (1962) and J.D (1967) from Brooklyn Law School and completed courses at The Judge Advocate General's School (TJAGS) in Charlottesville, Virginia.
In 1972, he relocated to Chattanooga, to commence a decades-long, distinguished legal career marked by an unwavering commitment to integrity and professionalism. In time, he established William T. Alt, P.C., where he served as president and engaged in private practice until his retirement. He served as a trial attorney in various commercial matters, advised companies in public offerings, stock exchange listings, SEC reporting, and accounting issues, and served as legal counsel for several multistate trucking firms. He served as outside legal counsel for Covenant Logistics Group, Inc. from 1986 to 2003 and served as a director for nearly three decades—contributing years of executive experience and astute leadership in service to the Board's mission and strategic vision. His boundless dedication, expertise, and virtue were foundational to a successful and rewarding professional legal career.
He embraced the gift of life in ways that inspired meaning and purpose in the lives around him and his family. He challenged us to engage our curiosity, to think more deeply—to pursue knowledge and truth upon the path of reason. He inspired persistence, commitment, candor, and patience. He exuded joy and sincerity, delighted those close to him in laughter, and charmed with his wit and gaiety. He humbled us by means of his intellect, wisdom, and faith. He personified grace, compassion, and humility, and above all, devotedly loved his wife, Fran, and his family unconditionally. He leaves us with abiding gratitude and reverence—our hearts, filled with treasured memories. His loving spirit endures.
He was preceded in death by his father, William George Alt; mother, Veronica Pishkin Alt; loving wife, Frances Marie McRedmond Alt, Lookout Mountain, Georgia; step-daughter, Regina Christine Matthews Oehmig and her husband Lewis West Oehmig, Jr., Lookout Mountain, Tennessee; and step-daughter, Elizabeth Ann Matthews, Lookout Mountain, Georgia.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in a special memorial session on this 1st day of March 2024, that William T. Alt’s life and career be memorialized through this Resolution and be adopted by this Association as words of respect and honor.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be filed in the archives of the Chattanooga Bar Association and be enrolled in the Memorial Resolution Book of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and that a copy be presented to his family as a token of the esteem and honor in which he has been held, as an expression of our very deep sympathy and our mutual loss.
CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION
_________________________________
Steven E. Smith, President
_________________________________
Lynda M. Hood, Executive Director
Memorial to
James P. Anderson, Jr.
James P. Anderson, Jr., of Signal Mountain, a Chattanooga attorney since 1960, died September 6, 2023 at the age of 90, due to complications from a fall. He was the son of the late Dr. James P. Anderson and Martha Anderson of Nashville. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 58 years, Barbara Tyson Anderson, whom he missed every day since her passing in 2017.
Jim attended Wake Forest University and after serving in the Army in Europe, graduated from Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt Law School. Moving to Chattanooga in 1960, he engaged in the practice of civil law for 55 years. He was a partner in the former law firms of Thrasher, Sherrill & Anderson and Anderson & Bridges. He was a member of many legal associations and civic groups. He was past president of the Chattanooga Trial Lawyers Association and served for 36 years a Secretary of the Chattanooga Law Library.
Across his career, he devoted himself tirelessly to client legal matters and business issues. Whenever his clients needed help, he was there with logical reasoning and hard work to resolve business and personal matters. His clients were his friends, and his friends were his clients.
Named a Life Member of the Chattanooga Jaycees’, he was active in development of the two high rise Jaycee Towers, the first non-profit housing for the elderly built in the area, and in the organization of the local Council on Alcoholism. He was subsequently involved in the organization of its successor, the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Services (CADAS), of which he served as Chairman and was honored by being named a Lifetime Member of the Board of Directors.
In 1987, he became a volunteer with the Chattanooga affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, working on the construction of the first house and continuing as both a construction volunteer and in various other capacities. During his work as a volunteer, Habitat built over 200 houses in Chattanooga, and he was proud to have been involved in the actual construction of many of these homes.
An active member of the Signal Crest United Methodist Church since the early 1960s, he served in many capacities through the years, including Lay Leader, Chairman of the Council on Ministries, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees. For 50 years, he was a member of the Interpreter Sunday School Class where he enjoyed teaching and making lifelong friends.
Jim loved to debate and he could be strong willed, but he always made time to help others with a giving heart. As his grandchildren recall, he loved to regale listeners with stories from his childhood, literature, and historical events- aided by his amazing memory and knack for detail. He was full of information he wanted to share with the rest of us.
He is survived by his son, James P Anderson, III (Margaret) and his daughter, Eve Anderson Currin (Don) and by 5 grandchildren, Sheppard Gage Anderson (Paley) of Birmingham, Helen Wallace Anderson of Nashville and Anna Tyson Currin, Eliza Chastain Currin, and Sophie Austin Currin of Hermosa Beach, California. He is also survived by his sister, Elizabeth Chastain Anderson Smith of Cary, North Carolina, nieces and nephews, as well as his cherished dog, Muffin, who has been adopted by a loving, young family.
He was predeceased by one sister, Martha LeSueur Anderson Batchelor and his two brothers, John Charles Anderson and William Wyatt Anderson.
The family would like to thank the staff at Alexian who cared for Jim so compassionately after his fall, and the many neighbors, church friends and pastors who were always there for him during his time of need. Their generous attention to kindness made all the difference to him.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Greater Chattanooga Habitat for Humanity, 1201 East Main Street, Chattanooga, TN 37408, to Signal Crest United Methodist Church, 1005 Ridgeway Ave, Signal Mountain, TN 37377, or to a charity or church of choice.
A memorial service will be officiated by Reverend Dave Graybeal and Reverend Bill Thorton on Sunday, September 24th at 2 p.m. at Signal Crest United Methodist Church on Signal Mountain. Visitation will follow service.
Arrangements entrusted to Covenant Funeral & Crematory; Crox family owned and operated, www.Covenant Funeral.com
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in a special memorial session on this 1st day of March 2024, that William T. Alt’s life and career be memorialized through this Resolution and be adopted by this Association as words of respect and honor.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be filed in the archives of the Chattanooga Bar Association and be enrolled in the Memorial Resolution Book of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and that a copy be presented to his family as a token of the esteem and honor in which he has been held, as an expression of our very deep sympathy and our mutual loss.
CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION
_________________________________
Steven E. Smith, President
_________________________________
Lynda M. Hood, Executive Director
Memorial to
Thomas Maxfield “Max” Bahner
As prepared and presented by William H. Pickering
If you were around Max Bahner for any time at all, you heard him say that if he had a dozen lives to live, he would live each one as a lawyer. And Max meant it. The law was his calling, and he excelled at it in so many ways – as a trial attorney, as a wise counselor, as a bar leader, as a mentor to younger attorneys, and as a fierce advocate for equal justice.
But those of us who had the privilege of knowing Max at and away from the office knew that he was much more than a fine attorney. Max was courageous and tenacious as he battled physical problems that would have challenged anyone, always remaining upbeat and never complaining. Max was thankful for the blessings God gave him – for a good education, a successful career, the opportunity to be of service, and a loving family. For Max, the glass was always half full.
Max was known for his collegiality. He was thoughtful, kind and respectful. He practiced civility well before civility became a topic of seminars.
Max was fun to be around outside the office. He was great company and enjoyed a good meal with a good bottle of wine. During all our time together, I don't remember Max ever talking about himself. His questions were always about you, your interests, your family and their accomplishments. Max cared about people and wanted them to know they were appreciated.
For many years, our firm's letterhead read "Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, Attorneys and Counselors at Law." That was intentional, and Max was both an excellent trial attorney and a counselor to the firm's clients, big and small. When a client was facing a crisis or simply an important business decision, they trusted Max for his counsel and advice. As an up and coming attorney, you might think you were pretty smart, but then the client would ask "What does Max think?" Or just as often, "Could you put Max on the line."
Max's professional accomplishments are literally too numerous to mention. To name just a few, Max was President of both the Chattanooga and Tennessee Bar Associations. He served nearly 17 years in the American Bar Association's House of Delegates and also served on the ABA's Board of Governors. Max was a fellow of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the American College of Trial Lawyers. He received the Chattanooga Bar Association's Ralph H. Kelly Humanitarian Award that is given to "the member of the legal profession who has displayed exemplary service to the community by civic, professional and other activities . . ." Max was the Chair of the Tennessee Supreme Court's Advisory Commission on the Rules of Civil Procedure and was on the commission that drafted the Tennessee Rules of Evidence. He chaired the Task Force to review and revise the Tennessee Rules of Judicial Conduct which were adopted by the Tennessee Supreme Court and have become influential in revisions in other states. He was a founding fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation and the Chattanooga Bar Foundation and a Life Fellow of the American Bar Association.
Max was known for his handling of complex business litigation, and that recognition was well deserved. What's less known, however, was Max's commitment to equal justice under the law which manifested itself in several ways. Max regularly did pro bono work and received the Bruce Bailey Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award in 2013. He was an ardent supporter of Legal Aid of East Tennessee and its efforts to provide legal representation to the elderly, children at risk, and low income Tennesseans. Max was inducted into Legal Aid's Pro Bono Hall of Fame in 2011 and later received the organization's Equal Justice Partner Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring him for having "supported the ideas of equal justice from the very beginning of his legal career."
Max was not afraid to take on unpopular causes. In 1990, Max was asked to represent a death row inmate who had been convicted of first-degree murder in a well-publicized case. Max and his co-counsel spent many hours investigating the case, using all available resources, the same as if the inmate were his most important corporate client. This work uncovered significant new evidence that had not been introduced at trial. In 1999, after almost a decade of work, the inmate's petition for post-conviction relief was granted and subsequently affirmed by the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. This was the first instance in Tennessee of a death row inmate's being granted post-conviction relief. The client was retried and ultimately found not guilty.
Max gave unselfishly to his community. For 40 years, he served in various capacities as a president and board member of the Orange Grove Center. He was a board member of the BOTA Foundation, the Chattanooga Symphony, the United Way, the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, the University of Chattanooga Foundation, and Carson-Newman University, where he was on the Executive Committee and Board Chair for five years. He was a past president of the Chattanooga Rotary Club and served on numerous other committees and organizations as well.
No tribute to Max would be complete without a discussion of family. Max met and married Sara Minta McIntyre in 1957. Max enjoyed telling the story of their courtship, which was charming. In Sara, Max found his best supporter and lifelong friend. They weathered life's challenges together, traveled the world, but were most happy at their home, "Songwood," on Signal Mountain, where they enjoyed the beauty of nature and centered their happy home around family. They were devoted to each other and their children, Tabb, Susan and Catharine, and later their sons-in-law and their beloved grandchildren.
One of Max's crowning achievements was his selection by the American Bar Association as the recipient of the John H. Pickering Award of Achievement. This award "recognizes the brilliant legal work, advocacy of pro bono service, dedication to the cause of equal justice for all, and promotion of the highest standards of ethics and professionalism in the law." The ABA selection committee selects just one recipient for the Pickering Award each year. As one of Max’s several supporters for the award, Attorney Lee Barfield of Bass, Berry & Sims stated:
Max is a Tennessee lawyer who sits at the top of our profession. He has done it all. Throughout his career he has worked tirelessly and successfully for his clients, for his profession and for his community. All of us should strive to emulate Max. His accomplishments are unsurpassed, and he goes about his work with humility, a self-deprecating sense of humor and a genuine love of helping others. He has no selfish bones in his body.
What a life well lived! We will miss you, my partner, my mentor, my friend.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in a special memorial session on this 1st day of March, 2024, that T. Maxfield Bahner’s outstanding career as a leader of the Chattanooga, Tennessee and American Bar Associations and his service to his community be memorialized through this Resolution, and be adopted by the Chattanooga Bar Association as words of respect, praise and memory.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be filed in the archives of the Chattanooga Bar Association and be enrolled in the Memorial Resolution Book of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Hamilton County, Tennessee, and that a copy be presented to his family as a token of the esteem and honor in which he has been held, and as an expression of our very deep sympathy and our mutual loss.
CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION
_________________________________
Steven E. Smith, President
_________________________________
Lynda M. Hood, Executive Director
Memorial to
Honorable William Muecke Barker
As prepared and presented by Honorable Tom Greenholtz and Hugh J. Moore, Jr. and Presented by Hugh J. Moore, Jr.
Chief Justice William Muecke Barker was born on September 13, 1941, to William Frank Barker and Eleanor Carpenter Barker. He grew up in Highland Park in Chattanooga and attended the McCallie School and City High School.
Chief Justice Barker earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Chattanooga, where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. While studying for a degree in English and secondary education, he met his future wife, Cathy. He graduated in 1964 and married Cathy later that same year.
The Chief maintained a close relationship with the University throughout his career. He served as a long-time adjunct professor of political science, teaching classes on the judiciary and constitutional law. He was named the Student Government Association’s Outstanding Adjunct Professor in 2000 and UT- Chattanooga’s Distinguished Alumnus in 2007. In addition, the Chief also served as a trustee of the University of Chattanooga Foundation.
After graduating from the University of Chattanooga, Chief Justice Barker and Cathy moved to Cincinnati to attend the University of Cincinnati. The Chief graduated from the School of Law in 1967, where he was a member of the Board of Editors of the Cincinnati Law Review. Cathy also graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a master’s degree in English.
Following his graduation from law school, the Chief entered the United States Army, serving for two years as a captain in the Medical Field Service School. After his military service, he began work in the private practice of law with the Chattanooga law firm of Dietzen, Dietzen & Barker.
In 1983, Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander appointed Chief Justice Barker as a judge for the Circuit Court for Hamilton County in the Eleventh Judicial District. He was elected to the position in 1984 and again in 1990, each time running unopposed. During his tenure on the trial court bench, Chief Justice Barker consistently earned the highest rating for a circuit court judge in Chattanooga Bar Association polls. In a later interview with the Tennessee Bar Foundation, the Chief said that his time in the circuit court was his favorite time on the bench. He loved the good lawyers, exciting cases, and the “intellectual workouts” that the trial court provided.
In 1995, an opening on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals was created when then-Judge Penny J. White was elevated to the Tennessee Supreme Court. The Chief applied for the position to “keep fresh” and to “learn something new.” To our fortune, Tennessee Governor Don Sundquist appointed him to the seat, and Chief Justice Barker was elected to an eight-year term the following year. He later expressed that the judges with whom he worked on that court were “some of the finest, best people I’ve ever worked with.”
Two years later in 1998, Governor Sundquist again called on Chief Justice Barker for service, this time appointing him to the Tennessee Supreme Court. Chief Justice Barker was elected to a full eight-year term later that same year and again in 2006. His fellow justices unanimously elected him Chief Justice in September 2005.
During his tenure with the high court, he participated in hundreds of cases, and he authored scores of important and landmark decisions, with opinions in areas of separation of powers, individual rights and liberties, and the administration of the criminal law. As Chief Justice, he was especially passionate about access to justice issues. He consistently and actively encouraged lawyers to dedicate fifty hours each year to pro bono services, and with others, he was instrumental in helping to launch the Supreme Court’s long-standing Access to Justice Initiative.
Chief Justice Barker retired from the Supreme Court in 2008. At that time, he served as chairperson of the Tennessee Judicial Council, the Tennessee Code Commission, the Supreme Court Building Commission, and the State Law Library Commission. He also was a member of the American Law Institute and served on
the board of directors of the Conference of Chief Justices and as chairperson of its Problem-Solving Courts Committee.
Following his retirement from the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Barker became of counsel to the Chattanooga law firm of Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel. While there, he worked in the field of alternative dispute resolution, serving as a respected arbitrator and an especially popular mediator. He also served on the Board of Law Examiners, and he was a friend and mentor to countless lawyers, new and experienced alike.
Throughout his professional career, Chief Justice Barker was a strong proponent of the Tennessee Plan for selecting judges. This passion led him to his instrumental work in helping to ensure the passage in 2014 of Amendment 2, a constitutional amendment aimed at protecting much of the Tennessee Plan. He was also a dedicated member of First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga where he served as a ruling elder and past chairperson of its Board of Deacons. He taught the Young Adult Sunday School class for eighteen years, and he served on two pulpit committees.
Some will remember Chief Justice Barker for his passion for travel and cooking. Most of us will remember him, though, for his ubiquitous storytelling, wit, and humor. He confessed to some that he dreamed of being a stand-up comedian, and he even briefly tried his hand at that work after returning from the service. This dream was paired with one to be on the stage, and he starred in local productions of The Odd Couple, South Pacific, and Annie, Get Your Gun.
The Chief will also be remembered for his dedicated punctuality, a trait that resulted in his sometimes arriving for events even before the doors opened. And while those close to him may not recognize his inexhaustible supply of patience, lawyers practicing before him in the circuit court identified his patient listening and humor as being foremost among the many traits that endeared him to the bar and community alike.
Most of all, though, Chief Justice Barker should be remembered for the love of his family and the Lord. Indeed, when he was asked what gave him the greatest
satisfaction looking back over his life, he replied simply, “Helping my wife raise three great children” and having a “relationship with my Lord.”
Chief Justice Barker went to be with his Lord and Savior on April 3, 2023, at the age of 81. He is survived by his treasured spouse of 58 years, Catherine Hope Elton Barker. He is also survived by their three beloved children: John Edward Barker and his wife Michelle, David Muecke Barker and his wife Mary, and Martha Barker Usher and her husband Chris; as well as their eight grandchildren.
In the end, the Chief left us quite a legacy. Renowned Chattanooga lawyer and close friend, T. Maxfield Bahner, said that “[t]o do what Muecke Barker has done with his life requires a wife like Cathy, self-discipline, hard work, and dedication to the noblest and highest ideals. We’re fortunate this son of Hamilton County gave himself so selflessly as a lawyer and a judge.”
Former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen affirmed this sentiment. He said, “In a judicial career spanning over 25 years, Chief Justice Barker has served the state of Tennessee with honor and integrity. Tennessee is fortunate to have benefited from his long commitment to public service.”
But perhaps the Tennessee Bar Journal said it best of all. When announcing the Chief’s retirement in 2008, the journal’s cover summarized the feeling in three words: “Bravo, Justice Barker!”
Bravo, indeed.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in a special memorial session on this 1st day of March, 2024, that Honorable William Muecke Barker’s outstanding career as a leader of the Chattanooga, Tennessee and American Bar Associations and his service to his community be memorialized through this Resolution, and be adopted by the Chattanooga Bar Association as words of respect, praise and memory.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be filed in the archives of the Chattanooga Bar Association and be enrolled in the Memorial Resolution Book of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Hamilton County, Tennessee, and that a copy be presented to his family as a token of the esteem and honor in which he has been held, and as an expression of our very deep sympathy and our mutual loss.
CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION
_________________________________
Steven E. Smith, President
_________________________________
Lynda M. Hood, Executive Director
Memorial to
Mark Johnson Mayfield
As prepared and presented by Honorable Chuck Fleischmann
Mark Mayfield, resident of East Brainerd, and a long-time, active, and prominent member in Chattanooga’s legal community, passed away last year, on April 5, 2023, at the age of 91. Born in 1931, from very humble beginnings, Mark called Chattanooga home since 1958 and received his law degree from the University of Tennessee, where he graduated first in his class in 1957 and was inducted into the prestigious Order of the COIF for his outstanding legal scholarship. After moving to Chattanooga, Mark began his practice in 1958 and practiced law in Chattanooga for over 40 years. Mark was an active member of Chattanooga’s community and the Chattanooga Bar Association and distinguished himself as one of the most proficient and successful lawyers in Chattanooga for decades. Admired by the Bench and the Bar for his legal prowess and outstanding intellect, Mark was always present to serve his beloved Chattanooga Bar.
Beyond Mark’s distinguished legal career, he served America in the United States Air Force, was an active member of Christ United Methodist Church, and was a passionate UT fan.
Chattanooga and the city’s legal community mourn and remember this dedicated servant of the law. Mark Mayfield is survived by his wife, Yvonne Mayfield, daughter, Brenda Fleischmann, son, Mark E. Mayfield, sister, Velda Sanderson, and many beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in a special memorial session on this 1st day of March, 2024, that Mark Mayfield’s outstanding career as a leader of the Chattanooga, Tennessee and American Bar Associations and his service to his community be memorialized through this Resolution, and be adopted by the Chattanooga Bar Association as words of respect, praise and memory.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be filed in the archives of the Chattanooga Bar Association and be enrolled in the Memorial Resolution Book of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Hamilton County, Tennessee, and that a copy be presented to his family as a token of the esteem and honor in which he has been held, and as an expression of our very deep sympathy and our mutual loss.
CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION
_________________________________
Steven E. Smith, President
_________________________________
Lynda M. Hood, Executive Director
Memorial to
John McConnell Wolfe, Jr.
As prepared and presented by Honorable Thomas L. Wyatt
John McConnell Wolfe, Jr. was born April 21, 1954, in Nashville, Tennessee. He was the oldest of seven children of Jack and Regina Wolfe. The family moved to Chattanooga when John was a young child, settling on the hill above Highland Plaza Shopping Center.
John was educated at St. Jude School and Notre Dame High School. He received a degree in political science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and his law degree from Memphis State University. He was a lifelong learner, especially in the fields of politics and current events.
John returned to Chattanooga to begin his legal career. He worked a short time for a firm, but learned quickly that he was not wired for the big firm life. He was the epitome of the “lone wolf.” After just a few months, John set out to begin a solo practice.
Some will remember that, before the proliferation of attorney advertising, the primary marketing source for lawyers was the Yellow Pages in the phone book. Most attorneys’ and firms’ ads looked much like their letterhead or business card. Some generically described the areas of law in which the attorney or firm engaged.
John took a different approach. His ad stated something like, “Call me if you have been hit by a negligent driver or hurt on the job.” The ad was successful in John landing a number of personal injury and workers’ compensation cases, and it jump-started his solo practice.
Over the course of his career, John became known for representing persons allegedly mistreated by the police, jailers, and government agencies. He battled hard in these difficult cases and was successful in a number of them. What few people know about John is that he represented many, many people for little or no fee. John had a heart for the disadvantaged, poor, and powerless. At his funeral, one of his nephews accurately credited him with giving a voice to many people who did not have one.
John’s great passion in life was politics. Had he lived in Brooklyn, Washington D.C., Seattle, Denver, or Portland, he may have risen high in the political arena. John was a very progressive thinker, and his agenda was pro-peace, anti-big-money, anti-undue influence, pro-government assistance, and anti- government overreach. His chance of winning an elected position in our conservative area was never great. However, getting his message out was more important to John than winning or losing, and he never changed his message for the purpose of political expediency.
John ran twice for mayor of Chattanooga and once for state senator. He won more than one Democratic primary to run for Third District Congressman. He did about as well as a Democrat can do in what has become a strongly Republican district. During the years John ran for office, he used his own money to finance a weekly, hour-long radio show that became quite popular. Many folks who did not agree with John listened and called in to debate John’s progressive ideas. I think John’s proudest accomplishment in politics was causing people to listen to and debate alternative political concepts.
Let me ask you a question: who is the last Tennessee attorney to win delegates to a national presidential convention? You might answer, Howard Baker, Lamar Alexander, or Estes Kefauver. Well, the answer is John Wolfe. In 2012, when Barak Obama ran for re-election, John challenged him in three states with large numbers of traditionally Democratic voters where Obama had lost a number of congressional districts. John’s strategy was to garner the anti-Obama Democratic vote to win delegates, and with those delegates, a voice at the national Democratic convention.
John’s strategy was a good one to a point. He won two delegates from Louisiana and 21 delegates from Arkansas, where he actually received more than 41% of the entire vote. But, alas, John was unable to obtain credentials for the national convention. The national party required a candidate for president to have an election machinery that met certain requirements. John was his own election campaign and that didn’t qualify under the national rules. Looking past the disenfranchisement of the thousands of people who voted for John, the national party denied John and his delegates from the national convention. John was disappointed but took it in stride. His comment was, “That wasn’t very democratic, was it?”
John died unexpectedly just after this past Labor Day. The world is a bit harsher and less interesting with his passing. Fewer will have a voice in our community. We are all better when one takes the road less travelled, dreams the impossible dream, or shakes off the shackles of convention and voices a genuine, if unpopular, position. This, John did.
John is missed deeply by his sisters, nieces, and nephews. Those who knew him well never found a truer friend.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in a special memorial session on this 1st day of March, 2024, that John McConnell Wolfe, Jr.’s outstanding career as a leader of the Chattanooga, Tennessee and American Bar Associations and his service to his community be memorialized through this Resolution, and be adopted by the Chattanooga Bar Association as words of respect, praise and memory.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be filed in the archives of the Chattanooga Bar Association and be enrolled in the Memorial Resolution Book of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Hamilton County, Tennessee, and that a copy be presented to his family as a token of the esteem and honor in which he has been held, and as an expression of our very deep sympathy and our mutual loss.
CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION
_________________________________
Steven E. Smith, President
_________________________________
Lynda M. Hood, Executive Director
Memorial to
Honorable William Muecke Barker
As prepared by Honorable Tom Greenholtz and Hugh J. Moore, Jr.
and presented by Hugh J. Moore, Jr.
The Honorable William Muecke Barker, affectionately known as Mickey, a former Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court and a cherished mentor and colleague, passed away on April 3, 2023.
Each one of us is unique, and Mickey was, indeed, one of a kind. As a devoted husband, father, and legal luminary, his roles spanned being a compassionate trial judge, a meticulous appellate judge, and a visionary leader of the Supreme Court. Beyond his professional achievements, Mickey was a treasured friend.
No one knew Chattanooga legal history of the last 50 years better than Mickey, and no one could tell better stories about it. Mickey loved law practice and his service in the judiciary. Following his retirement from the Supreme Court he enjoyed working both as an arbitrator and mediator, and sharing his knowledge, experience, and wisdom with younger attorneys.
Raised in Highland Park, Mickey’s educational journey took him from The McCallie School and City High School to the University of Chattanooga, and finally to the University of Cincinnati Law School, where he graduated in 1967. After serving as a Captain in the United States Army, he returned to Chattanooga to join the legal practice of Dietzen, Dietzen, and Barker.
His judicial career began with an appointment by Governor Lamar Alexander to the Hamilton County Circuit in 1983, leading to roles on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals and eventually to the Tennessee Supreme Court in 1998. While a member of the Supreme Court, he served as Chief Justice from 2005 until his retirement in 2008.
In his later years, Mickey continued to contribute to the legal field through his association with Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, focusing on alternative dispute resolution. His excellence in arbitration and mediation earned him a spot in “The Best Lawyers in America” for many years.
Beyond his legal career, Mickey was known for his love of travel, cooking, and the arts. He enjoyed his association with the Signal Mountain Playhouse, and he starred in their productions of The Odd Couple, South Pacific, and Annie, Get Your Gun. His punctuality, patience, humor, and ability to engage and entertain through storytelling endeared him to many.
Mickey was also a dedicated supporter of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. From 1984 until 2002 Justice Barker taught as an adjunct faculty member of the Department of Political Science. In 2000 he was named Outstanding Adjunct Professor by the UTC Student Government Association.
A man of faith, Mickey served as a ruling elder and chair of the Board of Deacons at First Presbyterian Church. He also taught Sunday School for eighteen years.
Mickey’s interests were vast, from his love for his dog Barney and Vols sports to his enjoyment of Michael Connelly novels and local history. His adventurous spirit led him to travel far and wide, from local trips for doughnuts to exotic cruises from Bali to Hong Kong.
Mickey leaves behind his beloved wife of 58 years, Cathy, his children John, David, and Martha, and eight grandchildren.
In myriad ways, Mickey touched our lives—whether through legal practice, as an esteemed judge, or as a friend. His legacy will continue to inspire and influence those who were fortunate to know him. We will profoundly miss his presence, wisdom, and the warmth of his friendship.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in a special memorial session on this 1st day of March, 2024, that Honorable William Muecke Barker’s outstanding career as a leader of the Chattanooga, Tennessee and American Bar Associations and his service to his community be memorialized through this Resolution and be adopted by the Chattanooga Bar Association as words of respect, praise and memory.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be filed in the archives of the Chattanooga Bar Association and be enrolled in the Memorial Resolution Book of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Hamilton County, Tennessee, and that a copy be presented to his family as a token of the esteem and honor in which he has been held, and as an expression of our very deep sympathy and our mutual loss.
CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION
_________________________________
Steven E. Smith, President
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Lynda M. Hood, Executive Director
Memorial to
John McConnell WOLFE, JR.
As prepared by Lydia Boydston
This is not an obituary, but a tribute to attorney, philanthropist and enthusiast of politics, John McConnell Wolfe, Jr., who died on Monday, September 4, 2023. He was born April 21, 1954. To those who knew him, we all wondered how he was able to eat Captain D’s and Papa John’s pizza regularly and seemingly have no chronic health problems until his early 60s.
John was notorious for representing those with cases no one else wanted to take. He did his best to give a voice and justice to those who otherwise would not have access to it, focusing his practice on civil rights and many pro bono cases in his later practice years. Many of his clients later found him to be a friend even after their case was concluded. That was just John. He could find a friend or a potential new client while he fueled up his car at the gas station.
John would often declare to me that he should have been a writer because he so enjoyed story telling. We would often argue about his garish wording in some brief or pleading, and he would tell me, “don’t edit out my style! I don’t want to be boring.” John, “boring” is something that no one could accurately use to describe you. Additionally, if you wanted stock market advice, John was the man for the job. He never did school me where I could retain all of the ins and outs of the different markets, but he knew it well and checked the markets daily.
Of course, no tribute to John Wolfe would be complete without mentioning his campaign for presidency in 2008. Ever the idealist, he enjoyed the challenge and the stage to voice his ideas for the United States of America, a Country whose potential he believed in. He joined the Army as a young man, but was medically discharge during boot camp because of his knees.
Although he never married or had children, he had many close relationships throughout his life. He was a brother, a son, a godparent, an uncle, an adopted uncle to his staff’s children, and a friend. He would often give coins to children or friends to start their collections as that was done for him as a child, too. John took the time to walk his staff’s kids to the courthouse, read to them, take them for snacks, throw them birthday lunches, remembered them at Christmas, and supported the various women who worked for him on staff by encouraging them and allowing them to bring their children with them.
John would walk with protesters, give money to the homeless, donate to charities, churches, Legal Aid of Tennessee, among others, and in general advocated for change and reforms he believed in such as equal rights for all, equal pay for all, better support in the workplace for families, more funding for the homeless, a demilitarized police force, recycling, and the like. Whether you agreed with him or not, he lived what he believed and used his resources to support those he believed were either making the changes he believed in or needed support they otherwise could not get.
I could write pages about John, both the good and the bad, but the things I will choose to remember the most are his generosity towards those in need, his patience, his unfailing kindness towards my children, his never-ending fight to hold those accountable who would abuse their power, his singing and sending a variety of music, his corny jokes, khaki pants and polo shirts over long-sleeved shirts, and his undeniably quick wit and talent with the spoken word. The love he had for his late brother, Dan Wolfe, his nephews and nieces, and particularly his niece, Candace, and for his sisters will always be remembered and will live on through each of them.
If you remember John Wolfe today, remember him by giving to a charity, by providing pro bono work to someone in need, by volunteering at the food bank or homeless shelter, by patiently and quietly giving of yourself to others. You can push a deadline to the very last moment, too. It’s okay to laugh or roll your eyes; he knew it was true. He was just gathering his thoughts before he could put them on paper. John, I feel certain you are telling God all of your thoughts about the way the world should operate, and there are no more deadlines for you to stress over.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in a special memorial session on this 1st day of March 2024, that John McConnell Wolfe’s life and career be memorialized through this Resolution and be adopted by this Association as words of respect and honor.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be filed in the archives of the Chattanooga Bar Association and be enrolled in the Memorial Resolution Book of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and that a copy be presented to his family as a token of the esteem and honor in which he has been held, as an expression of our very deep sympathy and our mutual loss.
CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION
_________________________________
Steven E. Smith, President
_________________________________
Lynda M. Hood, Executive Director
Chattanooga Bar Association | The Pioneer Building | Suite 420 | 801 Broad Street | Chattanooga, TN 37402
CBA Telephone: 423-756-3222 | FAX: 423-265-6602