Former Knoxville Mayor Randy Tyree, who led during the 1982 World’s Fair and ran for Tennessee Governor, has passed away, according to current Mayor Indya Kincannon.

Tyree was in office from 1976 to 1983 and was the Democratic candidate for Governor in 1982. In 1979, he won re-election to a second four-year term as Mayor and presided over the city during the 1982 World’s Fair.
At age 34, Tyree became the youngest person to hold mayoral office in Knoxville.

Mayor Indya Kincannon released the following statement regarding Former Mayor Tyree:”Mayor Randy Tyree brought the world to Knoxville by hosting the 1982 World’s Fair and working with three Presidents – Ford, Carter, and Reagan, along with countless local leaders, to ensure its success.
In recent years, Mayor Tyree shared his stories at the newly renovated Sunsphere and visitors loved meeting the ‘World’s Fair Mayor’!
I’ll remember Mayor Tyree as a friend and mentor, always quick with a smile, a note of encouragement. He was a true champion for Knoxville.”

Tyree began his career working for law enforcement, and served as a police officer in Knoxville as well as a four year stint with the FBI. He also served as a police commissioner in the City of Knoxville

In 1982, Tyree ran for Governor as the Democratic candidate, but lost by a large margin to popular Republican incumbent Governor Lamar Alexander. Tyree’s affiliation with banker Jake Butcher played a role in his defeat as rumors of the banking scandals that ultimately brought down the Butcher family bank empire circulated. In fact, on November 1, 1982, 180 federal bank regulators simultaneously raided all of the Butcher brothers’ 29 bank branches and offices, thereby preventing transfers of funds to cover their tracks. Bank records ultimately led investigators on a paper trail of illegal loans, forged documents, and various other forms of fraud that led to the conviction of the Butcher brothers and many of their executives. Tyree was never personally involved in their banking business, but the financial and political support of Jake Butcher had been key to his political rise and the successful World’s Fair.

Butcher had been the Democrat nominee for Governor in 1978 and many anticipated he would seek a rematch against Alexander in 1982. Instead, he supported Tyree who defeated State Senator Annabelle Clement O’Brien in the Democratic primary.

Tyree was a candidate for Knox County Sheriff in 2006 and 2008, but ultimately lost to J.J. Jones.

Tyree was born in Carthage, Tennessee, in 1940 and got a bachelor’s degree in political science from Middle Tennessee State University. He later earned a law degree from the University of Tennessee. After earning his law degree, he served as City Attorney for Norris, Tennessee, prior to his election in 1975 as mayor of Knoxville.

Steve Gill is editor and publisher of TriStar Daily.