Lewis R Donelson III, widely and affectionately known as "Lewie", died at his home in the Parkview Manor. He celebrated his 100th birthday last October, and enjoyed recent Christmas visits from his family. He was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Janice Ost Donelson, his younger brother Bill, and his grandson James Donelson. Family members who survive to cherish his memory are his daughters Janice Goddard and Loring Daniel (husband David) and his son Lewis R Donelson IV (wife Lin Team), four grandchildren (Donelson and Mason Howell, David Daniel, and Sarah Donelson) and one great-grandson.
Lewie was born in Memphis, attended Pentecost Garrison School and Central High School in Memphis, then Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut (from which he received the Alumni Seal Prize in 1992). He returned to Memphis to attend Southwestern, which awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Laws in 1987. He believed deeply in the value of education for everyone. In 1988 he represented a group of 77 rural schools in a suit to force the State of Tennessee to adequately fund public schools in poorer districts.
Lewie grew up wanting to be a lawyer. He earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law School and co-founded the law firm Donelson & Adams in 1954. The firm grew steadily through the years, merging with several smaller firms, including that of Senator Howard Baker. Baker Donelson, as it is now known, has more than 750 attorneys and advisors in 23 offices in ten states. He loved practicing law and he loved his law firm.
He also loved his church. He grew up in Idlewild Presbyterian Church and was a member there his whole life. He and his father were both elders and Sunday school teachers. He taught the LeMaster class until he was 97 and attended church for the last time two weeks before he died. He credited Idlewild Church for his deep commitments to public service. He believed we all have a sacred obligation to help one another.
Much of his life was devoted to public service. Believing in the value of a two party system, he was instrumental in the building of the Tennessee Republican Party. He was a classic "moderate" Republican, being fiscally conservative, suspicious of big government, and progressive on social issues. He managed several Republican campaigns, including that of Senator Howard Baker in 1978. He served as Commissioner of Finance and Administration under Governor Lamar Alexander from 1979-1981. In the late 50s and early 60s he served on the county Community Relations Committee which worked to integrate all public facilities in Memphis. While he never aspired to public office, he was invited to be a member of a city commission to redesign Memphis city government. His commitment to the new system led to his only public office. In 1967, he became a member of the first city council under the new charter. Shortly after taking office, the hard events of the sanitation strike and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, overwhelmed the city. He was later credited by other council members with not only being key in the negotiations but with somehow finding the money for a raise for the sanitation workers.
Among his many public contributions, he served on the board of , the Advisory Council for the Hermitage, the board of Rhodes College and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. He also served as chair of the board of the Regional Medical Center in Memphis from 1996-2006.
He received numerous awards and honors. For example, he was named Memphis Corporate Lawyer of the Year in 2009 by Best Lawyers in America. He received the Chickasaw Council Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award in 2006 and the Civic Award for UNICO Memphis Chapter in 2010. The Memphis City Council honored him with the Memphis City Council Humanitarian Award and even named a street in his and his wife's honor. At his 100th birthday party, after a long line of wonderful speeches, he said "I really don't deserve all of this, but I do deserve some of it."
Meanwhile he was a devoted husband, a loving father, brother and grandfather. His family and friends loved hearing him laugh and being regaled by his stories. He never expected his family to re-live his life or be like him, but he was a wonderful example to us all. He was proud of every one of us. In the latter part of his life, his wife Jan began taking him, against his will, on trips. He ended up loving to travel. And he and Jan took wonderful trips all over the world. He loved golf. He loved especially to play golf with his brother Bill, his son Lewie, and his grandchildren Donelson and Sarah. Every Christmas he wrote a personal letter to each member of his family declaring his pride in us, dreams for us, and love for us.
Lewie was born in Memphis, attended Pentecost Garrison School and Central High School in Memphis, then Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut (from which he received the Alumni Seal Prize in 1992). He returned to Memphis to attend Southwestern, which awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Laws in 1987. He believed deeply in the value of education for everyone. In 1988 he represented a group of 77 rural schools in a suit to force the State of Tennessee to adequately fund public schools in poorer districts.
Lewie grew up wanting to be a lawyer. He earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law School and co-founded the law firm Donelson & Adams in 1954. The firm grew steadily through the years, merging with several smaller firms, including that of Senator Howard Baker. Baker Donelson, as it is now known, has more than 750 attorneys and advisors in 23 offices in ten states. He loved practicing law and he loved his law firm.
He also loved his church. He grew up in Idlewild Presbyterian Church and was a member there his whole life. He and his father were both elders and Sunday school teachers. He taught the LeMaster class until he was 97 and attended church for the last time two weeks before he died. He credited Idlewild Church for his deep commitments to public service. He believed we all have a sacred obligation to help one another.
Much of his life was devoted to public service. Believing in the value of a two party system, he was instrumental in the building of the Tennessee Republican Party. He was a classic "moderate" Republican, being fiscally conservative, suspicious of big government, and progressive on social issues. He managed several Republican campaigns, including that of Senator Howard Baker in 1978. He served as Commissioner of Finance and Administration under Governor Lamar Alexander from 1979-1981. In the late 50s and early 60s he served on the county Community Relations Committee which worked to integrate all public facilities in Memphis. While he never aspired to public office, he was invited to be a member of a city commission to redesign Memphis city government. His commitment to the new system led to his only public office. In 1967, he became a member of the first city council under the new charter. Shortly after taking office, the hard events of the sanitation strike and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, overwhelmed the city. He was later credited by other council members with not only being key in the negotiations but with somehow finding the money for a raise for the sanitation workers.
Among his many public contributions, he served on the board of , the Advisory Council for the Hermitage, the board of Rhodes College and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. He also served as chair of the board of the Regional Medical Center in Memphis from 1996-2006.
He received numerous awards and honors. For example, he was named Memphis Corporate Lawyer of the Year in 2009 by Best Lawyers in America. He received the Chickasaw Council Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award in 2006 and the Civic Award for UNICO Memphis Chapter in 2010. The Memphis City Council honored him with the Memphis City Council Humanitarian Award and even named a street in his and his wife's honor. At his 100th birthday party, after a long line of wonderful speeches, he said "I really don't deserve all of this, but I do deserve some of it."
Meanwhile he was a devoted husband, a loving father, brother and grandfather. His family and friends loved hearing him laugh and being regaled by his stories. He never expected his family to re-live his life or be like him, but he was a wonderful example to us all. He was proud of every one of us. In the latter part of his life, his wife Jan began taking him, against his will, on trips. He ended up loving to travel. And he and Jan took wonderful trips all over the world. He loved golf. He loved especially to play golf with his brother Bill, his son Lewie, and his grandchildren Donelson and Sarah. Every Christmas he wrote a personal letter to each member of his family declaring his pride in us, dreams for us, and love for us.
Lewis R Donelson III, widely and affectionately known as "Lewie", died at his home in the Parkview Manor. He celebrated his 100th birthday last October, and enjoyed recent Christmas visits from his family. He was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Janice Ost Donelson, his younger brother Bill, and his grandson James Donelson. Family members who survive to cherish his memory are his daughters Janice Goddard and Loring Daniel (husband David) and his son Lewis R Donelson IV (wife Lin Team), four grandchildren (Donelson and Mason Howell, David Daniel, and Sarah Donelson) and one great-grandson.
Lewie was born in Memphis, attended Pentecost Garrison School and Central High School in Memphis, then Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut (from which he received the Alumni Seal Prize in 1992). He returned to Memphis to attend Southwestern, which awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Laws in 1987. He believed deeply in the value of education for everyone. In 1988 he represented a group of 77 rural schools in a suit to force the State of Tennessee to adequately fund public schools in poorer districts.
Lewie grew up wanting to be a lawyer. He earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law School and co-founded the law firm Donelson & Adams in 1954. The firm grew steadily through the years, merging with several smaller firms, including that of Senator Howard Baker. Baker Donelson, as it is now known, has more than 750 attorneys and advisors in 23 offices in ten states. He loved practicing law and he loved his law firm.
He also loved his church. He grew up in Idlewild Presbyterian Church and was a member there his whole life. He and his father were both elders and Sunday school teachers. He taught the LeMaster class until he was 97 and attended church for the last time two weeks before he died. He credited Idlewild Church for his deep commitments to public service. He believed we all have a sacred obligation to help one another.
Much of his life was devoted to public service. Believing in the value of a two party system, he was instrumental in the building of the Tennessee Republican Party. He was a classic "moderate" Republican, being fiscally conservative, suspicious of big government, and progressive on social issues. He managed several Republican campaigns, including that of Senator Howard Baker in 1978. He served as Commissioner of Finance and Administration under Governor Lamar Alexander from 1979-1981. In the late 50s and early 60s he served on the county Community Relations Committee which worked to integrate all public facilities in Memphis. While he never aspired to public office, he was invited to be a member of a city commission to redesign Memphis city government. His commitment to the new system led to his only public office. In 1967, he became a member of the first city council under the new charter. Shortly after taking office, the hard events of the sanitation strike and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, overwhelmed the city. He was later credited by other council members with not only being key in the negotiations but with somehow finding the money for a raise for the sanitation workers.
Among his many public contributions, he served on the board of , the Advisory Council for the Hermitage, the board of Rhodes College and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. He also served as chair of the board of the Regional Medical Center in Memphis from 1996-2006.
He received numerous awards and honors. For example, he was named Memphis Corporate Lawyer of the Year in 2009 by Best Lawyers in America. He received the Chickasaw Council Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award in 2006 and the Civic Award for UNICO Memphis Chapter in 2010. The Memphis City Council honored him with the Memphis City Council Humanitarian Award and even named a street in his and his wife's honor. At his 100th birthday party, after a long line of wonderful speeches, he said "I really don't deserve all of this, but I do deserve some of it."
Meanwhile he was a devoted husband, a loving father, brother and grandfather. His family and friends loved hearing him laugh and being regaled by his stories. He never expected his family to re-live his life or be like him, but he was a wonderful example to us all. He was proud of every one of us. In the latter part of his life, his wife Jan began taking him, against his will, on trips. He ended up loving to travel. And he and Jan took wonderful trips all over the world. He loved golf. He loved especially to play golf with his brother Bill, his son Lewie, and his grandchildren Donelson and Sarah. Every Christmas he wrote a personal letter to each member of his family declaring his pride in us, dreams for us, and love for us.
Lewie was born in Memphis, attended Pentecost Garrison School and Central High School in Memphis, then Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut (from which he received the Alumni Seal Prize in 1992). He returned to Memphis to attend Southwestern, which awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Laws in 1987. He believed deeply in the value of education for everyone. In 1988 he represented a group of 77 rural schools in a suit to force the State of Tennessee to adequately fund public schools in poorer districts.
Lewie grew up wanting to be a lawyer. He earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law School and co-founded the law firm Donelson & Adams in 1954. The firm grew steadily through the years, merging with several smaller firms, including that of Senator Howard Baker. Baker Donelson, as it is now known, has more than 750 attorneys and advisors in 23 offices in ten states. He loved practicing law and he loved his law firm.
He also loved his church. He grew up in Idlewild Presbyterian Church and was a member there his whole life. He and his father were both elders and Sunday school teachers. He taught the LeMaster class until he was 97 and attended church for the last time two weeks before he died. He credited Idlewild Church for his deep commitments to public service. He believed we all have a sacred obligation to help one another.
Much of his life was devoted to public service. Believing in the value of a two party system, he was instrumental in the building of the Tennessee Republican Party. He was a classic "moderate" Republican, being fiscally conservative, suspicious of big government, and progressive on social issues. He managed several Republican campaigns, including that of Senator Howard Baker in 1978. He served as Commissioner of Finance and Administration under Governor Lamar Alexander from 1979-1981. In the late 50s and early 60s he served on the county Community Relations Committee which worked to integrate all public facilities in Memphis. While he never aspired to public office, he was invited to be a member of a city commission to redesign Memphis city government. His commitment to the new system led to his only public office. In 1967, he became a member of the first city council under the new charter. Shortly after taking office, the hard events of the sanitation strike and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, overwhelmed the city. He was later credited by other council members with not only being key in the negotiations but with somehow finding the money for a raise for the sanitation workers.
Among his many public contributions, he served on the board of , the Advisory Council for the Hermitage, the board of Rhodes College and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. He also served as chair of the board of the Regional Medical Center in Memphis from 1996-2006.
He received numerous awards and honors. For example, he was named Memphis Corporate Lawyer of the Year in 2009 by Best Lawyers in America. He received the Chickasaw Council Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award in 2006 and the Civic Award for UNICO Memphis Chapter in 2010. The Memphis City Council honored him with the Memphis City Council Humanitarian Award and even named a street in his and his wife's honor. At his 100th birthday party, after a long line of wonderful speeches, he said "I really don't deserve all of this, but I do deserve some of it."
Meanwhile he was a devoted husband, a loving father, brother and grandfather. His family and friends loved hearing him laugh and being regaled by his stories. He never expected his family to re-live his life or be like him, but he was a wonderful example to us all. He was proud of every one of us. In the latter part of his life, his wife Jan began taking him, against his will, on trips. He ended up loving to travel. And he and Jan took wonderful trips all over the world. He loved golf. He loved especially to play golf with his brother Bill, his son Lewie, and his grandchildren Donelson and Sarah. Every Christmas he wrote a personal letter to each member of his family declaring his pride in us, dreams for us, and love for us.
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