| Sources |
- [S73] Rawlings Funeral Home, Book 2, 16 Nov 1984.
Lillian Dixon obituary
- [S73] Rawlings Funeral Home, Book 2, 27 Feb 1980.
Beulah Pack obituary
- [S4] Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee), 1 Jul 2011.
Ruth Dixon Pack obituary
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 24 Apr 2015.
Upland Chronicles: Sevierville native Pack ran for governor in 1974
CARROLL MCMAHAN
David M. Pack, a Sevierville native, served as Tennessee attorney general and ran for governor in 1974.
In 1974, Ray Blanton won a 12-person Democratic primary for governor. With just 23 percent of the vote, he defeated several well-financed opponents, including flamboyant banker Jake Butcher, former Sen. Ross Bass and Nashville news anchor Hudley Crockett. In the general election, Blanton defeated Lamar Alexander, 576,833 to 455,467.
Blanton’s administration was riddled with scandal. Everything from extravagant spending, to controversial pay raises, to surplus cars sales to political cronies, to unethical liquor licenses practices was reported. Near the end of his term, Blanton issued pardons to 52 prisoners, including 20 convicted murderers. This led to the unprecedented swearing in of his successor, Alexander, three days early.
David Massey Pack, a Sevierville native, was among the dozen candidates in the crowded 1974 Democratic primary. Born Nov. 4, 1921, Pack was the younger son of Charles E. Pack Sr., a TDOT engineer, and Beulah Massey Pack, an accomplished musician-teacher and choral director at Sevier County High School. Along with his brother, Charles E. Pack Jr., and sister, Eleanor (Tansil), he grew up on Prince Street in Sevierville, where the family attended the First Baptist Church.
His Sevier County roots run deep. Dr. Z.D. Massey, a U.S. congressman representing the First District, was his maternal grandfather, and he was a direct descendant of Spencer Clack, a Revolutionary War patriot and one of the founding fathers of Sevierville.
Pack was educated in the public schools in Sevier County and earned a B.A. and J.D. from the University of Tennessee. From 1942 to 1946 he served in the armed forces. When the war ended, he completed his education and practiced law in Sevierville from 1948 to 1952. He was city judge of Gatlinburg from 1952 to 1954. Pack served as a Chancery Court judge for the Thirteenth Chancery Division from 1954 to 1957 and was assistant state attorney general from 1957 to 1962.
While practicing law in Sevierville, Pack met Ruth Dixon, who was working at the Sevier County Courthouse. Born Oct. 3, 1927, Ruth Dixon was the oldest of four children of Roy Dixon and Lillian Whaley Dixon. David and Ruth married and lived in Sevierville until 1963. The couple had two children, David Jr. and Pam.
In 1963, Pack was appointed commissioner of highways by Gov. Frank Clement, and under Pack’s direction, Tennessee moved ahead of other Southern states in interstate highway construction. He was instrumental in planning and obtaining funds for the new bridge across the Mississippi River at Memphis.
As commissioner of insurance and banking from 1967 to 1969, Pack strictly enforced the statutes regulating the small loan business, and drove unscrupulous operators from the state. His refusal to approve unreasonable insurance rate increases saved policyholders millions of dollars.
In 1969 Pack was unanimously elected attorney general by the Tennessee Supreme Court, and under his leadership the legal interests of the state and its citizens were aggressively protected. Although the attorney general did not exercise control over criminal prosecution and law enforcement, it was his duty to advise and represent the agencies of state government in the administration of the affairs of the people.
Although he was outspent by several of his extravagant opponents, Pack nonetheless ran a formable campaign. He delivered speeches from Mountain City to Memphis and his qualifications or integrity was never questioned.
Due to the Watergate scandal rocking the nation’s capital, Pack’s run for governor came at a time when public trust of elected officials was very low. Therefore he felt he would “be able, if elected, to raise the office of governor to a high level of achievement and honor.”
Throughout his campaign, Pack spoke of “opposing the growing strength of privilege and monopoly, both in and out of government.” He also asked the aid of the individual citizens, whose rights and future were “threatened by the uncertainty of the times.”
When Pack decided to throw his hat in the ring, the people of Sevier County who had known him all of his life rallied behind him. Many of his lifelong acquaintances who were staunch Republicans vowed to “cross over” so they could cast their vote for David Pack.
Even before he officially announced as a candidate, Pack was welcomed by local friends at a dinner in his honor. Held May 3, 1974, at the Flame Broil Steak House in Pigeon Forge, a host of friends both Democratic and Republican turned out to shake hands with a native-son candidate, wish him well, and give him a good send-off.
The restaurant was packed for Pack. It was like a reunion, and not an official campaign visit. He promised the crowd that later he would be back in Sevierville where he could visit with all Sevier Countians, on the courthouse lawn.
Although his campaign was an uphill battle, Pack was encouraged by supporters statewide. He was endorsed by several leading newspapers across the state, including the widely circulated Memphis Press-Scimitar.
After making several appearances in Sevier County during the summer, Pack returned to his hometown on July 31, 1974, the evening before the primary. An enthusiastic crowd attended the public rally to display their support for one of their own.
After his unsuccessful bid for governor, Pack returned to his home in Nashville and practiced law until his retirement. He died June 29, 1996, at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville of complications following open heart surgery. He was 74. His widow, Ruth, died June 30, 2011, at age 83. They are buried in Shiloh Cemetery.
David Pack was not a flamboyant or pretentious man, but rather a person who had within him the virtues that have long been so important to our history: honesty, sincerity, stability and absolute dedication to his work and his duty.
Carroll McMahan is special projects facilitator for the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce and serves as Sevier County historian.
The Upland Chronicles series celebrates the past of Sevier County. Contact Carroll McMahan at 453-6411 or cmcmahan@scoc.org; or Ron Rader at 604-9161 or ron@ronraderproperties.com.
- [S112] Census, 1940.
Name: David Pack
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1940
Event Place: Sevierville, Civil District 5, Sevier, Tennessee, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 18
Marital Status: Single
Race (Original): White
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Son
Relationship to Head of Household: Son
Birthplace: Tennessee
Birth Year (Estimated): 1922
Last Place of Residence: Same House
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Beulah Pack Head F 47 Tennessee
David Pack Son M 18 Tennessee
- [S4] Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee), 1 Jul 1996.
David M. Pack, former state attorney general and holder of cabinet positions under two governors, has died at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville of complications following open-heart surgery. He was 74.
Mr. Pack, a Sevier County native, entered St. Thomas and underwent bypass surgery June 6, then suffered a massive stroke a week later, relatives said. He died Saturday.
He was educated in public schools in Sevier County and attended the University of Tennessee. He was city attorney of Gatlinburg from 1952-54. He served as a Chancery Court judge from 1954-57 and was assistant state attorney general from 1957-62.
He served as state highway commissioner under Gov. Frank Clement from 1963-67 and was commissioner of insurance and banking from 1968-69 under Gov. Buford Ellington.
Mr. Pack became attorney general in 1969 and served in that office until 1974, when he was one of 12 candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for governor. That primary was won by Ray Blanton, who went on to win the governor's post and later left the office in disgrace.
Mr. Pack is survived by: wife, Ruth Dixon Pack; son, David Pack Jr., both of Nashville; daughter and son-in-law, Pamela and Paul Bundy Thompson of Houston, Texas; and two grandchildren, Paul Bundy Thompson Jr. and Caroline Ruth Thompson.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 2, at Immanuel Baptist Church, Nashville. The family will receive friends from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, at Rawlings Funeral Home, Sevierville, and then a procession will go to Shiloh Cemetery for graveside services at 2 p.m.
Rawlings Funeral Home, Sevierville, will handle local arrangements.
- [S1] U. S. Social Security Death Index, 411-18-7709.
Issued in Tennessee, residing in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Name: Ruth Dixon
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 05 Dec 1951
Event Place: Anderson, Tennessee, United States
Gender: Female
Spouse's Name: David Massey Pack
Page: 158
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