I got word this morning and confirmed it, Former Knox County Clerk and longtime County Commissioner Billy Tindell has passed. He was appointed on January 31, 2007 to be County Clerk and only served till the next election. He leaves wife Brenda. He is Father to Former State Rep. Harry Tindell and 6 other children, there were 7 grandchildren, provided others haven’t been added since the bio from Knox County, which I posted below.
Me and Billy Tindell
Billy was a Democrat and a friend. After being appointed Clerk. He was quoted in the News Sentinel that the Republican Chairman (me) was his friend. I called him and said dang Billy you gonna get us both in trouble. we both laughed. He is a good one and will be missed.
Billy G. Tindell is the “Dean of the Knox County Commission” having served longer than any other member.
Commissioner Tindell also served as the Vice Chairman of the Commission for many years. Billy Tindell serves as Chairman of the Finance Committee and the special Greens Committee which supervises the county owned Three Ridges golf course. Former County Executive Tom Schumpert gives Tindell much of the credit for the inception, building and supervision of Three Ridges golf course. “Quite frankly, Three Ridges wouldn’t be the fine facility it is without the hard work of Billy Tindell,” Schumpert says. “Bill Tindell has put in many hours smoothing out the problems and making it work.”
Commissioner Tindell was first elected to the old Knox County Quarterly Court in 1970. The Knox County Quarterly Court was the predecessor of the modern County Commission. Tindell was reelected to the Quarterly Court in 1976. After voters approved the restructuring of county government in 1980, Tindell was elected to the Knox County Commission in 1980 and reelected in 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, and was again reelected in 2002 without opposition in either the primary or general elections.
Commissioner Tindell recently served as the President of the Tennessee County Services Association, an association of local governments across the State. Commissioner Tindell’s tenure as President of the TCSA was a signal honor to Knox County and a tribute to Tindell’s “ability, calm demeanor, and understanding of local government”, according to former County Executive Tommy Schumpert.
Commissioner Tindell is retired from Blue Cross/Blue Shield where he worked as a General Manager. Tindell has seven children, one of whom is State Representative Harry Tindell who has followed in his father’s footsteps in public service. Commissioner Tindell also has seven grandchildren.
