Leaders Learn Here: David Kustoff, U.S. Representative, Tennessee’s 8th Congressional District

Congressman David Kustoff grew up loving the University of Memphis, and never really thought of going anywhere else after he graduated from White Station High School in 1985.

“The University of Memphis offered me a full scholarship,” he said. “It just felt right.”

As an undergrad, he credits Dr. Don Carson, then Vice President for Student Affairs, with helping him learn to be a leader on campus and develop relationships that are still important to him.

“Dr. Carson said to us, ‘You people have leadership scholarships; I want you to lead, somehow.’”

Kustoff said Dr. Carson helped him get to know Jim Strickland, then president of the Student Government Association and later Kustoff’s law partner (and Mayor of Memphis), Tre Hargett, now Tennessee’s Secretary of State, and Deke Sundquist, the late governor’s son.

Kustoff got involved in restarting the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity on campus, where he became president; he also led the campus Student Activities Council.

When the time came to think about law school, staying in Memphis was a “no-brainer.”

“I wouldn’t trade my time at the University of Memphis for the world,” he said.

“It helped me grow into a better person and, hopefully, a stronger leader.”

As a member of Congress who serves a district that includes parts of 20 counties in West Tennessee, he points with pride to the University of Memphis Lambuth campus in Jackson. “I give Dr. [Shirley] Raines a great deal of credit for being strategic and working with Gov. Haslam to make the Lambuth campus happen,” he said.

“I hesitate to think what our community would be like if we didn’t have the University of Memphis and all the people it graduates and all the opportunities it offers,” he said.