Leaders Learn Here: Randy McNally, Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee

When Lieutenant Governor and State Senator Randy McNally took the train across Tennessee from his hometown of Oak Ridge in 1962 to enroll as an undergrad at then-Memphis State University, the campus was very different from today. He lived in the dorm (East Hall), pledged a fraternity (Sigma Phi Epsilon) and majored in biology with a minor in physical sciences, ultimately graduating in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science.

“We enjoyed the town,” he said. “You could walk to most restaurants and places you’d want to go. At first, I was looking at pre-med, but I had too much fun in Memphis and didn’t have the grades, so I went on to the pharmacy school (also in Memphis, but part of the University of Tennessee), which turned out well.”

He also got involved in political campaigns when he was in Memphis and enjoyed the work.

“When I was getting ready to come back to Oak Ridge,” he said, “I called Winfield Dunn, who was considering running for governor and was fairly well known in Memphis, and he was very kind. I worked in his campaign and in Bill Brock’s campaign, too.”

Later, when there was an open seat in the legislature, he ran for it and won. Early in his legislative career, McNally worked with the TBI and FBI as a secret informant in the Rocky Top investigation of political corruption in the late 1980s.

Though he built his career in East Tennessee, McNally appreciates the role the University of Memphis plays in the state. “It’s really the higher ed anchor for West Tennessee, and it’s grown substantially since I was there,” he said.

His favorite Memphis memory? McNally was at the Sept. 21, 1963, football game at Crump Stadium when Memphis tied Ole Miss, ranked No. 2 in the nation at the time. The early-season result propelled the Tigers to an undefeated season.

“That was a good one,” he said.