MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Former U.S. Senator for Tennessee and Memphis native Jim Sasser has died at the age of 87, the Tennessee House Democratic Caucus announced Wednesday.
Sasser passed away at his North Carolina home Tuesday just shy of what would have been his 88th birthday, the caucus said in a statement.
Sasser was born in Memphis on Sept. 30, 1936 and grew up in Nashville. He attended law school at Vanderbilt University and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1957 to 1963, later becoming active in politics.
He was elected to U.S. Senate in 1977 and served in that role until 1995, working as the chair of the Senate Budget Committee.
In 1996, President Bill Clinton appointed him as the U.S. Ambassador to China. In that role, he was pivotal in bringing Chinese pandas to the Memphis Zoo.
U.S. Congressman Steve Cohen issued a statement on his passing:
“Jim Sasser, a Memphis native, was a great three-term Tennessee Senator and, as Chairman of the Budget Committee, helped direct significant federal funding to Tennessee," Cohen said. "Jim and Mary were a wonderful couple who provided invaluable service to our state. I extend my sincere condolences to Mary, his son Gray, his daughter Elizabeth, his extended family and his many friends. He led a remarkable life, served Tennessee with distinction, and will be missed."
Tennessee House Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons (D-Davidson Co.) also issued a statement on Sasser's passing:
"I would like to respectfully extend my family’s heartfelt condolences to the Sasser family," Clemmons said. "Tennessee lost a fierce champion today. Simply put, he listened, he did the work, and he made a difference. While his accomplishments were many and his travels were far, his steadfast commitment and loyalty to Tennessee never wavered. For a life well-lived, I join many others by being forever grateful to the first U.S. Senator to look me in the eyes and shake my hand.”
Sasser is survived by his wife, Mary, and their two children.
