Senator Lamar Alexander Lamar Alexander was born in Maryville, the son of a kindergarten teacher and elementary school principal. He is a seventh generation Tennessean.
He has been governor (1979-1987), president of the University of Tennessee (1988-1991) and United States Education Secretary (1991-1993). In private life, he helped found a company that is now the nation's largest provider of worksite day care. He taught about the American character as a faculty member at Harvard's School of Government. In 2002, he won election to the U.S. Senate, the first Tennessean to be popularly elected both governor and senator.
Senator Alexander chairs Senate subcommittees on Children and Families, on Energy, on African Affairs, as well as the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Caucus.
In his campaign for governor, Lamar Alexander walked 1,000 miles across Tennessee in his now famous red and black plaid shirt. Once elected, he helped Tennessee become the third largest auto producer, the first state to pay teachers more for teaching well and the fastest growing state in family incomes.
He is a classical and country pianist and the author of seven books, including Six Months Off, the story of his family's life in Australia after he was governor.
He is married to the former Honey Buhler of Victoria, Texas. They have four children. The Alexanders' home is outside Maryville at the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He is an elder in Westminster Presbyterian Church.
