J. Craft Akard | |
---|---|
Member of the
Tennessee House of Representatives from the 1st district | |
In office 1981–1982 | |
Preceded by | Clarence Blackburn Jr. |
Succeeded by | Dana E. Moore |
Personal details | |
Born | Blountville, Tennessee, U.S. | January 17, 1917
Died | March 27, 2015 Bristol, Tennessee, U.S. | (aged 98)
Spouse | Margaret Akard |
Children | 2 |
Residence | Bristol, Tennessee |
Occupation | educator, baseball player |
James Craft "Lefty" Akard (January 17, 1917 – March 27, 2015) was an American politician in the state of Tennessee. Akard served in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1981 to 1982. [1] He was a former educator, having served as Superintendent of Sullivan County Schools from 1948 to 1971, and as Field Representative for the Tennessee Board of Education from 1971 to 1979. [2] He was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1981 as a Democrat, representing the 1st district, encompassing Sullivan County. He did not run for reelection upon the expiration of his term, stating, "to be perfectly honest, I don't believe I can be an effective legislator because the role is not in keeping with my background and temperament". [3]
He graduated from Emory & Henry College in 1938, where he played baseball and basketball. [4] He later played professional baseball for the Johnson City Soldiers, Bristol Twins, Kingsport Cherokees and Newport Canners of the Appalachian League, with his career lasting from 1938 to 1945. [5] He and his wife Margaret had two children. [6] He died in 2015. [7]
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