Francis Guess
Francis Guess | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 14, 1946 |
| Died | July 23, 2015 (aged 69) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, civil rights advocate, and leading member of the business community |
| Known for | Served on the Tennessee Commission on Human Rights for more than 30 years |
Francis S. Guess (June 14, 1946 – July 23, 2015) was an American civil rights advocate who served on the Tennessee Commission on Human Rights for more than 30 years.
Early life and education
[edit]Guess was raised in the Preston Taylor Homes public housing project in Nashville.[1] He served in the United States Army in the field of military intelligence, and was in the 1st Infantry Division during the Vietnam War.[1][2] Following the war, Guess enrolled at Tennessee State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science.[1] He also received a master's of business administration (MBA) from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University.[1] Guess also completed Harvard University's Senior Executives in State and Local Government program.[1]
Career
[edit]Guess served on the Tennessee Commission on Human Rights for more than 30 years.[1] In 1983, President Ronald Reagan appointed Guess to the United States Commission on Civil Rights, a bipartisan federal civil rights commission, where he served from 1983 to 1989.[1] Guess was also an important leader in Nashville's corporate community, serving as the vice president of The Danner Company and the owner of the Helicopter Corporation of America.[1]
Death
[edit]Guess died at his home in the Bordeaux neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee, on July 23, 2015, at the age of 69.[1] He was survived by his mother, Kathryn Driver; his daughter, Maria Guess; and three brothers and three sisters.[1] His funeral was held at the Music City Center.[3] Guess also served on the board of directors of the Nashville Convention Center Authority, which oversees the Music City Center.[3]
In 2015, the Francis S. Guess Bridge to Equality Fund was created in his name,[4] and in 2016, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee began awarding the Francis Guess Bridge to Equality Award, to recognize those who "spur innovation leading to equality."[5][6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Garrison, Joey (July 24, 2015). "Nashville business leader Francis Guess dies at 69". The Tennessean. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ^ Martin, Terry H. "An American Sunrise: The Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program. A History of ACTION's Three–Year Veteran's Initiative", ACTION, Washington, DC, September 30, 1984, p. 109 (118).
- ^ a b Garrison, Joey (July 27, 2015). "Francis Guess funeral arrangements announced". The Tennessean. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ^ "The Francis S. Guess Bridge to Equality Fund". The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee - Nashville, TN. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ Blue, Jalen. "Gail and David Williams honored with Francis S. Guess Bridge to Equality Award". Vanderbilt University. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ "Desegregation Efforts Recognized at Bridge to Equality". The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee - Nashville, TN. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- 1946 births
- 2015 deaths
- United States Commission on Civil Rights members
- American civil rights activists
- American business executives
- African-American business executives
- Businesspeople from Nashville, Tennessee
- Activists from Nashville, Tennessee
- United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War
- Harvard University alumni
- Vanderbilt University alumni
- Tennessee State University alumni
- United States Army soldiers
- 20th-century American businesspeople