Federal judge, Lamar Alexander political ally Harry Wellford dead at 96

A former Tennessee judge from Memphis who appointed Lamar Alexander to his first big political post has died.

The former state senator eulogized Harry Wellford on social media following his death over the weekend, calling him a special friend and lauding his efforts to unify the Republican Party in the 1970s with the GOP gubernatorial victory of Winfield Dunn.

Harry Wellford helped to create a statewide Republican party by uniting Shelby County and East Tennessee and in 1970 helped to elect Winfield Dunn, Tennessee's first Republican governor in 50 years.

— Lamar Alexander (@SenAlexander) April 19, 2021

Wellford’s obituary noted the federal judge’s selection of Alexander to Dunn’s election team as a manager. Henry Walker Wellford was 96.