Chattanooga and Hamilton County has lost one of the best men that has ever held any office anywhere at anytime. Claude Ramsey a simple man who believed anything could be accomplished if you worked hard and treated people good.
I remember meeting Claude at age 20 after moving to the big city after growing up in rural Rhea County. I was working at Turner Funeral Home and Claude brought my boss Bookie Turner several vegetables while he was visiting a family at the funeral home. After speaking with Claude for several minutes I immediately felt comfortable and knew he was a great man. I will always blame him for bringing those vegetables to us because it made Bookie want a large garden in a vacant lot behind the Dodds Avenue chapel where I had to work till dark every night.
Later on I told him several times how Bookie was always saying to me that Claude Ramsey would be a great governor one day and Claude would always say to me that he couldn't win a foot race much less a governor's race.
Our area should always remember this great man and all the things he has done for our city and county. I was very blessed to have met him at a early age and seeing with my own eyes, a country boy like me, that could succeed in the big city and never forget where he started.
Thank you, Claude Ramsey, for being nice to a kid who thought you were going to be the governor according to Bookie. You will be missed by everyone. Hit them straight and long old buddy!!
Rick Mincy
Lookout Valley