Bill Baxter, former state economic development commissioner, has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to a seat on the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors.
Mr. Baxter, who is from Knoxville, had been nominated by President George W. Bush in July.
Rep. Zach Wamp, though he had supported Chattanoogan Wayne Cropp for the position, said, "Bill Baxter will bring excellent business acumen and economic development experience to the TVA Board. TVA now has the most outstanding compliment of leaders the Tennessee Valley has seen in many years.
"I have great confidence in Chairman McCullough, Director Harris and Director Baxter. We should be grateful for Presidents Bush's nomination of Bill Baxter and to the Senate for his confirmation."
Mr. Baxter, who is chairman and chief executive officer of Holston Gases Inc. of Knoxville, is to fill the expired term of Craven Crowell.
The Baxter term will officially end May 18, 2002.
Mr. Baxter was Tennessee Commissioner of Economic and Community Development under Gov. Don Sundquist for three years.
Before joining Holston Gases in 1981, Mr. Baxter was an attorney with Garrett, Coffee, McGee & Baxter in Knoxville. In 1995, Gov. Sundquist
appointed Mr. Baxter to the Tennessee Board for Economic Growth. In 1997, Mr. Baxter chaired the United Way campaign in Knoxville. He also has served as a board member of Knoxville's Downtown Organization and the Knox County Tourism Commission.
He is a 1975 honors graduate of Duke University and a 1978 graduate of the University of Tennessee School of Law. He and his wife, Ginger, have four children.