Pat Rose and Earl Freudenberg
Charles A. “Pat” Rose will be remembered for re-developing the central business district downtown but he was also a dear friend. He served two terms as mayor of Chattanooga from 1975 until 1983. Mayor Rose passed away early Monday morning. I was honored to cover the mayor as a reporter for many of those years.
The Orlando, Florida native began working for the city of Chattanooga in April 1964 as assistant traffic engineer.
He was appointed acting Public Works Commissioner when Chunk Bender was elected mayor in 1969. Pat Rose won his first term as commissioner in 1971 and was elected mayor in 1975.
During Mayor Rose' eight years in office, the TVA office building and Moccasin Bend Waste Treatment plant were expanded, the Bicentennial Library opened and the C.B. Robinson Bridge was built across the Tennessee River south of the Chickamauga Dam.
Mayor Rose always sought the commission’s unity. So many times when votes came before the city the Mayor went after compromise so the commission could be unanimous in their decision. He told me he had served with some of the best public servants, John Franklin, Jim Eberle, Gene Roberts, Paul Clark, Tom Kennedy and Ron Littlefield.
When the Tennessee Legislature passed the Open Meetings Act (Sunshine law) in the mid 70’s it was Mayor Rose's idea to recess the regular weekly Tuesday meeting until the next day when commissioners could gather in his conference room to conduct any new city business. If there was no business the Tuesday meeting would remain in recess until the next morning. That policy remained for most of his time at city hall.
He was always open with reporters, never turning down requests for comments.
I remember in July, 1980 the mayor placed the city under a curfew after an ambush shooting on West 38th Street injured eight officers. The next morning I walked into city hall early and saw the Mayor’s office door open. He was on his knees praying. I remember him looking up and saying, “Earl won’t you come in and join me.” We both asked for the Lord’s direction during this crisis. It was a true honor to pray with Mayor Rose.
Mayor Rose's favorite reporter was News Free Press Urban Editor J.B. Collins. Mayor Rose told me, “Watch J.B. Collins and learn from him and you’ll make it.”
When I was president of the Chattanooga Chapter, Society of Professional Journalists Mayor Rose was one of the first guests. I invited him to address the organization and he encouraged us to always be fair and give both sides of a story.
When Mayor Rose came to Chattanooga he joined Central Baptist Church in Woodmore. He later transferred his membership to Ridgedale Baptist Church where he remained active.
Mayor Rose was a family man and often spoke of wife Carolyn and their children. He said birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas were a special times at his house.
When I was nominated for the Associated Press Broadcaster of the year Mayor Rose wrote a letter on my behalf. Quoting from the letter, “I have always seen in him an interest in getting the facts of a particular matter before going off on a tangent to stir up emotionalism.”
When Pat Rose left the Mayor’s office he entered the private sector. At the encouragement of friends he ran for and was elected Public Utilities Commissioner in 1987. He served in that job until 1990 when the city changed Chattanooga’s form of government from a city commission to a city council.
Almost a year ago on Flag Day, Vietnam Veterans Chapter 203 members visited and had lunch with Mayor Rose and the residents of the Ashwood Square retirement community. Mayor Rose told me that he "was proud to be a Chattanoogan, an American but most of all a Christian.”
The mayor lost his wife Carolyn last January. I got to visit with my friend one last time several months ago when he came to Chattanooga Funeral Home for a visitation. He was frail but told me it wasn’t easy adjusting to life without the love of his life. I responded how much he’d meant to this city and we’d always remember his many accomplishments.
So much more could be said about Mayor Pat Rose. I’m so glad I was able to cover his leadership while working as a reporter.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Chattanooga Funeral Home.
Pat and Carolyn Rose