Editor’s note: This piece contains mentions of suicide.
In this episode of VU History, host Jaylan Sims sits down with Bill Purcell (JD ’79), Nashville’s fifth mayor and adjunct professor of public policy at Vanderbilt. In this interview, Purcell opens up about the traumatic experiences he has endured in politics and provides advice on how to lead a successful political career amid a distressing personal life.
Content related to the suicide of Former Tennessee Secretary of State, Gentry Crowell:
The above video was published by The Tennesseean on Oct. 23, 2019, and features an archived report from WKRN’s 6 pm newscast on Dec. 12, 1989. At the time of Crowell’s suicide, he was being investigated by both the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and TBI (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation). The two law enforcement agencies were investigating possible illegal activity in charity bingo, including the illegal sale of bingo licenses. Rep. Ted Ray Miller (D-Knox) also committed suicide pending legal investigation by law enforcement.
