A video tribute to William R. Snodgrass, Comptroller Emeritus
Snodgrass Memorial Tribute (text version)
William R. Snodgrass Biography
News Release
High Resolution Photos
Former Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury William R. Snodgrass, 85, died at home Sunday, April 20, 2008, following a short illness.
After serving in the military from 1943-46, Snodgrass began his long career in state service in 1947 as a research analyst, and later as a consultant on municipal accounting and finance at the University of Tennessee. In 1953, newly elected Gov. Frank G. Clement appointed Snodgrass as the state budget director. In January 1955 Snodgrass was first elected as Comptroller of the Treasury. He served for 22 consecutive two-year terms until his semi-retirement in January 1999—a career that spanned the terms of seven different governors and 23 General Assemblies.
As Comptroller, Snodgrass presided over an office that grew in importance and responsibility in the areas of governmental auditing, local government finance, property assessments and property tax administration, debt financing, policy research and education accountability. At the time of his retirement, the General Assembly bestowed Snodgrass with the title of Comptroller Emeritus, a role which he actively filled until his recent illness. Snodgrass is the only state constitutional officer to ever receive emeritus status. The legislature also named Tennessee’s largest state office building, the William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower, in his honor.
Throughout his service, Snodgrass was at the forefront of the governmental accountability movement at the local, state and national level. He served on the executive committee of the National Legislative Conference from 1970-74 and served as its staff chairman in 1973-74. He went on to serve on the first executive committee of the newly-formed National Conference of State Legislators in 1974-75. Snodgrass was on the executive committee of the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers from 1975-1980 and served as its president in 1978-79. Additionally, he served on the executive committee of the Municipal Finance Officers Association (now known as the Government Finance Officers Association) in 1980-83. Snodgrass was a member of the Association of Government Accountants and among the numerous honors he received was that association’s Distinguished Leadership Award in 1988.
Always concerned with the quality of government finance and accounting, Snodgrass was instrumental in the creation of the National Council on Governmental Accounting in 1974 and its subsequent evolution into the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. From 1990-95 he served as a member of the board of trustees of the Financial Accounting Foundation, the group that appoints the accounting standards setters for both private sector and governmental accounting in the United States.
He was born September 15, 1922, in White County, Tennessee, and was a 1942 graduate of David Lipscomb College in Nashville. He attended the University of Pennsylvania during his military service and received a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Tennessee in 1947. Snodgrass was a member of Woodmont Christian Church.
He is survived by his wife, the former Faye Birdwell of Gallatin, Tennessee; two daughters, Dr. Emily Bailey, D.C., Plano, Texas, and S. Elizabeth Bailey, Esq., Athens, Georgia; a son, William R. Snodgrass, Jr., Nashville, Tennessee; 10 grandchildren, Sara Monclus, Lalita Monclus, and Ramachandra vanGils of Plano, Texas; Christian, Gabrielle, Alexandra, and Simon Saupe of Athens, Georgia; Taylor and Ryan Snodgrass of Franklin, Tennessee; Zach Jackson of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; and one great grandchild, Jayden Monclus of Plano, Texas. Snodgrass is also survived by a brother, Joe Snodgrass and wife Pat of Sparta, Tennessee, and three nephews.
In addition to his family, William R. Snodgrass is survived by many government finance and public policy practitioners who learned from him the importance of integrity and the value of public service.
The family will receive visitors Tuesday, April 22, 2008, from 5 - 8 p.m. at Woodmont Christian Church, 3601 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215 (615) 297-8563. Services will be held at the church Wednesday, April 23, 2008, at 1 p.m. with interment following.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Woodmont Christian Church or Alive Hospice of Nashville, 1718 Patterson Street, Nashville, TN 37203 (615) 327-1085.
Biography
Born September 15, 1922, White County, TN. Married to the former Faye Birdwell of Gallatin; three children, Emily Faye, Sarah Elizabeth and William Ramsey, Jr; Christian Church; graduate of David Lipscomb College, Nashville, 1942; attended University of Pennsylvania; B.S. in Accounting, University of Tennessee 1947; graduate work at University of Tennessee; served in U.S. military forces 1943-46; appointed research assistant, Bureau of Business Research, University of Tennessee 1947; consultant on municipal accounting and finance, Municipal Technical Advisory Service, University of Tennessee 1951; appointed director of Budget and director of Local Finance for state of Tennessee, 1953; elected comptroller of the treasury January 1955 and reelected by each successive General Assembly; member of Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Council, the Association of Government Accountants, National Conference of State Legislatures, Council of State Governments, Government Finance Officers Association, National Association of State Auditors, Comptroller and Treasurers; served on executive committee of National Legislative Conference 1970-74, and held position as staff chairman 1993-94; served on Executive Committee of National Conference of State Legislatures 1974-75; served on executive committee of National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers, 1975-80 and as president 1978-79; served on executive board of Municipal Finance Officers Association 1980-83, member of the board of trustees of the Financial Accounting Foundation 1990-95; recipient of Outstanding Municipal Performance Audit Award from Council on Municipal Performance 1980, Donald L. Scantlebury Memorial Award for Distinguished Leadership in Financial Management from Joint Financial Improvement Program 1988, Distinguished Leadership Award from Association of Government Accountants 1988, Award for Excellence in Governmental Auditor Training Seminars for Government Finance Officers Association 1988. Retired as Comptroller of the Treasury on January 13, 1999.
