Friends and Party Faithful Remember Harold Coker

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF-TV) – Lifelong friends and supporters called him "Mr. Republican".
And they paused to share warm memories of former Hamilton county commissioner and businessman Harold Coker.
He died Sunday morning at his home at the age of 84.
We went through our archives and found plenty of highlights of his long and successful life.

Harold Coker always sat in his regular place at the Monday Pachyderm club meetings. There was a makeshift memorial there on this meeting day.
And members shared their favorite memories of the man who actually launched many political careers.

JOE GRAHAM, COUNTY COMMISSIONER "There’s never been a republican in my seat ever in the Hamilton county form of government so for him to encourage me and to help promote me end help me get this job meant the world to me."

BOBBY WOOD, MEMBER, STATE REPUBLICAN EXEC.COMMITTEE "Harold Coker leaves behind shoes that are going to be real hard for us to fill.

GARY BEHLER, JUVENILE COURT CLERK "Harold was one of the first to encourage me to run for office ..One of the first to write me a check to do so."

And here’s the way many remember him best.

HAROLD COKER, NOVEMBER 18, 2013 "A lot of people have done a lot of the right things in this community and I’m really so proud of Chattanooga."

Harold Coker was a county commissioner for 20 years, and once in 1988 he decided to make a try for the congressional seat held by Marilyn Lloyd.
National GOP leaders even let him speak at the Republican Convention in New Orleans.

HAROLD COKER, 1988 "I’m going to talk about jobs and education and what we have been doing in Hamilton county."

Marilyn lloyd defeated Coker, who went back to county commission, and to being a stabilizing force in the Republican party.
He also continued the enjoy the little tire company he founded on Brainerd Road that became an internationally known store for vintage tires.
His son Corky continues to run that business which is downtown now.

Visitation will be from 3-7:30 p.m on Tuesday at Chattanooga Funeral Home East, on South Moore Road.
The family plans a private graveside service.
A Celebration of Life service will be a 2 pm on Wednesday at Woodland Park Baptist Church.