Roy D. Crawford, Sr.

Former Maryville City Attorney Roy Crawford Sr. died Sunday. He was 94. Crawford served as the Maryville city attorney from 1966 until his retirement in 1999. He was in private practice, with the firm of Crawford, Crawford & Newton, until 1993. He also represented Blount County in the Tennessee Senate from 1961 to 1966. He died a month to the day after the passing of his son, County Clerk Roy Crawford Jr., on Feb. 20. "The family is very grateful for the love and support of family and friends and for the care by the staff of Blount Memorial Hospital and Morning View Transitional Care," said Mary Crawford, his daughter, on behalf of the family. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, to whom he was married for 70 years; daughter, Mary Crawford, New York; grandchildren, Alexander and Elizabeth Robertson; stepgrandson, Matt Jamison; nephew, Duncan Crawford, of Maryville; and five other surviving nieces and nephews around the country. "He was not only a very competent attorney, but such a gracious gentleman," Maryville Mayor Tom Taylor said. "One of his best qualities was he was not an overly litigious attorney. He worked hard to reach resolution without litigation if he could. If he had to he would file suit, but he was always very good about working with both sides trying to reach a compromise, yet did just excellent legal work for the city." Taylor said that years after Crawford's departure as city attorney, his influence is still seen in contracts and city ordinances. "I still run across things he did, and they are just as solid as when he did them." Former Maryville Mayor Steve West was Crawford's neighbor for 35 years. "I couldn't have had a better neighbor," West said. "He and the Crawford family had so much interaction with our community for generations. He was just a superb fellow. It's a real loss for our community and our family." In addition to his public service, Crawford was a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War. He joined the U.S. Army in January 1943 and saw service in England, Northern Ireland, France, Luxemburg and Belgium during World War II. He was in the Army until December 1945. Once discharged, he came home, married Dorothy Jobes and entered the University of Tennessee College of Law in March 1946, graduating in 1948. Crawford then started practicing law in Maryville with his father and brother, both named John Crawford. Crawford's Army National Guard unit was mobilized in January 1951, and he returned to active service. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army 37th Field Artillery Battalion during the Korean War. During the war, he fought in the monthlong Battle of Heartbreak Ridge in 1951 in the hills of North Korea a few miles north of the 38th Parallel. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, which is given to any person who, while serving with the Army of the United States, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service. He was not presented the actual medal until 59 years later after his nephew, Duncan Crawford, contacted U.S. Rep. John J. "Jimmy" Duncan's Jr.'s office. The service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at New Providence Presbyterian Church. Receiving of friends will be afterwards. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please direct any gifts to Maryville College or New Providence Presbyterian Church.