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Democratic spirit alive and kicking
Tennessee celebration honors longtime CAP activist

When scholarships were presented to college-bound students in Tennessee, Robert Pruitte had always been the one there.

For more than eight years, it had been a special part of his job as chairman of the Tennessee Community Action Program (CAP) Council. Education was very important to Robert and this part of his job was one that he enjoyed the most.

Most of us remember that Robert Pruitte passed away unexpectedly in August 2002. Now his friends in the labor movement and the Democratic Party came upon an idea to continue what meant so much to him.

On May 15, the Wilson County Democratic Party held the first Robert Pruitte Democratic Celebration. It was held at the Local 342 union hall in Lebanon, Tenn., now renamed the Robert Pruitte Memorial Hall in honor of his 40 years as financial secretary.

Proceeds from the celebration funded scholarships for two deserving students and contributed to the Wilson County Democratic Party, two causes close to Robert’s heart.

“Robert was a great asset to the Wilson County Democratic Party and the labor movement,” said Larry Odum, who was an integral person in organizing the event and also a friend of Pruitte.

“His passing was a loss to the whole community, and this was our way of carrying on his memory and his life work,” Odum said. Robert would have especially enjoyed seeing children bouncing in the moonwalk while parents played carnival style games and ate ice cream sandwiches, while under the tents people chatted with “long time, no see” acquaintances. Meanwhile, the Democratic Women held a silent auction in the union hall. Fried fish with all the fixings were prepared while a live band entertained the hundreds who came.

After the crowd was happily satiated with food and fun, Mary Patterson, Wilson County Party chair, introduced the Color Guard Hi ROTC which performed a routine in celebration of Armed Forces Day.
Emcee Tony Adams introduced the speakers which included Rep. Jim Cooper, State Rep. Stratton Bone; Tennessee State AFL-CIO President Jerry Lee; and Local 737 member Sarge Loveless, another long time friend of Robert’s. Bobby Pruitte, the only son of Robert and Linda, presented the scholarships to college-bound students, Wesley Stallings and Gina Martin. Finally, a 12- gauge Remington 870 shotgun, donated by Stratton Bone, was raffled off.

As Mary Patterson said in her opening welcome, the event would not have been possible without its many sponsors.

These include: UAW Region 8; the UAW Tennessee CAP Council; UAW Locals 737, 1853 and 2406; local unions of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), Service Employee International Union (SEIU), United Steel Workers of America (USWA ) , International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Sheet metal Workers (SMW), NAGTW, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW); Central Labor Council; Preston Loveless; ALTIG Intl.; Teamsters; and Judge Barry Tatum.
“The amount of support we received from so many sources is a testament to the lives Robert touched,” said Patterson.

The tents, the fish and the use of the parking lot next door were all donated by community members and friends of Pruitte. American Press and Label donated the tickets. Tigereye Design donated the commemorative buttons.

Besides being a tribute to Robert Pruitte with an educational goal, the celebration was a revival of the Democratic spirit in Tennessee.

Robert would have been proud.