| Jackson doctor may join 8th congressional race |
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Posted: Friday, December 4, 2009 9:00 pm
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By JOHN BRANNON
Messenger Staff Reporter
In the wake of Congressman John Tanner’s stunning statement Tuesday evening that he won’t run for re-election comes a declaration from a native son — a Republican and a medical doctor — that he might toss his hat into the ring of would-be successors.
Dr. Ronald H. “Ron” Kirkland of Jackson said today he’s not a formally-announced candidate yet, but he is “testing the waters to see if there is support.”
“It’s going to cost a lot of money to run,” he said. “I’m not currently raising any money for a campaign. The idea of whether people would support my candidacy financially is important. Obviously, if nobody cares whether I run or not, it would be foolish of me to go forward.
“I’ve already had some very positive affirmations from friends and other folks. Based on some people I have faith in telling me the truth whether I should move forward or not, I’ll make my decision.”
Kirkland, 65, was born and raised in Union City. He is a 1962 graduate of Union City High School, a 1970 graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin and a 1977 graduate of the University of Tennessee-Memphis Health Science Center.
He is also a U.S. Army veteran who served a tour in Vietnam, where he was a member of the 55th Military Intelligence Detachment. “I am very proud that I served. When I got over there, I was shaking like a leaf, didn’t know what was ahead of me,” he said.
After being honorably discharged from the Army, Kirkland served as commander of American Legion Post 20 in Union City and worked briefly in the family business, the Ben Franklin store.
After graduation from medical school in Memphis, he trained in Memphis to become an eye, ear, nose and throat physician. He has practiced his craft at the Jackson Clinic for 25 years.
He has served as president of the Jackson Rotary Club and the UT National Alumni Association. He has been chairman of the Jackson Clinic five years and is chairman of the board of the American Medical Group based in Alexandria, Va. He also serves on the boards of directors of Regions Bank of West Tennessee and Aspell Recovery Center. He is a deacon at First Baptist Church in Jackson.
He is married to the former Carol Glasgow of Union City. They have four grown children and three grandchildren.
Kirkland characterizes himself as a Reagan Republican, meaning he believes in less government and more personal freedom with more personal responsibility.
“I have a particular interest in improving our national health care system rather than having it taken over by our government,” he said. “I further believe that our federal government must never again make the poor decisions which caused our current economic disaster.
“I am proud to be a veteran who has served this great country. I believe I have the experience and education to serve her again.”
His late return to the classrooms of higher learning has further prepared him for dual service in the private and public sectors.
Last January, he enrolled in a master’s degree program at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He is only a week away from completing academic requirements for an executive masters of business administration.
Why now? Why go back to college at this late stage of his productive years?
For good reason, he told The Messenger.
“The things I have done in the last 10 years, I could have done better if I’d had an MBA,” he said. “I’ve been in leadership at the Jackson Clinic, been chairman of the board of the American Medical Group Association which represents about 95,000 doctors. I just could have done a better job if I’d had the knowledge I now have.”
Published in The Messenger 12.4.09
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