If Tim Willis had gone to Chicago for an MBA seven years ago as planned, maybe “Operation Tennessee Waltz” wouldn’t have happened.
But a chance meeting in the summer of 1999 dramatically altered Willis’s life. He met U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., scion of a celebrated family in Memphis politics, at a Young Democrats meeting at the Peabody Hotel. Soon afterward, Willis joined the Ford family business of politics, leading him deeper into the Memphis political world.
kAm%9C@F89 9:D :?G@=G6>6?E[ 96 82:?65 :?D:89E 2?5 4@?E24ED E92E E96 uqx H@F=5 7:?5 FD67F= :? 2? :?7@C>2?E] w6 82:?65 E96 E@@=D E92E 2==@H65 9:>[ F=E:>2E6=J[ E@ 42DE 2 D925@H @G6C DE2E6 A@=:E:4D H:E9 E96 “%6??6DD66 (2=EK” DE:?8]k^Am
kAmx? EH@ 52JD @7 :?E6CG:6HD H:E9 k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^}2D9G:==6!@DE]4@>Qm}2D9G:==6!@DE]4@>k^2mk^6>m[ (:==:D A2:?E65 9:>D6=7 2D 2 92C5\H@C<:?8 >2? H9@ E@@< 25G2?E286 @7 @AA@CEF?:E:6D H96? E96J 6>6C865] w6 <?6H >2?J @7 E96 DE2E6UCDBF@jD 36DE\4@??64E65 A6@A=6 2E @?6 E:>6[ 3FE E@52J 96 :D 4FE @77 7C@> E9@D6 4@??64E:@?D] !@=:E:42= @A6C2E:G6D 2C@F?5 E96 DE2E6 92G6 D2:5 (:==:D H2D :?5665 2? :?D:56C[ E9@F89 >2J36 96 92D AC6D6?E65 9:>D6=7 2D 92G:?8 >@C6 :?7=F6?46 E92? 96 :?5665 925 U>52D9j 3FE ?@3@5J H@F=5 8@ @? E96 C64@C5 @? E92E DF3;64E] u@C E96 >@DE A2CE[ (:==:D 2?5 9:D >@E:G2E:@?D H:== 92G6 E@ 36 ;F5865 @? 9:D H@C5D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m|2<:?8 ?6H 7C:6?5Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx? E96 DF>>6C @7 `hhh[ |6>A9:D A@=:E:4D H2D :? FA962G2=] %96 4:EJ’D 7:CDE p7C:42?\p>6C:42? >2J@C[ (] (] w6C6?E@?[ H2D 9@=5:?8 @77 2 492==6?86 7C@> y@6 u@C5[ 3C@E96C @7 E96 4@?EC@G6CD:2= 7@C>6C &]$] r@?8C6DD>2? w2C@=5 u@C5 $C] 2?5 E96 6BF2==J 4@?EC@G6CD:2= $E2E6 $6?] y@9? u@C5[ 2?5 F?4=6 E@ 4FCC6?E &]$] r@?8C6DD>2? 2?5 &]$] $6?2E6 42?5:52E6 w2C@=5 u@C5 yC]k^Am
kAmxE H2D 2 9625\E@\9625 4@?7C@?E2E:@? @7 E96 EH@ >@DE A@H6C7F= p7C:42?\p>6C:42? A@=:E:42= @C82?:K2E:@?D :? E96 DE2E6] (:E9 >F49 2E DE2<6[ 3@E9 D:56D H6C6 24E:G6=J C64CF:E:?8 ?6H 3=@@5 E@ AC6A2C6 7@C 2 7:?2= D9@H5@H?]k^Am
kAmw2C@=5 u@C5 yC] H2D >2<:?8 E96 >@DE @7 9:D 2AA62C2?46 2E 2 *@F?8 s6>@4C2ED C2==J 2?5 :?G:E:?8 ?6H C64CF:ED :?E@ E96 7@=5] pE E96 C2==J[ (:==:D H2D :?EC@5F465 E@ E96 4@?8C6DD>2? 3J 2 >FEF2= 7C:6?5]k^Am
kAm(:==:D 925 366? 2 E62496C 2E 2 |6>A9:D 9:89 D49@@= 2?5[ E9@F89 96 7@F?5 :E C6H2C5:?8[ 96 H2?E65 E@ >2<6 >@C6 >@?6J 2?5 H2D 2 4@FA=6 @7 >@?E9D 2H2J 7C@> >@G:?8 E@ r9:428@ 7@C 9:D |qp]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ (:==:D[ 5FC:?8 E96 3C:67 4@?G6CD2E:@? u@C5 2D<65 E92E 96 >66E 9:> =2E6C E92E 52J 2E y@6 u@C5VD >2J@C2= 42>A2:8? 9625BF2CE6CD 2?5 DE2CE H@C<:?8 @? E96 6=64E:@?] (:==:D 28C665] (:E9 2 8C25F2E6 568C66 :? AF3=:4 A@=:4J[ (:==:D 925 2? :?E6C6DE :? A@=:4J :DDF6D]k^Am
kAmp?5 96 D2:5 96 925 H@C<65 @? 42>A2:8?D :? 4@==686 2?5 925 H@C<65 7@C &]$] r@?8C6DD>2? q6??:6 %9@>AD@?]k^Am
kAm}@E 36:?8 2 |6>A9:D ?2E:G6[ (:==:D D2:5[ 96 H2D =2C86=J F?2H2C6 @7 E96 E6?D:@? E92E 6I:DE65 36EH66? E96 u@C5 2?5 w6C6?E@? 724E:@?D]k^Am
kAm“x 925 @?=J 366? :? |6>A9:D ?:?6 @C `_ >@?E9D[” (:==:D D2:5] “x 5:5?’E <?@H 9@H E@ 86E 2C@F?5] x 5:5?’E <?@H 2?J3@5J] }@E9:?8]”k^Am
kAmw6 DE2E65 E92E 96 <?6H w2C@=5 u@C5 $C] 925 366? 2 4@?8C6DD>2?[ 3FE 96 5:5?’E <?@H E96 6IE6?E E@ H9:49 E96 u@C5 72>:=J 925 96=5 DH2J @G6C 2 =2C86 D68>6?E @7 |6>A9:D G@E6CD 7@C 2=>@DE EH@ 564256D]k^Am
kAm%9C@F89 E9:D 3C:67 6?4@F?E6C[ 96 BF:4<=J 3642>6 A2CE @7 E96 |6>A9:D A@=:E:42= 723C:4] (:==:D D2JD 96 H@C<65 9:D H2J FA E96 =2556C 7C@> E96C6]k^Am
kAm“x H2D ;FDE 2 C68F=2C D:8?\AFEE6C\FAA6C 8FJ[” (:==:D C642==65] “s6DA:E6 H92E6G6C x >2J 92G6 5@?6 :? E96 A2DE[ x 5:5?’E C62==J 3C:?8 E92E FA] xE H2D ‘{6E’D 86E E96 ;@3 5@?6 ?@H]’ w6 H2D A2J:?8 >6 >@C6 E92? x H2D >2<:?8 E6249:?8[ 3J 72C] xE H2D 4@@=] (92E6G6C J@F H2?E65 >6 E@ 5@[ x’== 5@ :E]”k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 96 925 366? ?@E:465 :? E96 42>A2:8?[ A2CE:4F=2C=J 3J w2C@=5 $C][ 2?5 H2D 8:G6? >@C6 2?5 >@C6 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ[ w2C@=5 $C] H@F=5 42== 2?5 E6== 9:> E92E 96 925 E@ QH9:A V6> :?E@ D92A6Q 2?5 86E @E96C 42>A2:8? H@C<6CD >@E:G2E65[ (:==:D D2:5]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 96 C@D6 E@ 56AFEJ 42>A2:8? >2?286C :? EH@ H66<D]k^Am
kAm“|J ;@3 H2D E@ >2<6 DFC6 6G6CJE9:?8 C2? H6== :? E96 @77:46[” (:==:D D2:5]k^Am
kAmy@6 u@C5 92D AF3=:4=J D2:5 96 <?6H =:EE=6 @7 (:==:D’D :?G@=G6>6?E @? 9:D 42>A2:8?]k^Am
kAm(96? BF6DE:@?65[ (:==:D D2:5[ “y@6 4@F=5?’E D2J E92E] xE H@F=5 36 :>A@DD:3=6 7@C 9:> E@ D2J E92E]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mp A@=:E:42= =:G:?8k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 y@6 u@C5 =@DE E92E 6=64E:@?[ (:==:D D2:5 :E =65 9:> E@ 9:D ?6IE ;@3[ H@C<:?8 7@C w2C@=5 yC] @? Q~A6C2E:@? w2AAJ r9C:DE>2D[Q 2? 2??F2= 492C:EJ 6G6?E AFE @? 3J E96 r@?8C6DD>2? E@ 36?67:E ?665J 72>:=:6D :? |6>A9:D] p7E6C H@C<:?8 @? E96 r9C:DE>2D 36?67:E[ 96 4@?E:?F65 E@ 92G6 2 4=@D6 C6=2E:@?D9:A H:E9 E96 u@C5 72>:=J[ 244@C5:?8 E@ (:==:D]k^Am
kAmw6 H@C<65 7@C $96=3J r@F?EJ pDD6DD@C #:E2 r=2C<’D C6\6=64E:@? 42>A2:8?] w6 E96? >@G65 @? E@ H@C< @? E96 a___ s6>@4C2E:4 r@@C5:?2E65 r2>A2:8? – :? 6DD6?46[ ':46 !C6D:56?E p= v@C6’D AC6D:56?E:2= 3:5 – 2E E96 C6BF6DE @7 E96 u@C5D[ (:==:D D2:5]k^Am
kAmp7E6C E96 AC6D:56?E:2= C246[ (:==:D H6?E 324< E@ H@C< 7@C w2C@=5 u@C5 yC] @? 4@?EC24E] w6 D2:5 96 BF:4<=J D2H E92E 96 H@F=5 92G6 E@ E2<6 @? @E96C 4=:6?ED 2?5 4@?EC24ED :? @C56C E@ >2<6 2 =:G:?8]k^Am
kAm“$66[ w2C@=5VD 7F??J[” (:==:D D2:5] “w6V== 4FE J@FC 4964< H:E9@FE J@F <?@H:?8 :E]… *@F 8@EE2 92G6 D@>6E9:?8 6=D6 @? E96 D:56] w6 5@6D E92E E@ 6G6CJ3@5J]Qk^Am
kAm(:==:D 4=2:>65 E92E 96 H2D DFAA@D65 E@ 36 >2<:?8 Sc[d__ 2 >@?E9[ 3FE E92E E96 2>@F?E A2:5 H2D 564C62D65 H:E9@FE 6IA=2?2E:@? E@ Sb[d__ @?6 >@?E9 2?5 =6DD 2D E:>6 H6?E 3J]k^Am
kAmQr@>6 @? %:>[ x @?=J 42==65 J@F EH:46 E9:D >@?E9[” u@C5 DFAA@D65=J D2:5 :? 6IA=2?2E:@?]k^Am
kAm(96? (:==:D AC@E6DE65[ u@C5 H@F=5 E6== 9:>i “p== C:89E[ xV== >2<6 DFC6 E92E >J >2? >2<6D E92E FA]” %96 A2J>6?ED H@F=5 6G6?EF2==J 2CC:G6] “xE H2D E92E <:?5 @7 E9:?8[ E92E <:?5 @7 5C2>2]Qk^Am
kAm(96? 2D<65 E@ C6DA@?5 E@ E96D6 4@>>6?ED[ |2C< $49F6C>2??[ 49:67 @7 DE277 E@ r@?8C6DD>2? w2C@=5 u@C5 yC] DE2E65ik^Am
kAmQ%96 @?=J C6=2E:@?D9:A E92E |C] (:==:D 925 H:E9 E96 42>A2:8? :D 2 >2EE6C @7 AF3=:4 C64@C5] %92E C6=2E:@?D9:A H2D E6C>:?2E65 H96? E96 42>A2:8? =62C?65 E92E %:> 925 2 BF6DE:@?23=6 324<8C@F?5] r@?8C6DD>2? u@C5 :D ?@E 8@:?8 E@ C6DA@?5 E@ 2?JE9:?8 %:> D2:5]Qk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!C@>:?6?46[ E96? AC:D@?k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%92E BF6DE:@?23=6 324<8C@F?5 925 E@ 5@ H:E9 =682= EC@F3=6 C6=2E65 E@ 4C65:E\42C5 23FD6D] qFE 367@C6 E92E D:EF2E:@? C624965 :ED K6?:E9[ (:==:D 925 366? D62C49:?8 7@C @E96C @AA@CEF?:E:6D]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 96 H2D 2E E96 C:89E A=246 2E E96 C:89E E:>6 2?5 H@C<65 9:D H2J @?E@ E96 }qp }~( 677@CE E92E 3C@F89E AC@76DD:@?2= 32D<6E32== E@ |6>A9:D] w6 925 2D<65 u@C5 yC] E@ 2DD:DE 9:> :? 86EE:?8 D@>6 H@C< @? E96 }qp 677@CE[ 3FE E96 r@?8C6DD>2? 564=:?65[ (:==:D D2:5]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ (:==:D[ u@C5 D2:5 96 925 ?@E 564:565 2E E92E A@:?E[ 62C=J a__`[ :7 E96 562= H2D 8@:?8 E@ 36 8@@5 7@C |6>A9:D @C ?@E]k^Am
kAm~? 9:D @H?[ (:==:D H6?E E@ 2 #@E2CJ r=F3 >66E:?8 2?5 =:DE6?65 E@ @?6 @7 E96 :?:E:2= A:E496D E92E @C82?:K6CD H6C6 >2<:?8 E@ 4:G:4 8C@FAD E@ DFAA@CE E96 677@CE] pE E92E >66E:?8[ 96 D2:5 96 H2D ?@E:465 3J @C82?:K6CD H9:=6 D:EE:?8 :? E96 324< @7 E96 C@@> E2<:?8 ?@E6D] p7E6C E96 AC6D6?E2E:@?[ 96 D2:5 @?6 @7 E96 @C82?:K6CD H92E 96 925 366? HC:E:?8]k^Am
kAmQ(6==]]] x <:?5 @7 HC@E6 FA D@>6 :562D @7 H92E x E9@F89E J@F 8FJD >:89E H2?E E@ 5@ E@ 96=A >@G6 E9:D AC@46DD 2=@?8[ ‘42FD6 C62=:DE:42==J x 5@?VE E9:?< J@F 92G6 2 D?@H32==’D 492?46 :? 96== H:E9 H92E J@F 8FJD ;FDE D2:5 FA E96C6]Qk^Am
kAmuC@> E9:D 3C2K6? 6?4@F?E6C[ (:==:D D2:5[ 96 H2D :?G:E65 E@ 5:D4FDD :?G@=G6>6?E :? E96 AC@;64E ;FDE 52JD =2E6C]k^Am
kAmx? D9@CE @C56C[ (:==:D 3642>6 2 DA@<6D>2? 7@C E96 }qp 677@CE :? |6>A9:D] w6 3682? 2AA62C:?8 @? =@42= >65:2[ 6I9@CE:?8 E96 4:E:K6?D 2?5 3FD:?6DD6D @7 |6>A9:D E@ C2==J 2C@F?5 E96 AC@DA64E @7 92G:?8 H92E E96J 925 =@?8 496C:D965 — AC@76DD:@?2= DA@CED :? |6>A9:D]k^Am
kAmqFE 5FC:?8 9:D DE:?E H:E9 E96 }qp AC@;64E[ (:==:D =62C?65 E92E 9:D A2DE H2D 4@>:?8 324< E@ 3:E6 9:>]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 :? 4@==686[ 367@C6 96 925 >@G65 E@ %6??6DD66[ 96 925 366? :?G@=G65 :? 2? :56?E:EJ E967E 4@?DA:C24J E92E 925 23FD65 4C65:E 42C5D]k^Am
kAmx? u63CF2CJ @7 a__`[ 96 H2D :?5:4E65 @? E9@D6 492C86D :? y24<D@?[ |:DD][ 2?5 96 =2E6C A=62565 8F:=EJ]k^Am
kAmq67@C6 A=625:?8 8F:=EJ[ 96 4@?E:?F65 E@ H@C< E92E J62C @? 2 ?F>36C @7 !# 2?5 A@=:E:42= 677@CED[ :?4=F5:?8 !9:= qC656D6?’D 42>A2:8? 7@C 8@G6C?@C]k^Am
kAm~G6C E96 4@FCD6 @7 2 EH@\J62C A6C:@5 :? 4@==686[ (:==:D 6IA=2:?65[ 96 2?5 D@>6 7C:6?5D 925 2>2DD65 `d E@ a_ 4C65:E 42C5D[ 2?5 E96J FD65 E96>]k^Am
kAm(:==:D 4=2:>D 96 E@@< C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ 2?5 E@@< E96 3=2>6 7@C 6G6CJ@?6] w6 564=:?65 E@ ?2>6 E96 @E96CD :?G@=G65[ D2J:?8 @?=J E92E H96? E96 =2H 4=@D65 :?[ 96 H2D E96 @?=J @?6 H9@ H2D?VE >2CC:65 @C 2 72E96C] %96C67@C6[ :E H@F=5 36 62D:6C 7@C 9:> E@ D6CG6 E:>6 E92? E96 @E96CD]k^Am
kAm“x 76=E x 4@F=5 DE2?5 :E 2 =:EE=6 3:E 36EE6C[” 96 D2:5] “x 4@F=5 3@F?46 324< 36EE6C E92? E96J 4@F=5]”k^Am
kAmw6 D2JD 96 A=62\32C82:?65 :? @C56C E@ 2G@:5 36:?8 4@?G:4E65 7@C 7C2F5 2?5 D@ E92E @E96CD :?G@=G65 H@F=5 ?@E 36 492C865] “x’== E2<6 4@?DA:C24J[ 2?5 6G6CJ@?6 6=D6 8@6D 7C66[” 96 D2:5 @7 9:D A=62 32C82:?]k^Am
kAmx? s646>36C @7 a__`[ 96 H2D D6?E6?465 E@ 7@FC >@?E9D :? 2 7656C2= AC:D@? 42>A[ E9C66 J62CD’ DFA6CG:D65 C6=62D6[ 2?5 Scb[d`h :? C6DE:EFE:@?] w6 3682? D6CG:?8 E92E D6?E6?46 :? y2?F2CJ @7 a__a]k^Am
kAmp7E6C 9:D C6=62D6[ 96 5:5 =:EE=6 E@ C2:D6 9:D AC@7:=6 :?:E:2==J] !C:@C E@ D6?E6?4:?8[ 96 D2:5[ 96 925 >2?2865 E@ AFE 2H2J 6?@F89 >@?6J E9C@F89 9:D H@C< @? E96 }qp }~( 2?5 @E96C AF3=:4 C6=2E:@?D 4@?EC24ED E@ ?@E 92G6 E@ H@C< 7@C 2 J62C 2?5 E@ A2J 9:D 3:==D[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 C6DE:EFE:@?]k^Am
kAmpD >F49 2D (:==:D D2:5 E96 4@?7:?6>6?E 5:5 =:EE=6 E@ 492?86 9:D @H? @FE=@@< @? 9:D 6>A=@J>6?E AC@DA64ED[ @E96CD :? |6>A9:D 3682? E@ D66 9:> :? 2 5:776C6?E =:89E[ 96 D2:5] pE 2 82E96C:?8 @7 7C:6?5D 2?5 |6>A9:D A@=:E:42= @A6C2E:G6D D@@? 27E6C 9:D C6=62D6[ 96 D2:5 2 7C:6?5 EFC?65 E@ 9:>[ D>:=:?8[ 2?5 D2:5[ Q*@F 8@E J@FC DEC:A6D]]]]J@F 8@E J@FC DEC:A6D]Qk^Am
kAm%96 ;2:= E:>6 82G6 9:> 4C65:3:=:EJ H96? :E 42>6 E:>6 E@ A=2J 2 5:CEJ =@33J:DE :? “~A6C2E:@? %6??6DD66 (2=EK]”k^Am
kAmk6>m%@>@CC@H[ :? @FC 7:?2= :?DE2==>6?E[ H6 H:== =@@< 2E 9@H (:==:D 8@E :?G@=G65 H:E9 E96 uqx 2?5 :?5:G:5F2=D 2AAC@24965 :? E96 %6??6DD66 (2=EK :?G6DE:82E:@?]k^6>mk^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6A@DE]4@>^?6HD^a__d^`a^`c^E6??6DD660H2=EK073:0:?7@C>2?E0:0A2:50@770F=JDD6D0;@?6DQmV%6??6DD66 (2=EKV uqx x?7@C>2?Ei x !2:5 ~77 &=JDD6D y@?6Dk^2m kDEC@?8mk6>mx? E96 7:CDE :?DE2==>6?E @7 2 E9C66\A2CE D6C:6D 32D65 @? E96 @?=J :?E6CG:6HD 8C2?E65 E@ 52E6 3J 2 <6J uqx :?7@C>2?E[k^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^}2D9G:==6!@DE]4@>Qm}2D9G:==6!@DE]4@>k^2m k6>mC6G62=D ?6H 56E2:=D @? E96 @?8@:?8 V%6??6DD66 (2=EKV :?G6DE:82E:@?[ :?4=F5:?8 2 4=2:> E92E $E2E6 #6A] &=JDD6D y@?6D Ws\|6>A9:DX E@@< 2 3C:36 :? 6I492?86 7@C =68:D=2E:G6 72G@CD] y@?6D 56?:6D E96 4=2:>[ 42==:?8 :?7@C>2?E %:> (:==:D 2 =:2C]k^6>mk^DEC@?8m k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6A@DE]4@>^?6HD^a__d^`a^`e^H2=EK0:?7@C>2?E0DA62<D0@FE0207F==052?4642C5Qm(2=EK x?7@C>2?E $A62<D ~FEi p uF== s2?46\r2C5k^2m kDEC@?8mk6>m%96 7:?2= :?DE2==>6?E @7k^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^}2D9G:==6!@DE]4@>Qm}2D9G:==6!@DE]4@>k^2mk6>mVD E9C66\A2CE D6C:6D 32D65 @? 2? 6I4=FD:G6 :?E6CG:6H H:E9 E96 <6J :?7@C>2?E 369:?5 E96 7656C2= DE:?8 @A6C2E:@?i w@H E96 >:?F6E 36EH66? %:> (:==:D 2?5 E96 uqx 3642>6 2 E2?8@k^6>mk^DEC@?8mk^Am
