Hamilton County voters lost a friend and ally on Friday, when Election Administrator Bud Knowles succumbed to cancer. From chattanoogan.com:

Hamilton County Election Administrator Bud Knowles died peacefully Friday morning with his wife of 56 years, Barbara, by his side. He suffered from cancer.

Mr. Knowles had been unable to come into the office in recent weeks, but kept up with Assistant Administrator Charlotte Mullis-Morgan by phone. Death came a day after he was able to visit his election staff on Amnicola Highway. Then that same night he told his family that “he was going to see Jesus.”

Former county and state election commissioner Wes Kliner penned this tribute to Knowles.

I first met Bud while working on Senator Bob Corker’s run for mayor back in 2001. One of my tasks was to periodically check with the Election Commission on voter list issues. The first person I met was Bud as I walked from the parking lot into the Election Commission with him. He had a great big smile for me and asked if I needed some help. After introducing myself and my purpose, he took me to the person I needed to meet.

Later when I became a county election commissioner and after that a state election commissioner, I could always count on Bud giving me good advice and a candid assessment of what was going on, in his friendly gentle manner.

Regardless of whether he was getting ready for an election, just cleaning up after one, or in a lull between elections, Bud was the same calm, gentle, warm, friendly and respectful person at all times. His smile was infectious. You just couldn’t help breaking out in a smile yourself when he started talking to you.

I’m sure I join everyone who is reading this in sending our heartfelt condolences to Bud’s family. He was a great man and a true servant leader. And, he was the consummate Southern gentleman. He blessed our lives richly.

Well done, Bud. We’ll miss you.

There is not much I can add to that. Bud Knowles genuinely cared about providing voters everything they need in order to make informed decisions, and he was visibly concerned when turnout was low (which, sadly, is most of the time). I did not know him long, but he was an inspiration to me. I wish peace for his family, including County Clerk Bill Knowles (Bud’s brother), during this difficult time.