Lanny Griffith, a Mississippian who served in President George H. W. Bush’s administration, has passed away.
According to an announcement from BGR Group, a Washington-based consulting firm Griffith helped found, the politico passed away after a brief battle with cancer.
“Lanny was a genuine friend, a great tactician, and a true leader,” fellow BGR Group founder and former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said. “His love for his family and the state of Mississippi are unmatched. Lanny was always working and finding ways to back the people and places that meant the most to him. He will never forget where he came from – and we will never forget him.”
Griffith, a native of Corinth, entered the political arena in the early 1980s when he worked for the Republican National Committee, managing Barbour’s run for U.S. Senate in 1982. He was later named executive director of the Mississippi Republican Party, a position he held for three years.
“The Mississippi Republican Party extends its heartfelt condolences to Lanny’s family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time,” a statement from the Mississippi Republican Party reads. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them, and we will continue to honor his memory as we work together to build a brighter future for Mississippi.”
In 1988, he worked as a regional political director for George H. Bush’s presidential campaign, one Bush would go on to win over Democrat Michael Dukakis. During Bush’s lone term in office, Griffith held a variety of positions, including being named assistant secretary of education in 1991. At the U.S. Department of Education, he directed Secretary Lamar Alexander’s effort to build a national consensus around educational standards and testing.
Griffith’s work for the Bush family continued with his role as national chairman of the Bush-Cheney 2000 Entertainment Task Force and entertainment coordinator for the 2001 Bush Inaugural. He later served as a Ranger and as a member of the Bush 2004 National Finance Committee.
Griffith, a graduate of the University of Mississippi, spent a lot of time in Washington but never forgot his roots, according to the announcement. He is credited with several renovations in the historic district of his hometown of Corinth and helping create a scholarship at his alma mater for students from Corinth.
Griffith is survived by his wife, Susan, and his daughter, Sally Hamilton. He was preceded in death by his son David. Griffith’s funeral service will be held Friday, April 4, at 10:30 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, VA.
