CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Riley C. Darnell of Clarksville, who served 22 years in the Tennessee General Assembly and 16 years as Tennessee Secretary of State, died Friday afternoon at 80 years old.

His death was announced Friday by the Secretary of State’s Office.

“I and our entire office send our condolences to the family of former Tennessee Secretary of State Riley C. Darnell. In addition to serving as Secretary of State, he was a husband, father, veteran and member of the Tennessee General Assembly. Our state and nation are better for his service,” the statement said.

“Riley C. Darnell served Montgomery County with honor for a number of years in the state legislature,” state Rep Curtis Johnson of Clarksville said. “I have the utmost respect for he and his family, and was saddened to hear of his passing.”

From legislator to secretary of state

Darnell, born May 13, 1940, in Clarksville, graduated from Clarksville High School in 1958 and from Austin Peay State University in 1962, according to his biography with the Clarksville-Montgomery County Arts and Heritage Development Council. He graduated from Vanderbilt University’s School of Law in 1965 and served in the U.S. Air Force as a captain and judge advocate general between 1966-1969.

After military service, Darnell returned to Clarksville to practice law. In 1970, he was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 67th District and served there for five two-year terms, the biography said.

In 1980, he was elected to the State Senate, where he rose to be Majority Leader. He served 12 years in that role. In 1992, Darnell was defeated for re-election to the State Senate.

In 1993, his former colleagues in the House and Senate selected Darnell to the position of Secretary of State. He served in that position until 2009.

Last year, he endowed the Riley C. Darnell Legislative Intern Scholarship to Austin Peay State University. He also contributed various awards towards the Woodward Library Society as well as the Candlelight Ball.

Darnell died early Friday afternoon, confirmed Jan Hodgson, a friend of the family.

“We all considered him a great man,” Hodgson said. “He was good for Clarksville and meant a lot to this community.”

Darnell is survived by his wife, Penny, and five children, Whit Darnell, Eddie Darnell, Eve Rice, Joy Bumpus and Dawson Darnell.

Arrangements will be handled by McReynolds Nave & Larson Funeral Home in Clarksville.