Craig Fitzhugh was born in Brownsville in 1950 and raised in Ripley, Tennessee. He graduated from Ripley High School in 1968, where he played varsity baseball, football, and basketball. He graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1972 with a Bachelor's Degree in Banking and Finance. While at UT, he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity and played centerfield on the UT Freshman Baseball Team.
He graduated from law school at UT in 1975. Fitzhugh served four years active duty in the Air Force as a Captain in the Judge's Advocate General Corp., serving at bases in North Carolina and England and was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. He remained in the active reserve for eight years, retiring with the rank of Major.
In 1980, he returned to Ripley to practice law and practiced until 1992 when he joined the Bank of Ripley, where he currently serves as Chairman and CEO. Through the Bank of Ripley, he created a grant program that has provided more than $200,000 to supplement classroom resources for local teachers. The Bank of Ripley has earned six State Quality Awards and was named one of the Best Employers in Tennessee in 2007.
Fitzhugh is active in the Tennessee Banker's Association and will serve as President of the state-wide organization in 2010.
Craig also remains active in the legal community where he currently serves as a member of the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility. Recently, Fitzhugh was inducted as a Fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation.
Fitzhugh has represented Tennessee's 82nd legislative district as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives since 1994. He is the current Chairman of the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee and Chairman of the Council on Pension and Insurance.
Craig has been married to Pam for over 30 years. She is a Lauderdale County native, who also attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Pam is a retired consultant for hearing-impaired children with the Lauderdale County School System. She previously worked in this capacity for the Dyer County School System.
They have three children: Elizabeth Molder who is a first grade teacher with the Maury County (Columbia, TN) School System, son-in-law Chaz Molder who is an attorney in private practice in Columbia, and Tom, who currently lives and works in Washington, D.C. Elizabeth, Chaz and Tom are all graduates of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
West Tennessee Spirit
Fitzhugh has long been active in the community serving on various boards including the Heart Fund, Cancer Society, Tina Turner Family Center, Professional Counseling Service, Lauderdale County Chamber of Commerce and other service organizations.
An Eagle Scout, he has been an assistant scoutmaster since 1981. He was awarded the Silver Beaver Award and is a Brotherhood Order of the Arrow member and has completed Woodbadge training.
He has served as the first chairman of the Ripley and Lauderdale County 3-Star Committee.
He has coached Dixie Girls Softball and Dixie Boys Baseball teams.
He is a 25-year sponsor of Duck's Unlimited and a former District and Zone Chairman.
He has served as president of the Lauderdale County Chamber of Commerce and the Ripley Rotary Club. He was named Jaycees' Outstanding Young Man, FOP Man of the Year, and Junior Auxiliary Person of the Year.
He is a fourth generation member of First Baptist Church, Ripley and currently serves as a Deacon.
Fitzhugh's hobbies include jogging, reading, travel, and spending time with his family.
Craig and family enjoying time at home