Thomas ‘Tank’ Strickland Jr.
By Vivian Shipe
KNOXVILLE, TN — Way maker, bridge builder, servant, mentor, advocate, the list of what Tank Strickland meant to others flows on and on.
Strickland wore many hats during his many years of public service to the Knoxville Community. Known as a humble man of great integrity and character ,Thomas “Tank” Strickland Jr. tried to help anyone who came across his path.
Strickland was the first African American to serve as Chair of the Knox County Commission and he served as a commissioner for almost twenty years. Serving under four mayor’s , in his last position, Tank served as the Director of Community Relations for the City of Knoxville before retiring in 2016.
Strickland stayed local. Strickland was a proud member and class president of the Austin East Class of 1971. He attended the University of Tennessee Knoxville , and was a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
His work in the community included oversight and service of many city services and boards. Among the numerous positions held by Strickland, were the City Police Advisory and Review Committee, the Save our Sons project, the Metropolitan Drug Commission, the Community Television Board, Great Schools Partnership Committee, and the Knoxville Knox County Community Action Committee.
Strickland always wanted to make Knoxville a better place to live and that dedication was recognized when the city named a park in East Knoxville after him near the Burlington Branch Library.
Strickland was a founding member of the InterFaith Health Clinic , and the Howard Circle of Friends, a senior day care for people with Alzheimer’s.
Strickland transitioned at home on Tuesday, July 18th at age 70. He is survived by his wife Terry and their three children.
