Kyle Testerman

Kyle Testerman

Knoxville, TN

Kyle Copenhaver Testerman, age 80. Born December 27, 1934, passed away peacefully with his family on Saturday, April 11, 2015. Kyle, a Knoxville native, had a very accomplished and fulfilling life. He was a business leader, lawyer and two-term mayor of Knoxville. Kyle grew up on Melrose Avenue in the UT area and overcame childhood polio to become a talented athlete. He was a member of the Knoxville High School 1951 state championship basketball team and later entered the University of Tennessee on a basketball scholarship, finishing his college experience on a tennis scholarship. His love of tennis was his true passion. He was co-founder of Knoxville Racquet Club and was instrumental in the development of the tennis courts at Tyson Park, a place where he sought to unite all sectors of the city in recreation. As an adult, he continued playing competitive tennis, and with his long-time doubles partner, Dell Sylvia, was ranked in the top 5 in the country in the 35 and 45 age groups and No. 1 in the South. In 1977, he and his son, Ben, won a prestigious United States Tennis Association (USTA) silver tennis ball in the national father-son tournament. As a tribute to his love of the game, he was recently honored by the City of Knoxville with the dedication and re-naming of the facility to Kyle C. Testerman Tennis Complex at Tyson Park. Academically, Kyle attended Tyson Junior High School, then Knoxville High School before transferring his senior year to McCallie School, a preparatory school in Chattanooga. He earned his bachelor degree and Juris Doctorate in law from the University of Tennessee. Professionally, he was a businessman and lawyer, but his greatest pride was being a dedicated public servant. He served on Knoxville City Council from 1969-1971, and in 1972 became Knoxville's youngest elected mayor when he won his first term at the age of 35. He was re-elected to a second mayoral term in 1984. Kyle's love affair with the City of Knoxville resulted in a multitude of accomplishments and a lasting footprint on our community during his administrations. Included among them are the rescue of The Knoxville Zoo from closure in the early 1970s and ultimately its establishment as a top zoo in the country. He is credited with bringing the 1982 World's Fair to Knoxville. In 1974, he traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with President Gerald Ford and witness his signing of the Housing & Community Development Act, the catalyst for his Downtown Plan that led to the beautification of Gay Street, Market Square and The Old City. He led the construction of the City and County Building and the TVA Towers. He, along with then County Executive Dwight Kessel, appointed the first Knoxville Coalition for the Homeless. He was responsible for passing the liquor-by-the-drink referendum and promoted citywide diversity through establishment of The Beck Cultural Exchange Center. In recent celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Knoxville Museum of Art, Kyle was remembered for being instrumental in the funding and establishment of KMA's current location. As for funding, he was also responsible for securing the first AAA rating that allowed Knoxville to benefit from bond revenue and aid in the city's revitalization. Kyle would also say one of his greatest challenges was the sanitation workers' strike in 1974 and staving off organized labor. On the other side, he felt his most significant achievement was consolidating the city and county public school system. He will be remembered by many as a great public steward and devoted ambassador for the city of Knoxville.

Kyle is preceded in death by his father Benjamin Harrison Testerman and mother Lucille Hanley Testerman; two brothers, Ben Jr. and Dan. He is survived by his three children, Muffet Testerman Buckner and her husband Jim, Benjamin Long Testerman and Janet Testerman Creswell and husband, Joey. He leaves five grandchildren: Misha Testerman, Clark and Brooke Buckner and Elie and Georgie Creswell. He also leaves behind Janet Long Testerman Crossley, the mother of his three children; brothers John (Leslie) and Bryan (Brenda); nieces and nephews, Dr. Chris Testerman (Dan), Hanley Roach (Bill), the late John Testerman, Jr., Tracey Harrigan (Kenny), Bryan Testerman, Jr., William Duffey (Janet) and Browning Duffey.

A celebration of life service will be held at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, April 21, at 4:00 p.m. Dr. William Barron will officiate. The family will receive friends following the service.

The family asks for donations to be made to the Pat Summitt Foundation (625 Market St., Suite 1400, Knoxville, TN 37902) or Knoxville Racquet Club (5535 Lonas Drive, Knoxville, TN 37909).

Arrangements made by Rose Mortuary Mann's Heritage Chapel. Online condolences can be made at www.rosemortuary.com.