TML mourns death of longtime Dyersburg Alderman Bob Kirk
Longterm TML member and Dyersburg Alderman Bob Kirk died peacefully on July 16, 2025, at the age of 87 after years of service to his community and Tennessee.
Kirk was first elected to the Dyerbsurg Borad of Mayor and Aldermen in 1967, a position he held for 51 years until his retirement in 2018. He also held the position as interim mayor for six months in 1980 when mayoral election results were contested.
Kirk was present at every TML conference since his election and served on the TML Board of Directors and as TML Board President for 2004-5. He also served as a longtime chairman of the Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund and on the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Affairs (TACIR) for nearly a decade.
In honor of Kirk’s service, TML established the Bob Kirk Local Government Leadership Award in 2018. The award is presented to a council member, alderman, or commissioner who is at least in their second term of service to their municipality and has shown themselves to be an outstanding public servant to both their municipality and their community.
TML Executive Director Anthony Haynes said that Kirk’s love and dedication for Tennessee municipalities would be sorely missed.
“Bob was a great ambassador for all Tennessee cities and the people that call them home,” Haynes said.
TMBF President and CEO Wade Morrell said Kirk’s work with the organization was transformational.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Bob Kirk,” Morrell said. “Bob was the former chairman of the Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund board, and his leadership and unwavering dedication profoundly shaped TMBF. His legacy of service to all Tennesseans will continue to inspire us.”
Kirk was also recognized on the local level for his dedication to Dyersburg. He was selected as the Dyersburg-Dyer County Man of the Year in 1993 and was selected as a 2013-14 inductee to the Dyersburg High School Hall of Fame.
During his tenure on the Dyersburg board, he saw the growth of several large manufacturers and industry as well as retail and small businesses. He oversaw the opening of a five-lane road between the city and downtown toe ase traffic issues and improvements to the local school system and opening of a new library.
A native of Dyer County, Kirk graduated from Dyersburg High School in 1955, having earned a reputation for playing on the school’s basketball team, participating in Future Farmers of America, and in numerous public speaking roles in school. He served for four years at the U.S. Air Force and enrolled in Memphis State University before going to work for Colonial Rubberworks in 1960. He served the company in human resources and public relations for 33 years before retiring in 1997 and also worked in healthcare consulting and owned two local restaurant franchises.
Kirk has also been involved in various local organizations including the Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, and local hospital board.
“I love this community, this entire area,” Kirk said upon reaching 50 years of service on the Dyersburg board. “I’ve been blessed by it, and I’ve continued to be re-elected all these years. When I came out of the Air Force in the 1960s, I knew I wanted to become involved in this community. I knew I was going to make it my home. My opportunity in public service was to help this community grow, develop and be a better place to work and play. My desire and commitment have remained strong.”
Kirk is survived by his son Carter and three grandchildren. He was predeceased by his daughter Allison.