A Representative from Tennessee; born in Memphis, Shelby County, Tenn., May 24, 1949; graduated from Coral Gables Senior High School, Coral Gables, Fla., 1967; B.A., Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., 1971; J.D., University of Memphis, Memphis, Tenn., 1973; attorney, Memphis Police Department, 1975-1978; lawyer, private practice; vice-president, Tennessee state constitutional convention, 1977; Shelby County, Tenn., commissioner, 1978-1980; member of the Tennessee state senate, 1982-2006; delegate to the Democratic National Convention, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016; unsuccessful candidate for nomination to the One Hundred Fifth Congress in 1996; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Tenth and to the eight succeeding Congresses (January 3, 2007-present).