Roscoe Dixon, a longtime member of the General Assembly from Memphis and one of several legislators ensnared in the Justice Department’s “Tennessee Waltz” sting in 2005, died Thursday night, according to family members. He was 71.
Dixon was convicted of taking a bribe from a fictitious computer organization operated by the FBI that sought to purchase his vote. He was convicted in federal court in 2006 and spent several years in prison. At the time he was arrested, he had left the legislature, where he had served both on the House of Representatives and the Senate, and was working as an aide to then-Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton.
Though the bribe Dixon accepted was considerably less than the amount received by several other lawmakers entrapped in the sting, his sentence was longer than many of theirs, essentially because he insisted on a defense in court, pleading not guilty.
After his release, Dixon worked hard at rehabilitation and often appeared before the Memphis City Council and Shelby County Commission on behalf of goals of the NAACP. He was a principal of the Memphis Health Center and CAAP, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.
Dixon was remembered fondly by many of his former colleagues in government. The Senate Democratic Caucus released this statement: “Senator Dixon was born in the tiny of town of Gilmore, Arkansas and he rose to the highest levels of government in his chosen home state of Tennessee. Just as he served his country in the Army and his state in the Tennessee Army National Guard, Dixon was deeply committed to serving his community. Sen. Dixon had kindness and duty in his heart. We wish his family and loved ones peace at this time.”
Several members of the state House of Representatives also offered testimonials. That of State Rep. Karen Camper, House Minority Leader, was typical: ““I learned from him here in the Legislature and from when we both served on the Memphis NAACP board. Roscoe Dixon was dedicated to community service and was a consummate servant to the people. He will be missed.”
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland also reacted: “Sorry to hear that former state Senator Roscoe Dixon has passed. He was always gracious and encouraging to me, including two years ago when I knocked on his door campaigning. He invited us in for 30 minutes of reminiscing — a great memory today.”
