Jack Maddin Bass Jr.

Preceded in death by parents, Mr. Jack Maddin Bass of Chattanooga and Mary Wilkes McKinney (“Polly”) Bass of Columbia and daughter Claire McBride Bass of Nashville

He is survived by his wife of thirty-seven years, Melinda Owen Bass, and his first wife Edith McBride Bass and their children, Leslie McKinney Bass, Meredith Bass Nelson (Charles), Lisa Bass Foote (Douglass), and Jean Maddin Bass; and Jack Maddin Bass III; three step-daughters Lulu Rogers Elam (John), Mary Rogers Smith (Jay), and Melinda Hampton Rogers; and sixteen grandchildren and step-grandchildren, Charles Nelson IV, Richard Sutton Bull IV, Douglass Gordon Foote III, Maddin McBride Nelson, Spencer Clifton Foote, Wilkes McKinney Bull, Mason Bass Foote, Savannah Rhea Solomon, Jake Keeler Solomon, Polly McBride Bass, Edith Mercer Bass, Jack Maddin Bass IV, Mary Hampton Elam Cook (Andrew), John Bernard Elam Jr., Logan Edward Smith, and Heather Melinda Smith.

Jack attended the Parmer School and graduated from the Culver Military Academy of Indiana in 1947. After graduating from the University of Virginia in 1951 he was recruited by and served his country in the Foreign Service. He then joined his father at J.M. Bass and Company where he gained his knowledge and insight for many future endeavors in private investment banking, particularly in the coal industry.

Jack took pleasure in being a life-long learner of wide-ranging subject knowledge, though most often he could be seen with volumes of modern American military history in hand. His memory allowed him effortlessly to refer to passages of text, and as a partner in conversation, he exercised his vast knowledge to teach historical context, a quality which family and friends say would have made him an admirable Professor.

Alongside his career path Jack kept busy with his six children. “Daddy” was passionate with his love for horses and ponies for his girls where together they enjoyed horse showing and fox hunting. With his son Jack he enjoyed wing shooting. Jack exhibited a love of sport in daily life, and was himself a model of fitness and a sportsman of considerable merit. Old friends may remember that his skill on horseback landed him a brief appearance as a stunt-man in the 1972 thriller Dear Dead Delilah. His wife Melinda and he both set out together on the grand sporting event circuits of steeplechasing and wing shooting, where the traveled the world and had they time of their lives together. These are their happiest memories.

Whether in hunting pinks or shooter’s kit, Jack never failed to cut a smart figure, and with such a welcoming ease in conversation and humorous anecdotes for every occasion, it is no wonder that his company was sought by so many. He shared his passions with many of his best friends and he encouraged his children and grandchildren alike to share in those passions and pursue their own.

Jack and Melinda were founding members of the Nashville Gun Club. He was a member of the Hillsboro Hounds, and The National Steeplechase Association. He served as a steward and time keeper for the Iroquois Steeplechase, a member of St. George’s Episcopal Church, Belle Meade Country Club, The English-Speaking Union, The Reading Room, and The Turf Club.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memoriam may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, 223 Rosa L Parks Ave #301, Nashville, TN 37203

(615) 782-7226. www.woundedwarriorproject.org

Visitation with the family will be Wednesday, August 19th at 9:30 am at St. George’s Episcopal Church, followed by a funeral service at 11 am. with interment to follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his twelve grandchildren.