NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Republican political committee GOPAC has given its lifetime achievement award to Tennessee Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, who is retiring from the Legislature this year.

The group that recruits and trains GOP political candidates announced Tuesday that it had chosen Ramsey for the award because of his dedication to educating and electing the next generation of Republican leaders.

The Blountville auctioneer served two terms in the state House before being elected to the Senate in 1996, and rose to lead Republicans as they first chipped away at Democratic power in the state. His election as Senate speaker in 2007 marked the first time a Republican had held that leadership post since Reconstruction.

Republicans now hold large majorities in the Legislature and control of both the executive and judiciary branches of government.

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