Alex Guerry found success at every twist and turn of his life, be it in academics, sports, business, or service to our country. As valedictorian of the Baylor School class of 1935, he was the best at a very young age. Guerry then enrolled at the University of the South, where he continued accumulating honors and awards. Once again his class valedictorian, Guerry was also a two-time Tennessee intercollegiate athletic champion. Guerry entered the army as aviation cadet in 1941, where to no-one’s surprise he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He came home to Chattanooga in 1945, having garnered many combat decorations, including the Presidential Unit Citation with four clusters. Guerry joined the Chattem Drug & Chemical Company as assistant secretary in 1946, and by 1958, he was chairman of the board. His success in sports, as well as business, continued as an adult. Guerry was Chattanooga Tennis Singles Champion ten times and doubles champion a staggering twenty times! As a senior, he was Southern champion in 1964 and Tennessee champion twice. With his son, Zan, Guerry twice won the National Father and Son Doubles Tournament. In handball, Guerry was the Chattanooga city champion ten times. He took up racquetball as a senior, and guess what? He was Chattanooga senior champion three times, and national runner-up twice. A man who worked his way to the top in all aspects of his life, Chattanooga’s Alex Guerry leaves the legacy of a true champion.
