Former Gov. Winfield Dunn, who in 1970 became the first Republican elected governor in more than 50 years, died Saturday at the age of 97. Gov. Bill Lee’s office announced Dunn’s death in a statement.

Former Tennessee Governor Winfield Dunn has passed away at the age of 97. Dunn became Tennessee’s first Republican governor in 1971; Dunn served one term as governor but went on to become a political mainstay in the GOP.

Dunn became the first Republican to serve as Governor in Tennessee in 50 years when he was elected in 1970, a position he held until 1975.

Winfield Dunn, who in 1971 became the state's first Republican governor in half a century, died on Saturday. He was 97. Though Dunn only served one term, he remained a stalwart of the Tennessee GOP over his lifetime, ushering in an era of increasing Republican success after decades of Democratic control in the state.