Claude Ramsey Retiring as Deputy to the Governor
UPDATED: 1:16 PM EDT
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam announced Wednesday that Deputy to the Governor Claude Ramsey will retire at the end of August to spend more time with his wife, children and grandchildren in Chattanooga.

Ramsey has been integral to Haslam on several key initiatives, including civil service reform, economic development efforts, workforce development training and improved operation of state government.

Claudes experience at the state and local levels of government and his common sense approach have been invaluable assets to our administration, and I am incredibly grateful to him and his wife, Jan, for their time in Nashville and commitment to the state of Tennessee.

When he joined the administration in January 2011, Ramsey agreed to serve as deputy to the governor for two years but has stayed on past his original commitment. Before joining the Haslam administration, Ramsey was in his fifth term as Hamilton County mayor, having played key roles in educational and economic successes in Southeast Tennessee.

Its been a true pleasure to work with the governor on the important issues of job growth, education reform and making Tennessee the best-run state in the country, Ramsey said. The governor is a man of integrity with a clear vision for the state, and I will do anything I can to help him in the future as he continues to serve.

Ramsey, 70, was elected to the General Assembly in 1972 where he served four years. He was the assessor of property in Hamilton County from 1980-1994 and was a county commissioner for two years. He served 16 years as Hamilton County mayor.

Ramseys last day on the job will be August 31.