Duard Ray Sullivan

Sullivan, Duard Ray, age 80 of Nashville TN on 9/10/13. Survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Susan Stephenson Sullivan; his children, Lynn (Charlie) Woodall, Mark (Trudy) Sullivan, and Steve (Debbie) Sullivan; and his nine grandchildren, Haley Woodall, Meghan Woodall, Baker Woodall, Ben Woodall, Shaye Sullivan, Clay Sullivan, Sam Sullivan, Jeannie Sullivan, and Stephen Sullivan. Born in rural Todd County, KY, he was preceded in death by his mother, Ona Brown of Hopkinsville, KY, and brother, Kenneth Sullivan of Bowling Green, KY. Raised in Hopkinsville, he graduated from Hopkinsville High School. Graduated from Centre College in Danville, KY in 1956 as the first member of his family to ever attend college. He started a long, successful career in the livestock industry at the Nashville Union Stockyards. In 1972, he was one of the founding partners of the Dickson Livestock Center, in Dickson, Tennessee, which he helped grow into one of the largest stockyards in the state. He was active in all facets of the cattle business throughout the country serving as President of the Livestock Marketing Association in 1983 and served as a director of both the National Livestock and Meat Board and the Meat Export Federation. He was a founding board member of the Tennessee Beef Industry Council where he served as initial chairman and as a director for many years. His foresight and knowledge on all industry matters were recognized nationwide. He was an active member of Immanuel Baptist Church since 1958 where he served in countless leadership positions. He will be remembered by many as an outstanding tennis player throughout the Southeast who was known as an outstanding competitor and an enjoyable partner. He was a constant supporter of all things to do with Centre College, an institution whose ideals he loved and honored. A funeral service will be held at Immanuel Baptist Church, Nashville, TN at 11:00 on Tuesday, 9/17/13 with a graveside service to be held afterwards at Harpeth Hills Cemetery. A visitation will be held at the church on Monday, 9/16/13 from 5:00 – 8:00 in the evening. The family requests in lieu of flowers that gifts be made in Duard’s memory to either Centre College or Immanuel Baptist Church.