Former Shelby County GOP chairman Bill Giannini dies in wreck

Dec. 15--A preliminary report released by the Tennessee Highway Patrol on Friday states local Republican leader Bill Giannini was killed when his car crossed the median and crashed head on into another vehicle on Interstate 40 in Decatur County.

Giannini, 49, whose home is listed in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., died in the Thursday afternoon accident near mile marker 125 between Jackson and Nashville.

The report states that Giannini was headed eastbound on Interstate 40 when his 2000 BMW "crossed through median entering the westbound lanes." Giannini's car "struck (a second vehicle) head on" before coming to rest down an embankment.

The driver of the second car -- Dennis Tolivar Jr., 33, of Cordova -- also was injured in the crash, according to the report. There was no additional information regarding Tolivar's injuries in the report.

Giannini was a former deputy commissioner of the state's Department of Commerce and Insurance and a key Republican player in Shelby County

He also was a former chairman of the Shelby County Election Commission and the Shelby County Republican Party. Lee Mills, the current chairman of the local Republican Party, and other party leaders confirmed Giannini's death late Thursday night.

"Bill was an outstanding individual and we have many fond memories of him," Mills said. "I will personally remember his enthusiasm, his quick wit and his infectious smile. Bill's work as Chairman of the Republican Party of Shelby County laid the groundwork for the successes we see today. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family during this difficult time."

In 2011, Gov. Bill Haslam appointed Giannini deputy commissioner of the state Department of Commerce and Insurance. He served in that position until earlier this year when he left to start his own consulting business -- Nashville-based Resolve Consulting.

Giannini also owned Little Italy Pizza, according to his LinkedIn social media profile.

Giannini ran unsuccessfully for executive chairman of the state Republican Party in 2016, a position eventually won by Scott Golden.

Nelia Dempsey, a research assistant for state Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, was among those posting their thoughts on social media. The two had worked together in campaigns and Dempsey, who is the regional political director for gubernatorial candidate Diane Black, said she had already contacted Giannini for his help in the Congresswoman's campaign for the governor's office.

"Wish you would answer your phone tonight," Dempsey wrote. "I am so heartbroken. We drove each other crazy working for Leader Norris but that's what best friends do. We just sat together last night at the East Shelby Republican meeting. I will miss our texts, calls and laughs just about every day. Rest In Peace Bill, I will miss you."

This is the second time Giannini was involved in a fatal crash on Interstate 40 over the past five years.

In 2012, Giannini was involved in a three-car crash where an 8-year-old boy, Quindarious McGhay, was killed.

This chain-reaction crash happened on Dec. 21, 2012, near the Fayette County line.

In July 2013, the Shelby County District Attorney's office declined to file charges against Giannini saying that there was "insufficient evidence."

Reaction and condolences from across the state and across political parties regarding Giannini's death was swift.

Rep. Antonio Parkinson, D-Memphis, said he corresponded with Giannini via text messages about a policy question during a committee meeting in Nashville on Thursday morning. On Parkinson's way back to Memphis, he ran into traffic congestion -- only to realize later that it was caused by the same wreck that claimed Giannini's life.

Parkinson recalled working together on cosmetology legislation when Giannini was a deputy commissioner, saying he grew to respect him, despite political differences.

"He was a good guy. Very fond of him," Parkinson said. "... It just came as a shock."

Congressman David Kustoff, a Republican from Germantown, said in a statement that he was "deeply saddened" by the loss of Giannini, a "strong voice for the Volunteer State."

"We will never forget his humor and unmatched positivity," Kustoff said in the statement.

Reach Ryan Poe at poe@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter at @ryanpoe.

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