W.J. Michael (Mike) Cody who served under President Jimmy Carter as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee from 1977 to 1981, died in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee on Sunday, September 15, 2024, after a long illness. He was 88.

Although he was a well-known and influential progressive Democrat, Cody’s service
transcended partisan politics, and he was well respected by both parties. He was
appointed Attorney General of Tennessee in 1984, a position he held for four years, by then governor, Lamar Alexander, a Republican. He was later appointed by Democratic governor Phil Bredesen to co-chair the Tennessee Commission on Ethics.

Nor did he play partisan politics while serving as U.S. Attorney. In 1980 his office indicted Democratic State Representative Emmitt Ford on insurance fraud charges. Ford, who was sent to prison upon conviction, was the brother of Memphis Congressman Harold Ford for whom Cody had served as campaign coordinator in 1974. Cody partnered with prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Nashville to bring bid-rigging charges against members of Governor Ray Blanton’s family, involving Blanton-owned construction companies. The corruption was later dramatized in the movie “Marie” starring Sissy Spacek as a whistle blower in the then governor’s office.

Cody figured prominently in the history and politics of Tennessee during his long career. He was one of six lawyers representing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during his 1968 Memphis visit. In fact, he met with Dr. King at the Lorraine Motel not long before King was assassinated while in the city to support striking sanitation workers. Following Dr, King’s death, Cody and Memphis pastor James Lawson formed a neighborhood legal services operation to offer free aid to the sanitation workers. The organization expanded into what is now known as Memphis Legal Services.

Cody graduated from Rhodes College in 1958 and received his law degree from the
University of Virginia in 1961. He was an avid runner who participated in many Boston
Marathons and was an avid reader. He served on the boards of several high-profile
organizations, including the National Civil Rights Museum, and he was often hired as
technical advisor on Hollywood legal thrillers, including “The Firm” with Tom Cruise. He was the local legal representative for the Rolling Stones when they performed at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis in 1994.

In 2012, Cody stepped in as the keynote speaker at the NAFUSA annual conference in
Atlanta when the scheduled speaker unexpectedly became ill. According to then Executive Director Rich Rossman, Cody gave “…one of the most memorable speeches ever heard at the annual meetings.” Rossman added, “Cody’s intense description of the last two days of Dr. King’s life affected everyone in the room.”

Cody was devoted to his family. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Susanna; two
daughters, Jane Cody and Mia Cody; a son, Michael Cody; three grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren.

In keeping with NAFUSA tradition, a flag was flown over the Department of Justice on
Tuesday, September 17, 2024, in his honor and will be presented to his family.