Corporate executive, Angel startup investor and prominent Williamson County Republican Edward Douglas Grindstaff Sr. of Brentwood died October 2 at age 85.

He was born in Knoxville in 1940 to J. Edward Grindstaff and Joey Ruth Pinyon Grandstaff, described as descendants of pioneers who entered the region while it was still Federal and-or North Carolina territory.

Grindstaff's survivors include his wife, Rose Miller Grindstaff, his sister Wanda J. Rietdorf, and four adult children--E. Douglas Grindstaff II (Tammy), Melinda M. McAlindon (Lance), Justin E. Miller (Katy), and Kimberly M. Pitt, as well as 12 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Among other posts, the elder Grindstaff was a former president of the Toronto-based Canadian business of The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE), based in Cincinnati. 

Douglas Grindstaff Sr. (ca. 1993)

He began his P&G career in manufacturing management and is said to have earned his stripes by negotiating reduction of union work rules and improvement of related measures in manufacturing operations, resulting in production cost reductions and increased P&G market capitalization.

At P&G, he is also said to have responded to environmental concerns by spurring innovation of containers that reduced numbers of plastic bottles going into landfills, according to an obituary prepared by his family and confirmed by staff of Woodlawn-Roesch Patton.

His career also included serving as CEO of Nashville-based footwear company Genesco Inc. (NYSE:GCO), fka Jarman Shoe Company.

As summarized by Encyclopedia.com, Grindstaff's M&A and organic growth efforts inside Genesco met topline success, but market volatility linked to Western boot fashion trends took its toll.

Grindstaff was also an independent investor.

For example, he once took an early-stage executive role in a lifescience entrant -- originally called NuMeta Sciences -- that was founded in Knoxville, moved to Nashville, and received investment from Nashville-based VCs Mountain Group Capital, TriStar Technology Ventures, Hatteras Venture Partners, and others. Related SEC.

Tennessee state records indicate that the Delaware-registered firm--now known as NuSirt Sciences--in mid-2024 began doing business as NuSirt Health and changed its principle office to Harper's Ferry, W.Va., the principle office location of the firm's president, Alexander "Zan" Fleming MD, a former FDA official. 

In 2010, Grindstaff Sr. was recognized by joint resolution of the 106th Tennessee General Assembly for his professional achievements, public service, his efforts to advance the Republican Party in Williamson County and beyond, his insistence on fiscal responsibility in government, and his advocacy for "preservation of conservative values." 

The honor was put forward by now-Majority Leader of the Tennessee Senate Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Williamson County).

Grindstaff was once chairman of the Williamson County Republican Party, as well as a conservative columnist for the Williamson County Herald.

In 2018, he was name a statewide co-chair Randy Boyd's primary campaign for Governor of Tennessee, a losing effort against Williamson County resident and now-Gov. Bill Lee.

In 2017, he was named treasurer for the initial congressional campaign of U.S. Rep. Mark Green MD (TN-7), who is completing his term and recently became a consultant on international business development with Prosimos.

During his P&G years, Grindstaff was named Marketer of the Year in Canada; and, during his during his Genesco tour he was named Marketer of the Year by the Academy of Market Science.

Grindstaff also held seats among the boards of directors of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Cumberland Science Museum, and the Nashville Symphony Association.

He also served on an advisory board of St. Thomas Hospital, and engaged as a volunteer in support of the United Way, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and Boy Scouts of America.

Rose Grindstaff, Doug Granstaff II and others in the extended family have entrepreneurial and-or other business ties. Rose Grindstaff's LinkedIn profile indicates her prior work through two professional services firms.

Doug Granstaff II's LinkedIn shows that--in addition to having served more than two years as CEO for the aforementioned NuSirt Sciences--he held senior roles with Sylvan Learning, Randy Boyd's Radio Systems Corp and other businesses. He holds a bachelor's in engineering from Purdue University. VNC

.last edited 5 October 2025 2033