Marshall Tate Polk III

Nashville - Marshall (“Shag”) Polk, age 86, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on June 22, 2023. He was born on June 5, 1937 to the late Marshall Tate Polk Jr. and Anne Shaw Polk. Marshall was married to Sandra Murray Polk and is survived by their two daughters Elizabeth Page Polk and Murray Polk Smartt (Pryor) as well as three grandchildren - Jack, Sarah, and Elizabeth Smartt. Surviving him also are his sisters - Suzanne Polk Roberts (Roy) of Monroe, GA and Mary Prue Polk Alley (Roy) of Nashville, TN in addition to many nieces and nephews.

Marshall was a lifelong Nashvillian with deep Tennessee roots dating back to his great-great uncle, President James K. Polk. He attended Hillsboro High School and was a member of the golf and basketball teams. While on the basketball team, he was tagged with the nickname “Shag” and that name stuck for life.

He attended Vanderbilt University, played on the VU golf team and was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. In his own words, he graduated “Magna Cum Lucky”. His love of Vanderbilt Athletics continued throughout his lifetime. He never forgot the victorious 1982 VU vs. UT football game in the rain or the countless basketball games or more recently, the Tim Corbin era of Vandy baseball!

Upon graduation from Vanderbilt, he began a career in insurance with Richard M. Miller and Co. Eventually, he started his own agency as a partner in Polk & Sullivan. With its success, Polk & Sullivan became a member of a prestigious organization of insurance companies and agencies which met annually at The Greenbrier - an event he truly loved!

His deep love for the game of golf culminated in his annual pilgrimage to The Masters golf tournament. Shag and a high school friend skipped school their senior year to go to the The Masters in 1955, and he would subsequently go to 64 more Masters tournaments after that. He was also an original member of The Golf Club of Tennessee and a member of the Tennessee Golf Association.

The YMCA was his lifelong passion. For many years, he served on the Boards of the Downtown YMCA, the YMCA of Middle Tennessee, and the Foundation Board. He was the recipient of the 2004 H.G. Hill Jr. Philanthropic Award. He co-chaired the Vision 2020 Capital campaign for the Downtown YMCA and the “Shag Polk” indoor track was so named in his honor.

He thoroughly enjoyed his summers with his family in Monteagle at “Polk ‘n Along” (as a member of the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly). He and a few friends began the tradition of the annual “Shenanigans Run” on July 4th.

As a member of a founding family of St. George’s Parish, he remained devoted to St. George’s and later served on the Vestry of St. George’s Episcopal Church.

In addition, he was a member of Belle Meade Country Club and served on its Board, National Commodore Club, and West End Sertoma Club.

Visitation was held at St. George’s Episcopal Church on Tuesday, June 27 with the service following.

Memorials may be made to the Downtown YMCA, 1000 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37203, the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly, P.O. Box 307, Monteagle, TN 37356, or St. George’s Episcopal Church, 4715 Harding Road, Nashville, TN 37205.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.marshalldonnellycombs.com for the Polk family.