Dr. Thomas Howard Winn

Dr. Thomas Howard Winn, a noted Clarksville Historian and Professor Emeritus of History at Austin Peay State University was born on November 15, 1940, and died on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at his residence at the age of 85.

Howard was the son of tobacconist Richard Morrow Winn and Dorothy Cornelius Winn of Clarksville, TN. He is predeceased by his parents, a brother Richard Morrow Winn Sr. of Raleigh, North Carolina, and a sister Ruth Winn Cayce of Hopkinsville, Ky.

On July 27, 1968, he married Patricia Gupton Winn before starting work on his Doctorate degree at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He is the father of Merry Elizabeth Winn. Other relatives surviving him are nephews Richard Morrow Winn Jr., Joe Winn; and three nieces; Beth Cayce Keeling, Susan Cayce Joiner and Nancy Cayce Hilburn.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 21, 2026, at McReynolds Nave & Larson Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery in the Winn family plot.

Dr. Winn served 3 years in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He truly loved and supported Clarksville throughout his life; he was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church. Dr. Winn was the founder of the Clarksville-Montgomery Co. Historical Museum, later named Customs House Museum. He was appointed by both the City Mayor and County Executive to develop the museum. The Museum board elected Dr. Winn to serve two terms as the Chairman of the Board.

Dr. Winn was the chairman for developing Fort Defiance Historical Site and Preservation Center and President of the Historical Society, several times and served as Chairman of Main Street Clarksville. Dr. Winn alongside artist Peg Harvill worked hard to save APSU's Harned Hall from Demolition.

He played a large role in the Work on the River Exhibit (River Flows). Dr. Winn also was involved in many tours around Clarksville, the Heritage Tours and Civil War Signage and Tours. Dr. Winn has co-authored A History of Austin Peay State University, 1806-2001, researched and wrote chapters in Historic Clarksville: The Bicentennial Story, and coauthored Clarksville Tennessee in the Civil War: A Chronology.

Dr. Winn wrote this before his passing…

I wish to be remembered above all for my love and devotion for my beloved wife, Patricia

For my love for our daughter, Merry

My efforts to preserve and protect the heritage of the Clarksville-Montgomery Co. community.

My service as a History Professor on the faculty of ASPU from 1971-2003

My efforts to promote the idea of citizenship and mutual responsibility in an honest democratic society with true accountability.

Condolences may be made online at Navefuneralhomes.com

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Thomas Winn's memory to the Austin Peay State University Foundation. Contributions can be made online at https://givetoapsu.com/winn. Alternatively, checks can be mailed to APSU Foundation, PO Box 4417, Clarksville, TN 37044. Please makes checks payable to APSU Foundation and include "In Memory of Thomas Winn" in the memo line. Contributions may also be made to Montgomery County Historical Society for historical preservation at PO Box 262, Clarksville, TN 37031-0262.