UNION CITY, Tenn. (AP) -- Milton Hugh Hamilton Jr., former majority leader of the Tennessee Senate who served as both a Democrat and Republican and later was appointed Commissioner of Environment and Conservation, has died. He was 75.

According to an obituary provided by the White Ranson Funeral Home in Union City, Hamilton died Friday at a Nashville hospital after a long illness.

The Union City Daily Messenger reports Hamilton was first elected as a Democrat to the state House of Representatives in 1964, then moved to the Senate in 1968. He became the Democratic majority leader in 1977 and served in that role for 10 years.

Hamilton changed parties in 1995 after supporting Republican Don Sundquist for Tennessee governor. Sundquist appointed Hamilton to the environment post after the election, a position he held until 2003.

He is survived by two sons, David Hamilton and Milton Hugh Hamilton III, and a daughter, Ann Barrett Hamilton of Broomfield, Colo. Services are scheduled for Sunday with visitation to be held Saturday.

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