Washington, D.C. (March 27, 2025) – BGR Group today announced that Lanny Griffith, a Founding Partner of the firm, has passed away after a brief battle with cancer. Lanny helped guide BGR Group from its earliest days by maintaining a consistent focus on the firm’s clients and their needs. A devoted husband to Susan and father to his daughter Sally Hamilton and late son David, Lanny was also deeply involved in the redevelopment of his hometown, Corinth, Mississippi, and an active and proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi. He was also a dedicated member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia.
“Lanny was a genuine friend, a great tactician, and a true leader,” BGR Group Founding Partner Haley Barbour said. “His love for his family and the state of Mississippi are unmatched. Lanny was always working and finding ways to give back to the people and places that meant the most to him. He never forgot where he came from — and we will never forget him.”
“BGR is what it is today because of Lanny’s hard work and vision,” BGR Group Chairman and CEO Bob Wood said. “He was a leader in our firm and our community. He was always focused on helping others and being a good colleague, neighbor, and friend. Lanny and Susan are among the most generous people I have ever known. He will forever be remembered as an advocate and a leader and be dearly missed by his family and many friends.”
During his time in government and the private sector, Lanny helped assemble industry coalitions and successfully battled some of strongest and best-funded advocacy operations in Washington. Lanny joined BGR Group in 1993 after serving in several roles in the administration of President George H.W. Bush. On Jan. 20, 1989, Lanny was sworn in as Special Assistant to the President in the East Room of the White House, serving as President Bush’s liaison to governors and other statewide elected officials. At the White House, he was a principal architect of President Bush’s 1989 Education Summit in Charlottesville, Va., and was involved in the development of the National Goals for Education.
In 1991, President Bush nominated Lanny to be Assistant Secretary of Education, and he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in February 1992. In this role, Lanny directed Secretary Lamar Alexander’s successful effort to build a national consensus around educational standards and testing. He also managed the launch of the G.I. Bill for Children and coordinated the administration’s role on the National Education Goals Panel.
Lanny also represented the U.S. on the Education Committee of the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. He also served as Co-Chairman of the Advisory Council on Dependent Education, which serves as the school board for all dependent schools worldwide under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Defense.
Lanny’s political career dated back to the early 1980s, when he worked for the Republican National Committee, managing then-candidate Haley Barbour’s U.S. Senate race in 1982. He also served as the Executive Director of the Mississippi Republican Party for three years. In 1988, he served as Southern Political Director for Vice President Bush’s presidential campaign. In this role, Lanny directed 10 states in the Super Tuesday primaries and 11 states in the general election. All 21 state efforts were victorious.
Lanny’s work for the Bush family continued with his role as national chairman of the Bush-Cheney 2000 Entertainment Task Force and entertainment coordinator for the 2001 Bush Inaugural. He later served as a Ranger as well as a member of the Bush 2004 National Finance Committee. In 1998, he was one of three transition directors for Florida Governor-elect Jeb Bush.
Lanny helped found the Trust for the National Mall and served on its Board of Directors for many years. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church and most recently served as Chairman of the Westminster Presbyterian Foundation.
Lanny received his undergraduate degree in accounting and JD from the University of Mississippi where he remained actively involved for many years. In 2023, a scholarship was established to support Ole Miss students from his hometown of Corinth, Mississippi. An avid student of American history, Lanny completed several renovations in the historic district of Corinth and continued to support the community there.
A funeral service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Alexandria on Friday, April 4th at 10:30 a.m.
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