He graduated from Ripley High School in 1968, where he played varsity baseball, football, and basketball.

Fitzhugh is active in the Tennessee Banker's Association, where he previously served as chairman of the statewide organization.

He also remains active in the legal community where he was formerly a member of the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility.

[6][7] He ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2018, losing to former Nashville mayor Karl Dean in the primary on August 2, 2018.

He was instrumental in passage of the Complete College Act, led the fight for expansion of Medicaid and the rejection of vouchers for Tennessee schools.

[12] Tennessee was previously one of 31 states that allowed a rapist, whose crime resulted in pregnancy, to sue the survivor for custody of said child.

[13] In 2015, Fitzhugh introduced HB 554/SB 1121 which sought to terminate the parental rights of a rapist upon conviction for that crime from which a child resulted.

[14] Fitzhugh served as a Judge Advocate General in the United States Air Force from 1976 to 1980 and achieved the rank of captain.

He also served in the United States Air Force Reserve from 1980 to 1988 and achieved the rank of major.