Randy Smith
The past few days has not been good for Chattanooga's radio listeners. US-101's "Bearman" passed away last week and this morning WDEF's legendary Luther Masingill passed away at the age of 92.
Two of the most successful morning men in our city's radio history both leave us within a few days of each other. Both men leave a legacy of caring and community involvement more than anything else they will be remembered for.
I first met Luther Masingill on February 19th, 1978.
I remember the day because it was my first day as the sports director for WDEF radio and TV. After being on the air with Luther for a few minutes that morning, Luther took me to lunch at the Mount Vernon on Broad Street, obviously one of his favorite places to eat. We had an enjoyable lunch with a few of the other television employees at WDEF. I had heard of Luther before; he was someone who totally dominated the radio ratings in those days.
There would always be a newcomer on one of the other radio stations in town who would come in all fired-up about beating Luther in the ratings. I remember one in particular who went by the name "Chucker."
He told me one day that he would beat Luther in just one book. We all know what happened; "Chucker" was gone in a few months, while Luther continued to build his wonderful legacy at WDEF.
Luther spent 74 years on the air at WDEF. In fact, he is the only broadcaster in history to have reported on the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, and the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2001. In the last three years, Luther was elected to the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame as well as the National Radio Hall of Fame.
Back before there was Facebook, Twitter or any other type of social media, Luther was the source for important weather announcements and school closings. If Luther didn't say your school was closed, you needed to get up and get there, anyway you could. He was also famous for reuniting lost pets with their owners. He even helped the Smith family find a lost dog or two through the years; one just a few years ago.
Luther was one of the most respected and loved men I ever knew. About twenty years ago, my great friend and former boss, the late Bill Nash and I were talking in his office at WDEF, when Luther stopped by. Bill promptly got up and walked over to Luther and kissed him on the top of his head. When Luther left, I asked Bill why he kissed him on the head. Bill replied, "Because the ratings came in and Luther's numbers were completely out of sight. So when ever any of the sales people here at WDEF see Luther, we all kiss him on the top of his head."
I said, "Oh I see. But why do you look so down? You really need to be happy about that."
Nash said, " Yeah I know, but if Luther's ratings get any better, we're gonna have to start kissing his butt."
Caring about people, caring about Chattanooga, and doing a great public service; things that Luther Masingill had been doing for 74 years. It's time to rest now my friend. And tell "Bearman" and Bill Nash I said hello.
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Randy Smith has been covering sports on radio, television and print for the past 45 years. After leaving WRCB-TV in 2009, he has written two books, and has continued to free-lance as a play-by-play announcer. He is currently teaching Broadcasting at Coahulla Creek High School near Dalton, Ga.
His career has included a 17-year stretch as host of the Kickoff Call In Show on the University of Tennessee’s prestigious Vol Network. He has been a member of the Vol Network staff for thirty years.
He has done play-by-play on ESPN, ESPN II, CSS, and Fox SportSouth, totaling more than 500 games, and served as a well-known sports anchor on Chattanooga Television for more than a quarter-century.
In 2003, he became the first television broadcaster to be inducted into the Greater Chattanooga Area Sports Hall of Fame. Randy and his wife Shelia reside in Hixson. They have two married children, (Christi and Chris Perry; Davey and Alison Smith.) They have four grandchildren, Coleman, Boone, DellaMae and CoraLee.
To contact Randy: rsmithsports@epbfi.com