Chattanooga Has Lost Its Most Popular Citizen - Luther Masingill - And Response

  • Monday, October 20, 2014

Chattanooga has lost its most popular citizen – Luther Masingill.

Although we are saddened we cherish the memories. 

All of us have a Luther story. 

Mine is the first time I met Luther.  This was before TV and all of Chattanooga listened to Luther on the radio.  I was 12-years-old.  Some of my buddies and I had gone to the State Theater in downtown Chattanooga to see a movie.  Lo and behold there in the lobby was Luther.  We were star struck.  I’m sure we were all just staring at him with our mouths open.  To us it was like seeing the President of the United States or the King of England. 

Luther saw us staring and walked over and said “How are you boys?”  We said, “Fine” but were speechless after that.  He asked us were we went to school and what our names were.  We told him our names and that we went to Mountain Creek School.  He said, “You haven’t got any pretty little girls over there that you have your eye on have you,” and he chucked with that half smile.  That broke the ice and after that we had a good conversation. 

Since that time I have had many occasions to be around Luther.  He has always been cheerful and uplifting.  I never heard him say a negative word about anyone.  He never used profanity. 

How fortunate his co-workers were to have worked with him.  They say he was always pleasant and upbeat and re-charged their day. 

Congratulations to all that knew him and those that knew him through the radio and television.  Just by his nature he touched our lives. 

I work second shift and I would make it a point each day to watch Luther at noon on Channel 12.  His personality was contagious and after watching him I was always in a better mood. 

Luther had a great life.  He served his country; he worked at a job he loved and a job where he could help people.  He had a wonderful family and friends.  He lived long enough so that society could pay homage to him for his achievements and he left with no enemies.  He also was pretty healthy right up until the end.  He was only ill for a little while.   Just long enough so that he could say goodbye to those he loved.  He was a good, decent, Christian man. 

We will all miss you Luther. 

Russell Bean 

* * * 

It was an honor to have met Chattanooga's Best All-time Broadcast Personality. My condolences to Luther's family and friends. 

Pastor Bernie Miller, D.Div.
New Covenant Fellowship Church

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