Bill McAfee
Bill H. McAfee, 84, of Chattanooga, died on Saturday, September 12, 2015.
Bill was born to the late Fulton M. McAfee and Lucille P. McAfee. He graduated from Red Bud High School in Gordon County, Ga., where he excelled in baseball, both during and after his high school career. He attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Bill served our country in the Georgia National Guard, completing his service as a first lieutenant. He was employed with Lockheed Aircraft in Marietta, Ga.
Bill began his public broadcasting career, for which his is best remembered, in 1960, at radio station, WCGA, in Calhoun, Ga., with a Southern Gospel recording program called “Supper Time.” He considered this to be one of the most enjoyable experiences in his media career path. Bill then moved to other radio stations, WBHF, Cartersville, Ga. and WCHK in Canton, Ga. In 1963, he moved to Channel 9, WTVC in Chattanooga, as a booth announcer and within the year, he and Gil Norwood began a two-man live newscast. Bill was with Channel 9 for 12½ years when he moved to Channel 12, WDEF.
In 1976, Bill was elected in the 27th District for State Representative to the Tennessee General Assembly, where he served for 24 years until his retirement in 2000. He considered one of his greatest accomplishments was extending Highway 27 (Coolidge Highway or Corridor J) from Signal Mountain Road onward to Spring City, Dunlap and moving toward the Kentucky line which took 14 years. The bridge passing over Morrison Springs Road in Red Bank along Highway 27 was dedicated to him on Sept. 21, 2000, for his efforts in extending this road.
Bill was the recipient of many civic and tourism-related accolades; he received the Knight of the Round Table Award for the Tennessee Tourism Industry in September of 2000. This was the only time this award was given to a person outside the actual tourism industry. He was the Hotel/Motel Tourism Leader of the year, 1999, appointed by the Governor of Tennessee as a representative for Tennessee on the National Trail of Tears Advisory Committee, chairman of the Board for Moccasin Bend Hospital, executive administrative assistant with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
Bill was a member of Red Bank Baptist Church. He enjoyed going out to eat and spending time his granddaughter, Caty who is now a senior at Georgia Tech. Bill enjoyed growing roses, fishing, watching baseball especially the Atlanta Braves and spending time with his beloved dog Molly.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Cindy McAfee, and a step-grandson, Ian Majoras.
Bill is survived by his wife, Janice McAfee; granddaughter, Caty Clark McAfee; step-children, Maureen Morrison and husband Jim, Kathleen Collins and husband Tim and Kevin McGregor and wife Jan; 15 step grandchildren and one step great-grandchild.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14, and 1-2 p.m. on Tuesday at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home.
A celebration of Bill’s life will follow at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at the funeral home chapel with Dr. Fred Steelman officiating.
Burial will be private in the family cemetery in Calhoun, Ga.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made in Bill’s name to American Heart Association, 519 East 4th Street, Chattanooga, Tn. 37403 or American Cancer Society, 6221 Shallowford Road, Suite 102, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.