posted October 12, 2008
Luther, you're probably lucky that the City Council won't name a section of a a street after you. You'd probably be inundated with calls from people complaining about the potholes in it, and I don't think you want that.
You really deserve better after your many, many years of service to Chattanooga.
Actually, I find it ludicrous that the City Council's argument is that it can't name streets after a living person. Well, excuse me, but don't we have parts of roads in honor of Usher and Venus, and I think they're still breathing. If my memory serves me correctly, C.B. Robinson was still alive when a whole bridge was named after him.
I know that "back when" Chattanooga State had named a building after Gov. Ray Blanton. The powers-that-be decided that wasn't such a good idea after the clemency-for-cash scandal, and they changed the name.
I know that UTC was going to name a building after Ward Crutchfield until he got busted in the Tennessee Waltz sting. That change of mind is somewhat understandable and for some debatable, but, come on, Luther is a living legend, and he should be honored while he can get the accolades that he deserves in person.
Maybe a star in front of the Tivoli Theatre, as Councilwoman Sally Robinson suggested, is more appropriate, but while we're at it, let's honor Marcia Kling, too. "Miss Marcia" is one of the finest people I've ever been privileged to meet and know, and she has certainly touched more lives than Venus and Usher ever will.
Betsy Bramlett
Chattanooga
BBramlett@aol.com
* * *
Thank you for your letter, Betsy. I am writing as an individual, not in any official capacity with our company.
For the last 12 years, I have had the pleasure of working alongside Luther Massingale. When I first met Luther, I was in my early 20's and somewhat in awe. Luther was somewhere in his early 70's, rumors of his potential retirement looming as they have probably been since the 1970's. I tiptoed around Luther in the early days of my employ, not sure if he was approachable.
I can understand why the city would have a predisposition not to name a public thoroughfare or structure after a living person, for said living person might make a mistake or otherwise bring dishonor to the project. A rule offering only memorial pronouncements rather than honorariums makes sense.
However, this is a very different person. This is someone whose position in our community will likely never be repeated again. I'm not sure a street is enough, and the idea of a star in front of the Tivoli lightly begins to recognize what this city owes to this man. Luther is not a politician capable of somehow betraying the public trust in the twilight of his career. Luther is likely the most trusted person in the region, has no contact with public finance and is perhaps the most honorable coworker I have ever known.
Luther is likely the only living broadcaster to announce Pearl Harbor, the Kennedy Assassination, 9/11 and the election of 13 presidents (as of a few weeks from now) over a single set of call letters. He came to WDEF Radio in 1940 where he remains today. As the story has been repeated many times, he left only to serve his country during wartime.
Working across the hall at 96.5 the Mountain (WDOD-FM), I've worked at a few radio stations in my career. WDEF/WDOD is where I have been employed for over half my 19 years, and likely will be where I stay in radio until they're tired of me or I find some other calling. Luther was only getting started after his 19 years, which he completed by 1959.
Luther gives me a healthy dose of amazement and amusement every day. He wants to be treated like "one of the guys," and has a sense of humor that is often masked by his calm, fatherly on-air persona. Luther is a co-worker to us, he is a friend, family member and above all he is an honorable Chattanoogan.
Crossing seven decades, this one man has brought information and joy to hundreds of thousands of people – many living their entire lives from start to finish with Luther at the helm of their favorite radio station. We are so accustomed to Luther's presence, and the rumors of his imminent retirement have been batted around for so long, that the concept of creating some memorial for him "someday" is just unthinkable.
Luther deserves a strong honor, during his lifetime, that goes beyond the typical proclamation or key to the city. He's received all the industry awards and is a humble man, yet those of us close to him know he still enjoys and deserves the attention he receives. One need only run across Luther at a restaurant to see how he is treated by the community. He is a beloved figure, and a once in a lifetime gift to those of us who call the Chattanooga area home.
I've asked Luther what he thinks about the possibility of retirement, and he shudders at the mention. He is a broadcaster and has no intention of finding something else to do in his golden years. He laments the fate of contemporaries who retired much younger. He works. It's what he does, and it's what he intends to do as long as he is capable. I hope he has numerous years remaining to continue performing his craft. He climbs the same 20 stairs I do to our studios every day, and takes fewer days off.
If anyone knew how we joked with Luther at work or the gags we've pulled on him, we might be run out of town. He revels in a good prank and enjoys passing along his many well rehearsed stories. I often tell Luther that his dog and cat act is getting old, and it's time for some new material. If we don't kid around with Luther, it offends him. He doesn't want to be treated like some relic or person of yesteryear, and he is a reminder to all of us that a long, productive life doesn't require you to stop doing what you love at any age. Luther is an example on many levels.
If another "Luther" started his or her career today, it would be 2077 before this discussion would be possible again. That's long enough to bend a city ordinance, just 23 years shy of the next century's turn.
Luther is not big on pomp and circumstance, and would rather be left alone to do his job and not be constantly reminded just how long he's done it. He's content serving his church, working in radio and television, seeing his friends and keeping us supplied with the in-season fruit of the day from his favorite produce stand.
Yet, this is a very special man who deserves an outstanding and permanent public honor.
A substantial and oft-visited public structure should be named after Luther, one which will endure as far forward as the time Luther has already devoted to this city. A city event marking such recognition should be planned and publicized, with those close to Luther given the opportunity to have their words heard in his presence. He probably won't speak to me for a week if he finds out I wrote this.
Politicians worthy of note will come and go like the wind, and so will dozens of other broadcasters like me who enjoy ordinary careers.
Luther Massingale, however, is unique to our city and our nation. Last year I did a relatively exhaustive broadcast search trying to find someone, anyone, who had served a single city anywhere in North America for as long as Luther. I couldn't find one.
I cannot speak for my company, which respects Luther greatly. I can also not speak for Luther.
I can only speak for myself, and I am truly grateful to have had a decade to spend enjoying this terrific person as a co-worker.
All I can ask is that the city take stock of this lifelong public servant and find an appropriate way to honor his nearly 70 years of broadcasting, in such a manner that Chattanoogans will remember his dedication and service for many years to come.
Luther's career is still well underway with no sign of slowing.
This is a perfect time for us to gather, show him how much his career still means to this city, and look forward to his service as long as he wishes to continue his amazing story.
Perhaps all we have to offer him is a high traffic building or roadway. Maybe that's all we've got.
However, in Luther, we have someone deserving to drive that roadway or see that building while he remains Chattanooga's most active senior broadcaster.
The people who deserve memorials the least are the ones who ask for them or expect them. The people who deserve them the most are ones who will devote seven solid decades to the benefit of their hometown, ask for nothing, and give us everything.
Recognizing Luther in this manner has nothing to do with creating an edifice to one individual's extended career. It has to do with everything that has happened to and for Chattanooga since 1940, and the fact this single individual has called the play-by-play of this city's every move since FDR's second term. It has to do with every senior citizen who decides they are relevant and determined to keep contributing long after society's generally accepted age of retirement. It has to do with the thousands of people who, every day, find Luther's voice and manner of broadcasting comforting, useful to their lives and necessary after all these years. Let's not forget the man still commands a substantial share of the morning audience, proving his senior status has not diminished his stature.
Luther deserves nothing less than such a permanent honor during his lifetime. I am proud to call him a friend.
Jason Walker (Kibby)
Co-worker
WDEF/WDOD of Chattanooga
ringgold@gmail.com
P.S. If you see Luther, I didn't write this.
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