I’m doing something a little different with this blog: I’m giving you a choice! If you love to read, please read my thoughts below on “Luther Day.” If you’d rather watch a video, in which I’m saying pretty much these exact words, you may scroll to the bottom, and see the YouTube video of my presentation to the Hamilton County Commission. Either way, I hope you’ll observe the first annual “Luther Day” on Monday March 9, by being an even nicer person than you usually are. Here goes, right after my favorite photo of Luther, from the 1970s: big smile, wide tie and all:
Luther in the 1970s
On October 20, 2014, we lost Luther Masingill, at the age of 92. We’ve missed him on WDEF radio and TV, looking for all those lost dogs. He was on the same time, same station since 1940; more than 74 years, interrupted only by his two-year stint in World War II. When you see a list of records that will never be broken, Luther’s longevity should rank at the very top.
Take it from me, or anyone else who works in radio or television. An announcing career is not one where many folks get a gold watch for 25 years of continuous service. Luther was the exception to the rule.
Luther could have taken his show just about anywhere. Big-city radio stations took notice. They said, “Maybe we should hire this Luther fellow do our morning show.” When they saw Luther’s eye-popping ratings, they tracked him down.
After all, this is the guy who made an entire city pull over to the side of the road one morning. As heavy snow began to fall, Luther helpfully advised his listeners to let some air out of their tires to gain more traction. As witnesses would later describe, main arteries like McCallie Avenue came to a standstill as everyone stopped, got out of their car and began deflating their tires. Can you imagine anyone, in any broadcast medium, having that sort of influence today?
Yet despite the offers from New York, Philadelphia and Milwaukee, Luther chose to stay put. His family was here, and he always appreciated WDEF for giving him a radio job at the age of 18, which was beyond his wildest dreams.
Luther at age 19, at the WDEF microphone
In recent years, this humble man started getting some much-deserved recognition. Part of South Broad Street was renamed in his honor, and he was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame, and the National Radio Hall of Fame. Every day someone thanked him for waking them up, for reuniting them with their pet, or for finding their car keys. Luther knew he was loved, and nothing made him happier than rising bright and early, driving to the studio so he could help brighten someone’s day, one person at a time.
Luther in 2013, pointing himself out in the Gordon Wetmore painting in the Hamilton County Commission meeting room.
That’s why I made a suggestion at Luther’s memorial service at Engel Stadium. Luther was widely known for his many acts of kindness. In my view, the best way to remember him on his birthday (March 9) each year is quite simple. Let’s act like Luther.
On that date, look for opportunities to make someone’s day. If you see that young mom struggling with a shopping cart, a baby, and several bags of groceries, maybe you can do the heavy lifting for her. How about the man standing on the sidewalk, holding a sign and waving folks into a local business? Odds are he doesn’t get paid much for that, but at least he’s making an honest living. If you have a few extra bucks in your pocket, I’m sure he’d appreciate the help. Have you bought anyone’s lunch lately? March 9th would be a good time to surprise someone. It could be a friend, or even a stranger. Luther enjoyed doing nice things for everyone with whom he came in contact.
Phil Cox of WDEF-TV, Evan Brown (Luther’s grandson), Joan Masingill Brown (Luther’s daughter), David Carroll, Mary Masingill, James Howard and Kim Carson of Sunny 92.3. This was taken at Hamilton County Commission, March 4, 2015
Whether it’s a little cash, a pat on the back, a little yard cleanup, some encouraging words, or a surprise gift, I saw Luther do all these things and more. It’s how he connected with people. It’s what made him special. This is how he lived his life every day of the year. He left us with no regrets, no unfinished business.
Chattanooga City Council member Chris Anderson, Joan Masingill Brown, Jeff Masingill and Mary Masingill.
Luther was blessed to have a long career in the field that he loved, and it made him happy to share his good fortune with others, every day. If Luther could do it 365 days a year, surely we can do it on March 9, 2015 and again on his birthday each year going forward. I can’t think of a better way to honor the memory of this very special man.
Thanks to the Chattanooga City Council and the Hamilton County Commission for proclaiming March 9 of each year, as Luther Day. I hope area schools, churches and employers will adopt this day and encourage everyone to act like Luther for a day!
Now, if you’d like to watch me say these same words, accompanied by Luther’s family, click the YouTube video below!
David, thank you for this special tribute to a very special, deserving man. Luther always brightened my mornings, rain or shine. I know that he also warmed a lot of people’s hearts, even on the coldest days.
Like everyone in the channel WDEF viewing and listening area, I think Luther Day is the only logical “next step” in remembering that wonderful human being. Under the word “man” in future dictionaries, Luther’s name should be the number one definition of what a man should be.
Chattanooga and the tri-state area were unusually fortunate to have had Luther as a citizen.
Thank you, David, for helping make Luther Day a reality. However, I think it should be taken a step farther. I think that every city and township within the WDEF radio and TV listening and viewing area should be encouraged to enact Luther Day. I would personally like to see a state-enacted Luther Day. Without a doubt, Luther was a citizen that any state would be proud to recognize; and the Tennessee legislators would be foolish not to take such a proposal to heart and enact it as a statewide commemoration day, complete with your recommendation that every state citizen “act like Luther” on that day. I sincerely hope that you will, if you haven’t already, make the proposal to the state legislature for consideration. A petition signed, either by hand or electronically, by the citizens within the WDEF viewing and listening areas might prove helpful in persuading the state legislature to go forward with the proposal.
For all you do and have done, especially in your campaign to commemorate Luther in such a wonderful way, thank you.
Just a quick “P.S.”: Luther’s influence on his co-workers is obvious. You work with a great team at WDEF-TV, and the guys he worked with at the radio station have been affected, as well. He was a powerful force for good, and the best role model that any of you could have hoped for.
As we used to say back in the Hippie daze, “Peace and Love!”
As my grandpappy Ol’ Reliable used to say, “You keep ’em straight over thar at channel 12. Y’hear?”
Al Swilling
Hixson, TN
My apologies, David. With the focus being on Luther, I completely forgot that you work at WRCB, and not at WDEF. I apologize to you and to WRCB for the error.
It just goes to show the transcendent nature of Luther’s influence on the community.
Thanks again, David.
Al Swilling
Hixson, TN
He was the greatest!