Once upon a time, the Chattanooga City Commission, as it was known pre-1990, had a big crowd for its regular weekly meetings, including many reporters. It’s hard to believe now, but several radio stations had fully-staffed news departments, along with two daily newspapers and the three local TV stations.
These days, we have one newspaper, and very few radio news reporters. Thankfully, the TV stations are still (occasionally) fully staffed.
This photo is from 1981, and I can identify a few people. At the dais, clockwise from lower right, are Commissioners Paul Clark and Walter Smart, city attorney Eugene Collins, Mayor Pat Rose, his administrative assistant Evelyn Shankles, and Commissioners Jim Eberle and John P. Franklin.
I also see Tom Cannon, a longtime Chattanooga teacher (and head of the local Education Association), attorney Rheubin Taylor, newspaper reporters Cindy McAfee, Pat Wilcox, and J.B. Collins (still with us today, at age 101).
I can spot WTVC reporter Mike Lumpkin and photographer Tim Hamilton. From radio, there’s WDOD’s Charlie Nicholson and WGOW’s Cindy Hain (I didn’t know it at the time, but she was my future wife). I see WDEF-TV reporter Russ Geller and photographer Wayne Bruns too. Community leader Walt Stamper is also a face in the crowd.
Cindy said today’s reporters have no idea what it was like being in that crowded room.
Do you recognize anyone else? Let me know!
