Update: Neal Kassebaum’s memorial service will be on Saturday July 27.
Visitation at 2 pm, Service at 3 pm at Signal Mountain Bible Church, 4872 Shackleford Ridge Road.
We have lost a major source of sunshine.
Neal Kassebaum has passed away at a very young 71. He battled cancer for almost six years, losing much of his youthful appearance, but none of his enthusiasm and exuberance. (A memorial service will be announced at a later date.)
He came from good stock. His uncle Roy Hawes, is remembered as the all-time Chattanooga Lookouts home run leader. His mother Bea Hawes Kassebaum was a baseball player too, a left-handed slugger during the World War II “A League of Our Own” era.
It has been four decades since Neal was a nightly presence on Chattanooga television, so he has not been a familiar face for a while. But he was a friendly face to all with whom he came in contact, until the very end.
Neal Kassebaum at the weather board for WDEF Channel 12 in 1972
I first discovered Neal when I was a kid, staying up late to watch WDEF Channel 12’s late night (11:00 p.m.) news. At that time, WDEF’s news team wore red blazers, and most of the guys (yes, all men) were grizzled veterans who took the news and weather very seriously.
At some point, main anchors Mort Lloyd (news) and John Gray (weather) decided they didn’t want to do the late news, so the station brought in some reinforcements. Dick James, a local disc jockey, handled the news, and Neal Kassebaum was assigned the weather duties.
Neal was a rosy-cheeked 23-year-old, fresh out of O’Fallon, Illinois and Southern Illinois University. He had been hired as an announcer by Channel 12, primarily to handle station ID’s and live commercials. He had gained experience at SIU, even filming a live concert featuring Joni Mitchell and Arlo Guthrie.
His WDEF bosses convinced him that he could learn the weather “on the job” and that’s pretty much what happened. He and Dick brought a frat-boy attitude to the late news, often cutting up and pulling pranks on each other. As a young viewer, I was delighted. It was almost as if the grown-ups had gone out for dinner, leaving the house in the hands of a couple of mischievous kids. They made the news fun to watch, especially when talking about the weather.
Neal’s technical expertise came in handy each Saturday, when he was asked to direct Harry Thornton’s raucous live wrestling shows. It was like being ringmaster of the circus, having to react to the spontaneous chair-throwing and audience-baiting. He enjoyed reminiscing about his “rasslin” experience for decades.
Neal Kassebaum (far right) on the WRCB news set with Jackie Schulten and Jerry Wilson in 1976.
A few years later, Neal moved to Channel 3, which asked him to take the weather a bit more seriously. He also continued working behind the scenes, becoming an expert photojournalist. It was soon evident that he preferred that side of the business, in which he excelled until his retirement in 2016.
Along the way, he shot video around the world, from the White House, to the West Coast, to jungles and foreign countries. He met the superstars and big names worldwide. How many people do you know who can share an up-close and personal chat with Muhammad Ali? Who else do you know who hung out of a helicopter in Nicaragua filming the Sandanistas? He shot stories in the Iranian embassy, spent six weeks in Russia, and helped Disney beam EPCOT’s grand opening worldwide.
He worked for Chattanooga video master Joe Morgan for many years, and that relationship opened the door to his longest assignment. For more than twenty years, he was the satellite truck uplink engineer for Jefferson Pilot and Raycom, bringing us college football and basketball games from SEC campuses and other schools. He also freelanced for ESPN and other networks, and his work in auto racing turned him into a huge NASCAR fan.
Modest to a fault, when being introduced to someone as “an outstanding on-air talent, photojournalist, and engineer,” he would cut off the compliments, laugh, and say, “I just drive a truck.”
With )L-R) Jackie Schulten, Neal Kassebaum, and Fred Gault in 2014.
About six years ago, I invited some of my Channel 3 “Hall of Famers” from the 70s, including Jackie Schulten, Jerry Wilson, Fred Gault, David Hirt, and Neal to join me for lunch. We were all taken aback to see that Neal had become quite gaunt. He shared his cancer diagnosis with us, and said he had it under control.
Standing L-R: David Carroll, Don Welch, David Hirt, Jerry Wilson, and Bob Young. Seated L-R, Jackie Schulten and Neal Kassebaum
Ever since then, I would see Neal once or twice a year, and his cancer kept coming and going. Frankly, a couple of times he looked so thin and weak, I didn’t think I would see him again. But he loved life, was always looking forward to new adventures, and kept beating that nasty disease. Just months after seeing him in seemingly dire condition, he would bounce back and look great.
Friends with Neal Kassebaum (2nd row, 3rd from left, wearing red cap) on April 17, 2019
In April of this year, a few of us old radio/TV guys gathered at a Chattanooga Lookouts baseball game. Neal was the life of the party, excitedly telling us about his new job. It was part-time, a couple of mornings a week driving cars at the Chattanooga Auto Auction. It was perfect for a guy who loved people, and being outside.
Pat, Erin and Neal Kassebaum in 2011
That’s why it was a shock to hear he had declined rapidly in recent weeks, and had entered hospice care. His wife Pat told me their 42 years together had just flown by. They raised a great family, and enjoyed each other’s company. She told me of their early courtship days, and how charming, funny, and polite Neal was. She later told him she was attracted to him because he didn’t flirt with her like some guys did. He smiled and told her, “Oh yes, I did!”
Neal Kassebaum in 2009
I can’t picture Neal Kassebaum without the smile and laughter he always displayed. Pat told me he looked forward to our gatherings in recent years, and getting a chance to tell his stories, and laugh at everyone else’s. He made me smile the first time I saw him on TV, and he always will.
Here’s a brief look at Neal on Channel 12 in 1972, in the last few seconds of this rare aircheck. Unfortunately, very little newscast video from this era was saved.
Here’s a slightly longer clip from a 1976 newscast, featuring anchors Jackie Schulten and Al Warlick, and Neal Kassebaum on weather.
So sad to hear the news about Neal
He was one of the good guys
We are better for having known him
Neal was one of my best friends ever. We went to NASCAR races, moved both our houses in one day and even went to Detroit one time when we were on strike with the Teamsters! Recently we had the pleasure of RVing with Pat and Neal. Just last May we went to Apalachicola together. Neal and I went to the beach where he flew his kite that he’d had for more than 20 years. I was a news anchor at WRCB in the 70s and spent many a newscast with Neal. I roomed with Neal in the 70s at the old Mountain Creek apartments. I will miss him dearly.
RIP my friend…I’ll drink a lemonade for you tonight. I will miss our Friday night dinners.
As I commented on Earl’s repost of this news over on FB, we lived next door to Neal and Pat for a year when we got back to Chattanooga from Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. Great times were had by all over on Yorkshire Lane, and while traveling around the TVA service area shooting training videos for TVA’s coal plant operations. He could even make a week at Lake Malone State Park – the only decent lodging near Paradise Fossil Plant – entertaining. And we didn’t refer to it as “Lake Alone” for nothing… Rest in peace, Neal, you were a great friend to many folks in many walks of life.
Great job again David. Neal was such a nice guy and fun to be around. I had forgotten some of those facts concerning Neal and his varied career. He will be missed by all who knew him.
What an amazing cousin. You will truly be missed at our Friday night dinners. You will always be in my heart. Love you cuz!
Man o’ man………I am sooooo glad I got to sit next to Neal that night at the Lookouts. What a blessing.
Even in the face of the storm called cancer, Neal was excited by the life he had lived and excited at what the future held. I asked him what he was doing these days and he lit up that big smile (and energy level he seemed to always have) and told me about the adventures of fetching and driving cars for the Auto Auction. As big a deal as any event he covered for the news.
I want some of that kind of love and kindness and happiness in me.
RIP Neal.
Thanks for posting this. Neal was very nice. He didn’t know me, but I went up to him at Hamilton Place mall one time in the late1980’s. I went over and introduced myself, and he was very friendly. He almost seemed embarrassed that someone recognized him as a former local news weatherman. Very modest and polite.
Wow, David. What horrible and sad news. I haven’t seen Neal in many year, but enjoyed working with him when I was handling the advertising for the old American National Bank. I can think of endless words to describe him; smart, funny, energetic, hard-working and much more. He did some voice over work for me at ANB, but I worked much more with him when he joined Joe Morgan at VideoMasters on McCallie Avenue. Neal was enormously talented and generous with his time, wit, and good humor. This is truly a great loss of very good man. I noticed comments above from Garry and Jerry who were also longtime friends in years gone by. I also have great memories of Jackie, and a few great stories (which I’ll keep to myself) about the “legendary” Al Warlick.
Seeing their names, and hearing of this sad news about Neal makes one reflect much more on one’s own mortality. On the plus side, my life was better for having known all of these good people, including you.
Thanks so much for this fantastic tribute to a wonderful man. Neal has been a good friend for years and I miss him already.
Wow, I got a few tears in my eyes when I heard about Neal Kassebaum’s passing. He was one of the coolest guys I have ever worked for.
Just out of high school, I was hired for the prestigious (ha) job of Channel 12 TV Camera Man (Camera Operator today) for $1.65 /hour. I would have been running camera for that picture above of him at the weather board. My favorite part was when he would direct the “Harry Thornton’s Wild World of Wrestling.” He would let us practice all the fancy camera moves, like “Truck left…now zoom, pan, tilt…” With all the action, the audience never know if we messed up. Makes me smile.
I wish I could have talked to him before he passed away. RIP Neal.
I went to grade school with Neal and was in cub scouts with him. His mother ” Beattie” was our den mother and later his dad Steve was our boy scout leader. His parents and his uncle Roy “Jim” were good friends of my parents. Fantastic family!
Bill first Met Bill when they worked together at 12. Neal was always such a jovial spirit. Always happy. My prayers and thought are with Pat and the family.
David, David – Among the losses of our WFLI friends and our WRCB friends, our hearts grow heavy. It hurts me to see folks
younger than me pass. Seems unfair that the young many times go before old guys like me. I don’t think I can add much to what has been said about Neal. Of course I worked with him at WRCB, helped him carry a pinball machine that he had brought from St. Louis upstairs to his apartment and play all evening. As you and others have written here, he was a man of many talents, not the least of which was his ability to make all those around him have a much better day just by being there with him.
Godspeed, Neal.
I worked with Neal at Dealers Auto Aution for a year and half . He was the sweetest,kindest soul there was carrie and i would always be like neal whats the weather going be tomorrow and he would laugh and say a Beautiful day.. prayers for his family and friends . It was such a honor to know him and call him my friend … Neal , Hope all your days are Beautiful as you were..
Praying for Neals Family
Amanda Turner