Luther remembered for his kindness, humility and grace

photo Luther Masingill's daughter, Joan Masingill Brown, and son, Jeff Masingill, speak at a memorial service for their father at Engel Stadium in Chattanooga.
photo People attend a memorial service for Luther Masingill at Engel Stadium in Chattanooga.

About 200 family, friends, TV and radio personalities, co-workers and former co-workers, politicians and listeners turned out at Engel Stadium on today to say goodbye to Luther Masingill.

"For 74 years we've all known where Luther was," said David Carroll, WRCB-TV 3 anchor and a former co-worker of Masingill. Carroll noted that during all of those years, Masingill was either at home in Glenwood with his wife Mary, at his church - now known as Cornerstone Baptist Church - or at the WDEF television or radio station on the section of Broad Street now known as "Luther Masingill Parkway."

"And, we know exactly where Luther is today," Carroll said looking up to the clear blue sky over the stadium where the legendary broadcaster introduced Chattanooga Lookout ballplayers in the '40s. It was former Lookouts owner Joe Engel who convinced Masingill to audition for a new radio station he was starting.

It was a fitting setting on a gorgeous fall day for the man simply known as "Luther," and the man who spent 74 years behind the microphone at the same station telling Chattanoogans of school closings and weather updates, and helping them find lost pets.

"It was a perfect tribute," said Judge Russell Bean. "This was perfect."

"What a backdrop," said WUSY-FM 100.7 on-air personality Gator. Gator attended along with fellow US-101 personalities Dex, Mo and Stickman. They were just a few of the TV and radio personalities who attended with most being from rival stations.

Speaking during the ceremony were fellow WDEF personalities Chip Chapman and James Howard, Masingill's co-host for the last 21 years, Carroll, Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Beck and Pastor Todd McElyea.

Masingill's daughter, Joan Brown, and son, Jeff, also spoke. The Ralph Miller Band provided music before and during the ceremony. Members of the ROTC Color Guard from Masingill's alma mater, Central High School, presented the colors and the Alhambra Shrine Highlanders Pipe and Drum Corp played "Amazing Grace."

In one of the more poignant moments, a dozen white doves were released as Buddy Shirk played "I'll Fly Away" on the stadiums organ.

"Luther taught us how to live with kindness and with grace and how to die with no business that hasn't been taken care of," Carroll in closing his tribute.

For more, including photographs and video, read tomorrow's Chattanooga News Free Press online and in print.

Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.

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