Obit: Luther Massengill, WDEF Radio-TV, Chattanooga, TN, broadcaster for 75 years, 92

Readers of this board will pause for a moment of sadness as a pioneer voice in radio and television in the Chattanooga, Tennessee market, a man known to generations of listeners of WDEF radio and viewers of WDEF television simply by his first name, "Luther," departs this life. He worked from the age of 17 up until very recently, and had been associated with the CBS TV affiliate, on channel 12, for the entirety of its 60-year history.

For more details about Massengill's lengthy and extraordinary career, read the obituaries (and more tribute material that will surely follow) on the WDEF website: http://www.wdef.com/news/story/News-...bpaIJ84rQ.cspx

Luther should not only be for his longevity but doing it in a competitive market. Last summer while diving on vacation I heard him on 92.3, IMHO he was still better than some of the talent in bigger markets that are with in a couple of hours driving time from Chattanooga.

Luther finished his on air career like all of it, on top! A legend. 70 years on the air. One station all of those 70 years. A friend, a legend. A very sad loss in the entire field of broadcasting. He will be missed.

I had heard this rumor from a former WGOW employee, but he drank a lot and we were in a bar but I guess he was correct:

http://www.chattanoogan.com/2014/10/22/286857/Luther-Ted-Turner--KZ-106-The-Untold.aspx