Two Steves and a Joe

By Joe Rector joerector@comcast.net While I mowed the upper lot of the yard, I looked across the road and saw a tractor at the neighbor’s house. Steering it was Steve Cox. We began first grade together, and both have lived within spitting distance of our boyhood...

A Loss for Country Music

By Ralphine Major I saw them early in their career.  The Judds came to Knoxville during the Tennessee Valley Fair and performed at the Homer Hamilton Theatre.  I happened to be nearby when they exited the bus and got a quick picture. The mother/daughter duo captivated...

Lucky to have all the jobs I had

By John J. Duncan Jr. duncanj@knoxfocus.com A few years ago, I was speaking to about 100 eighth graders in the Rayburn Room at the U.S. Capitol. One of the students asked me if I liked my job. I immediately replied that I loved my job and felt very lucky to have it. I...

NFL Draft a good sign for Vols

By Mark Nagi Back in my previous life I was a sports anchor/reporter at WATE-TV. In 2002 I was anchoring during the NFL Draft, and boy oh boy was that a busy time. The Vols were coming off an 11-2 season and the roster was stocked with pro talent.  I had edited...

Back to the beginning

By Tom Mattingly It was quite a history lesson on Sept. 13, 2008, in the Tom Elam Press Box at Neyland Stadium, as three Tennessee play-by-play broadcasters — George Mooney (1952-67), John Ward (1968-98), and Bob Kesling (1999-present) — were present, greeted warmly...