[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 96 (Thursday, July 1, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1458]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE TOLLYE WAYNE TITTSWORTH

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ZACH WAMP

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 30, 1999

  Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to honor the memory of a fine 
resident of the Sequatchie Valley and the 3rd District of Tennessee who 
left this life last May 2. Tollye Wayne Tittsworth died at age 60. For 
his family and the many friends who admired his work as a radio 
broadcaster and citizen, his death came far, far too soon.
  Tollye Wayne, as he was called throughout the Sequatchie Valley, knew 
from the time he was still in his teen years that radio would be his 
life's work and his life's love. While still in high school, he began 
working part time at a radio station in McMinnville where he was born 
and grew up.
  Like all people who excel at what they do, Tollye Wayne did not 
regard his career in radio and the news business as just ``a job.'' He 
lived--and enjoyed--his work 24-hours-a-day. He worked at a series of 
stations in Tennessee, including serving as general manager of WJLE in 
Smithville, general manager of WAKI in McMinnville and operations 
manager of WBMC-WTRZ in McMinnville and owner and general manager of 
WSMT AM-FM in Sparta from 1975 through 1980.
  At 6 a.m. on July 14, 1986, Tollye Wayne signed on the air at WSDQ in 
Dunlap. He was a powerful voice--and a personality--known throughout 
the Sequatchie Valley. He took an interest in folks from all walks of 
life. It did not matter to Tollye Wayne whether the person he was 
speaking with was a hard working employee at a convenience store or 
just happened to be Vice President of the United States. Tollye Wayne 
was interested in what he or she had to say.
  To those of us who have the honor of representing the Sequatchie 
Valley, a visit with Tollye Wayne was on our ``must do'' list anytime 
we were in the Dunlap area. Not only did we get a chance to communicate 
with folks throughout the valley through radio station WSDQ, but--just 
as importantly--we got a chance to pick Tollye Wayne's brain about what 
was going on in the Valley. It is not very much of an exaggeration to 
say that Tollye Wayne knew just about everything that was happening in 
the valley.
  Tollye Wayne did not simply cover his community. He worked to make it 
better, serving as a member of a number of civic clubs and community 
boards, including the Sequatchie Valley Health Council, the Sequatchie 
County Hospital Board, The Sequatchie Valley Planning Commission and 
the American Legion Harvey Merriman Post 190. He was also instrumental 
in establishing the Dunlap Chamber of Commerce. And he was a past 
president of the Dunlap Lions Club. He also quietly helped folks who 
needed it.
  I know that Tollye Wayne would take comfort in the fact that what he 
built at WSDQ is being carried on by his family. I also want to express 
my most profound sympathy to his wife, Ruth Myers Tittsworth; his son 
Stephen Wayne Tittsworth; step-daughter, Teresa Ann Hennessee; his 
mother, Willie Cantrell Tittsworth; brother James Gary Tittsworth and 
his sister, Rita Poncina.
  All of us who knew Tollye Wayne are grateful that we had the chance 
to work with him and sincerely mourn his passing. Tollye Wayne, God-
Speed in the Better World where you are now. And thanks for the good 
you did for all of us.

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