[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2681]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                            LUTHER MASINGILL

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ZACH WAMP

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 9, 2000

  Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a citizen who has 
contributed as much as anyone in the Third District of Tennessee to the 
wonderful quality of life that all of us who live there are privileged 
to enjoy. The occasion is his 78th birthday, but this tribute could be 
delivered any day. It is a testament to how universally known, loved 
and admired he is that you only have to say the word ``Luther,'' and 
just about anyone will know you are referring to Luther Masingill, who 
has made Chattanooga's mornings brighter for 60 years.
  He signed on as host of his near universally known morning show on 
WDEF Radio, then an AM only station, on December 31, 1940. Franklin 
Delano Roosevelt was President then, and we were on the eve of World 
War II. Luther has seen Chattanooga--and the world--change mightily 
during his years on the air. Eleven U.S. Presidents as well as numerous 
Tennessee governors and Chattanooga mayors have come and gone while 
Luther has held way on the air. Luther has stayed on, however; and the 
``secrets'' of his success and value to the Chattanooga area have 
remained the same.
  His radio show, now broadcast on WDEF AM and FM from 6-9 a.m. each 
weekday morning, does not focus on the controversies that tear us 
apart. By design, Luther devotes his show to the things that bring us 
together and make us human. Is your dog or cat missing? Would you like 
to buy or sell an animal? Is your civil club meeting or having a sale? 
His show is very much about neighbors helping neighbors and swapping 
information across the backyard fence, or at the grocery store, or 
after church. And his devoted listeners treat Luther as their friend 
and neighbor, which indeed he is.
  Luther plays relaxing, traditional music in between announcements; 
and his warm, re-assuring voice has made countless folks in Southeast 
Tennessee, North Georgia, North Alabama and Western North Carolina 
begin the day in a better spirit, no matter what the day may bring. He 
also does a spot on the noon news on Channel 12, WDEF television, and 
he's been with that station since it signed on in 1954.
  Today, March 9, 2000, is your 78th birthday, Luther; and so we say a 
loud ``Happy Birthday!'' and thanks for all you have done to enrich our 
lives and communities. And here's wishing you many more years on the 
air!

                          ____________________