By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Nashville, Tenn.—Former WTPR Radio Personality John Lashlee, Jr. will be inducted as a 2018 Legacy Selection to the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in May.
Lashlee died in 2007 after building a career as one of West and Middle Tennessee’s most notable radio and television sportscasters during the 1960s, 70s and early 80s. He was on the original staff of WFWL in Camden, worked at WTPR in the 1950s, moving then to WLAC Radio in Nashville, and later becoming Sports Director for WLAC Channel 5 in Nashville (not WTVF).
Lashlee was nominated by Bobby and Larry Melton of Camden. Bobby and Larry have long-time radio experience and Bobby is still with WRJB/WFWL in Camden. Other radio personalities who will be inducted with the Legacy Class are Dick Layman, Martin Karant, Jeff Jacoby, Billy Benns and David Earl Hughes.
The Induction Ceremony will be held in May in Murfreesboro.
Lashlee was born in Huntingdon and was the son of Senators John and Mildred Lashlee.
Here is biographical information on Lashlee from the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame website
John Lashlee, Jr. is best known as one of Middle Tennessee’s most notable radio and television sportscasters during the 1960’s, 70’s and early 80’s. He was the lead sportscaster for WLAC Radio and later television (later to become WTVF) and hosted such shows as the “Coach John Merritt Football Show” and “Channel 5 Outdoors”. Most recognized in Nashville for his position as a sportscaster, John Lashlee was also elected 2 terms as Councilman-At-Large as well as Criminal Court Clerk for Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County.
Born December 31, 1931, he was the son of Senators John & Mildred Jolly Lashlee. A 1950 graduate of Huntingdon (TN) High School, he was a standout football player during his school years. He attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville his freshman year and began his broadcasting experience as the campus sports radio announcer covering UT football games pre and post-game duties. Soon after his freshman year ended, he enlisted in the US Navy just after graduation and served during the Korean War until his discharge in 1954. During his time in the Navy, he continued his interest in radio broadcasting and would participate part-time as a radio DJ for the various Navy functions at the bases where he was stationed. He began his professional career in radio broadcasting just after his discharge and went to work for Lady Bird Johnson’s radio station KRGV in 1955.
Later he then went back to his hometown and broadcast on the radio for WFWL in Camden, Tennessee as well as WTPR in Paris, TN. About early 1961, he was chosen to do the television weather for a Jackson, Tennessee affiliate before being selected by WLAC in Nashville to be their lead radio broadcaster in 1962. In the mid-1960’s WLAC Television would make him their lead Sports anchor, but he maintained his presence in radio as well for he became the play-by-play announcer for the Tennessee State University Tigers Football and Basketball game broadcasts. This was a first for Nashville in that the success of John Merritt’s football program had inspired John Lashlee to propose to Tennessee State University to begin radio broadcast of their games. This was during a frictional civil rights movement in the south as well, yet John Lashlee’s broadcast was at the top in the Nashville radio market.
Having the position of “sportscaster” did not mean Lashlee ignored his love of the outdoors. He hosted and promoted multiple news segments on hunting and fishing and became one of Middle Tennessee’s most successful competitive bass fishermen. Even before “The Tennessee Outdoors” show brought outdoors enthusiast to television in the mid-1970’s, John Lashlee was highlighting segments on a regular basis beginning in the late 1960’s while the other stations ignored the mass following of hunting & fishing enthusiasts viewers in Middle Tennessee. John especially promoted and highlighted the success of football coach Big John” Merritt and his Tennessee State University Tigers. He was one of the first sportscasters in the South to feature a predominantly black university sports show on television. Track & Field Coach Ed Temple was also given time to highlight his successful program on the TSU football show during track season.
Lashlee was a lifelong fan of the Tennessee Volunteers and close friend of Coach Johnny Majors. He claimed one of his greatest sports experiences of his life was attending the 1999 National Championship Game in Tempe, Arizona to watch his beloved Volunteers win the BCS Championship. He died in November 2007, but not before he was able to watch his grandson Austin Johnson sign a scholarship to play for the University of Tennessee football team.
Photos courtesy of Bobby Melton.
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