Bill Casteel, a legendary journalist whose wide-ranging stories variously informed, entertained and nettled Chattanooga Times readers for more than 30 years, died on Monday, October 3, 2016 at the age of 82.
The versatile newsman excelled at political coverage, profiles and human interest stories, the more oddball the better.
But he was best known for the satiric commentary in his Byline column that led the Metro section three times a week.
For many subscribers, Byline led the paper. The columns that spoke truth to power were required reading for everyone from the mayor to the man-in-the-street.
Through the columns, Mr. Casteel enjoyed a readership and influence that may never be matched locally as the newspaper industry continues to decline.
No cow was sacred for Mr. Casteel. The Times' critic-at-large pointed out foolishness and failures among city commissioners, business magnates and media stars -- and usually left them laughing, as well as chastened.
"Wry and wise, Bill was our Will Rogers--a voice of common sense and uncommon wisdom that helped Chattanooga understand itself for decades," said historian Jon Meacham, who began his career at The Times. "Never pretentious, always affectionate, he was a terrific newspaperman who took joy in chronicling the personalities and passions of his time."
Energetic, creative and irreverent, Mr. Casteel was central to The Times newsroom culture. Colleagues hovered at his desk to hear highlights of the story he would soon pound out for Page One. It might be breaking news on plans to transform the downtown train terminal into a tourist mecca or an offbeat piece about a pet mortician who confided to Mr. Casteel, "You can't make a horse look good in a coffin."
Cub reporters inevitably spun into the orbit of the quick-witted, approachable newsman who offered practical advice and encouragement that helped them develop as journalists. Mr. Casteel's tutelage often continued into the night as he and Times Managing Editor John Popham held court at downtown watering holes.
Fortune Editor-in-Chief and Time Inc. Chief Content Officer Alan Murray joined The Times in 1977 after graduating from college. "Bill was the first, great influence on my career," he said. "He taught me not to buy the BS but to look for deeper truths."
“Millennials may not understand the essential role metro newspaper columnists played as the conscience of their city, and Bill was as good as they came,” says Charles Slack, a biographer who got his start at The Times. “He loved Chattanooga enough to render it honestly, whatever the consequences."
Among Tennessee's elite political reporters, Mr. Casteel covered local, state and national politics with his trademark accuracy, fairness and flair. In 1976 The Times dispatched him to Kansas City, MO, to cover the Republican National Convention and the keynote speaker, the late Sen. Howard Baker.
Mr. Casteel's honors attest to the range of his reporting. His poignant story on a truck driver who saved the life of a boy injured in a traffic accident won the 1974 Malcolm Law Memorial Award for Enterprise Reporting from the Associated Press. After reading Mr. Casteel's account, then Gov. Winfield Dunn honored the driver as an outstanding citizen.
The next year he won the Malcolm Law Award for a light-hearted romp about a dog named Brutus who worked at a Chattanooga service station relaying payments from customers to his master.
Like the truck driver story, the Brutus feature moved across the country on the AP wires and was displayed in hundreds of newspapers. The dog's fame spread quickly, and scores of motorists from Chattanooga and beyond drove to the service station to see Brutus perform.
In 1980 Mr. Casteel's Byline column won a Newsmaker of the Year Award from the Southeast Tennessee Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Mr. Casteel was honored at the March of Dimes Celebrity Roast in 1981. Then Gov. Lamar Alexander led a host of distinguished admirers who paid tribute to the beloved journalist for using humor to call attention to local issues.
Mr. Casteel wrote, cast and directed the annual Times Christmas party film, a send-up of the local scene, especially The Times' arch rival, The News-Free Press. Under Mr. Casteel's direction Times publisher Ruth Holmberg offered memorable performances, including her portrayal of Morganna, the Kissing Bandit, a minor celebrity from whom Mr. Casteel once stole a kiss.
Mr. Casteel was a founding member of The Way Down the Road, Outta Sight and Long Range Planning Commission. The bon vivants in the group found their purpose, beyond revelry, in organizing the Kudzu Ball. The spoof of The Cotton Ball raised $50,000 for the Boehm Birth Defects Center during its seven-year run.
Mr. Casteel was an ardent supporter of The Special Olympics through his columns, features and volunteer work.
Faithful visits to his friend, the late Floyd "Flop" Fuller, led to Mr. Casteel's becoming a St. Barnabas Nursing Home volunteer and winning an award for his service.
Mr. Casteel began his career with The Times as a carrier while in elementary school in Athens, TN. After graduating from McMinn County High as a star athlete, he became a sportswriter for The Daily Post Athenian and a stringer for The Times.
In the late 1950s, he served a two-year tour of duty in the Navy where he was editor of the base newspaper.
Mr. Casteel came to The Times after serving as editor-in-chief of the Post Athenian and in the public relations department of Bowaters Southern Paper Corp. He served as interim city editor of The Times from 1980 to 1982. He retired in 1998.
He was the son of the late Felix and Eleanor Casteel and was also preceded in death by his son, Stan Casteel; and two brothers, Dewey Casteel and Bobby Casteel.
Survivors include his daughter, Diane (David) Abercrombie, Soddy-Daisy; son, T. Grady (Lori) Casteel, Chattanooga; grandchildren, Tosh Tanner, Caitlin Stokes, Brittany Casteel, Stefani Casteel, Kelli Casteel and Ryan Casteel.; 13 great-grandchildren; nephew, Mike (Penny) Casteel; second wife, Sharon Casteel.
The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Chattanooga, 4411 Oakwood Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37416 or to the Believe Campaign at Children’s Hospital. Checks made to Erlanger Foundation, 975 E. Third Street, Suite B-508, Chattanooga, TN 37403.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6, in the North Chapel, with Dr. Ken Duggan officiating.
The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, and from 12-2:30 p.m. on Thursday at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 5401 Highway 153.
Please share your memories at: ChattanoogaNorthChapel.com.