After more than 28 years on the air in Chattanooga, Channel 3 morning anchor Jed Mescon has been named vice president of Public Relations, Marketing and Development at Erlanger Health System. Mr. Mescon, who has also served as the station’s co-host of 3 Plus You for the past seven years, will begin his new role at Erlanger on May 2.
Jed is as much of a household name in Chattanooga television as anyone in history. Viewers appreciate his good-humored approach to morning television. He was named 2015’s “Best TV Personality” in the annual Best of the Best readers’ choice awards.
“It has been an honor and privilege to work with the incredible team at WRCB,” Mr. Mescon said. “I am going to miss the extraordinary experience of working in local television and deeply grateful for the support WRCB has offered me.”
“If you have to wake up so early, there is no better person to start the day off with,” co-anchor LaTrice Currie said.
“There is always at least one big ‘Good Morning!’ when you walk in the door. It’s like the brother-sister relationship where you laugh, you cry, you agree and disagree, but in the end you realize you wouldn’t trade that person for anything.”
Meteorologist David Karnes calls Jed “one of the kindest, most gracious coworkers.”
Mr. Karnes added, “His work ethic is unmatched and he always focuses his time on how to make things better. He has indeed made WRCB better with his constant presence and hard work.”
WRCB News Director Derrall Stalvey said, “Jed’s positive impact on our newsroom will last long after his final newscast. He deserves his reputation in the community for kindness and support of so many organizations.”
“In our newsroom he is known as that team player who will do anything you ask. Most of the time you never have to ask.”
Jed has been a tireless advocate for pets, childhood cancer patients, area food banks, and other causes too numerous to list. At WRCB he has been reporting area health inspection scores in our weekly Restaurant Report Card for the last seven years and given countless birthday salutes on television.
“It has been a pleasure to work with Jed for nearly 29 years,” said WRCB President & General Manager Tom Tolar. “His enthusiasm for Channel 3, our viewers and the entire community is legendary.”
As a teenager, Jed hosted a children's television show which sparked his interest in television. After being a college cheerleader for Arizona State University, his television news career took him to Savannah, Charleston and Chattanooga. Jed and his wife Phyllis will continue to live in Signal Mountain. Daughter Caroline currently lives in Los Angeles and works behind the scenes for new NBC show “Heartbeat.”
“We will miss his energetic presence on a daily basis; but, we are delighted he and Phyllis will remain in Chattanooga,” added Mr. Tolar. “I want to personally thank Jed for his many years of unselfish service and his loyalty to Channel 3.”
The station will begin a daily look back at Jed’s career with WRCB next week. His last day on the air will be the second week of April.
Erlanger President and CEO Kevin M. Spiegel, FACHE, said, “We are looking forward to having Jed on our leadership team as we expand our communications about our world-class brand and the critical role of Erlanger to this community. We are committed to more effectively communicating the progressive steps the Erlanger Health System is undertaking to provide exceptional care to this community.”
“Jed’s 28 years of local experience in communications, community work, marketing and fund development will be invaluable to our health system and those we serve in the years ahead,” Mr. Spiegel said.
Erlanger officials said he will fill a newly created position.
In addition to his broadcast work with WRCB, Mr. Mescon also serves as a Fund Development and Marketing Consultant for ChattanoogaState, and as a talk show host with WGOW. Prior to moving toChattanooga, he was a general assignment reporter with television stations in Charleston, Savannah and Atlanta.
Mr. Mescon has been committed to improving our community throughout his years in Chattanooga. He has served on the boards and advisory boards of numerous Chattanooga civic organizations, including the Greater Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Humane Educational Society, Walter E. Boehm Birth Defects Center, Chattanooga Zoo, Chattanooga Theatre Centre, Little Miss Mag Day Care Center, Chattanooga CARES HIV/AIDS Resource Center, St. Peter’s Episcopal School, YMCA of Greater Chattanooga, Y-Me of Chattanooga, Chattanooga Chapter of the American Cancer Society and Senior Neighbors of Chattanooga.
Last year Mr. Mescon received the first-place “Best of Best” Award as Best Television Personality in the Chattanooga Times Free Press annual readership poll. He was also recognized as “Outstanding Journalist” by the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations in 2011 and received the “Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award from the Chattanooga Civitan Club. In 2009, he was named “Outstanding Journalist of the Year” by the Tennessee Veterinarian Association. He has also been recognized byChattanooga State Technical Community College and Re-Start-The Center for Adult Education.
He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, in 2009.