It’s hard to believe that another year has passed and that we’re celebrating another Thanksgiving holiday. I’m not a big fan of turkey and dressing, but I’ll get more than my share of ham and sweet potatoes. This is one of my favorite holidays as gratitude is a big part of my life and I’m always thankful for the many blessings that continue to come my way.
I celebrate Thanksgiving every day as there are hundreds of things I’m grateful for.
I always start making my list toward the end of summer, trying to remember significant events that I’ve been part of. I’m so blessed to work for John Wilson and the Chattanoogan.com and to have a venue where there are no deadlines and no limits to what I write.
So without further discussion, here’s a brief glimpse of what I’m thankful for today.
I AM THANKFUL that I woke up one more day without a hangover. It’s hard to believe, but Dec. 18 will mark 31 years since my last drink, so with a little math and being sure to count eight leap years, that’s 11,303 days in a row without a hangover.
I AM THANKFUL for my dear wife Althea, who has been by my side faithfully for more than 26 years. She’s always been my hero and she’s the veteran in the family, having spent 22 years in the Army National Guard, including a year in Afghanistan back in 2004. I’d be in big trouble without her.
I AM THANKFUL for Roy Exum, who gave me my first shot as a sports writer back on Nov. 3, 1979. On a side note, that was the day Tennessee lost a heartbreaker to Rutgers by a score of 13-7. He’s the one who planted this idea as he used to write a similar column at Thanksgiving, a “wish” column at Christmas and a “hope” column at Easter.
I didn’t have the first minute of experience as a writer, but was a huge sports nut, and he gave me my first shot back then. Roy has fallen on tough times recently as his health isn’t as good as it once was, but I will always be grateful to him for my first chance and several second chances since then.
I AM THANKFUL for coach Josh Heupel and the outstanding job he continues to do as the football coach for the Tennessee Vols. I’ve been a Tennessee fan a long, long time and have seen the highs and lows of a proud program. I’m just glad that we’re headed back in the right direction nationally as far as college football is concerned.
I AM THANKFUL for my experiences as a sports writer. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the best, namely Ward Gossett, who took me under his wings back in the day and taught me the most valuable lesson of making sure I got the final score right and to be sure and spell names correctly.
I AM THANKFUL that in the last couple of years we’ve started getting together for lunch monthly as old Free Press guys meet to eat and talk about the good old days. It’s been heartwarming to reconnect with guys like Mark McCarter, Mike Haskew, Randy Winton, Eddie Baker, Clint Cooper, Greg Thompson, Don Harris, Bob Gary, Paul Schulz, Sam Woolwine and Mark Wiedmer.
We never made a lot of money at the Free Press, but we had a great time, put out a really good sports section and developed some really good relationships that are still strong today.
I AM THANKFUL for Paul Payne and James Beach, who have spearheaded this effort in an attempt to get back in touch with Roy. Unfortunately, he’s only been a couple of times, but we still have a great time talking about the past.
I AM THANKFUL for John Wilson and his brilliant idea of starting the Chattanoogan.com some 25 years ago. I’m blessed to work with guys like Dennis Norwood, Mike Locke, Greg Davick, Beach, Payne and Wiedmer and it’s so nice to not have a deadline or space limitation.
I AM THANKFUL for Dr. Thomas Quisenberry, who is the senior pastor at my church, and Jeff Parker, who is the minister of music. I have really reconnected with the God of my understanding in recent years and these guys make worship real and significant.
I AM THANKFUL for Michael Sepulveda, who was also a minister at that church and made a profound impact on hundreds of young people before moving on to another venture earlier this year.
I AM THANKFUL that Rusty Wright is doing an outstanding job as the football coach at UTC. As he always says, we’re doing things the right way. It’s a blessing to cover the Mocs. Even though they didn’t make the playoffs, it’s still a lot of fun to spend a fall afternoon at Finley Stadium. I just wish more local folks would support those guys.
I AM THANKFUL for Dan Earl and the job he’s doing with UTC men’s basketball. He too is doing things the right way. So glad the winning streak is now five after a big win over Bryant on Wednesday afternoon.
I AM THANKFUL for Shawn Poppie and the job he did leading the Chattanooga women. He was here for just two years, but really turned the program around and is now doing his thing at Clemson. Deandra Schirmer is a real ball of fire and will do just fine as his replacement.
I AM THANKFUL for Josh Owensby and the job he’s done as the Soddy Daisy football coach. I was there when they beat Rhea County in the season opener by a 49-42 final and it just got better with each passing game. So sorry the Trojans got such a tough draw in the first round of the playoffs, but the seed has been planted and I’m hoping that their success continues.
I AM THANKFUL I was present at the Soddy Daisy game to witness Calum Williams boot a field goal with two seconds left to beat Red Bank, 24-23. This young man had missed a similar kick just minutes before, but totally split the uprights with the game-winner.
I AM THANKFUL for Jack Bowen and the success he’s had leading the McCallie cross country team in recent years as the Blue Tornado has now won six straight state titles. Bowen set a McCallie record with a 14:41 time for a 5K earlier in the fall and will have a great career at North Carolina, despite finishing second three straight years at the state meet.
I AM THANKFUL I was at the Spring Fling in Murfreesboro back in May, watching McCallie win a state track title one day, the Signal Mountain girls the next before watching Baylor and Silverdale win state softball titles on the third day. It was nine straight for coach Kelli Smith and her Lady Red Raiders and two straight for coach Jackie Freeland and the Lady Seahawks.
Silverdale only graduated two key players, including pitcher Ella Cunningham and center fielder Kennedy Stinson, so they should be in line to win again toward the end of May.
I AM THANKFUL for the job Erik Kimrey has done as Baylor’s football coach. This is his third season and his undefeated Red Raiders will face McCallie again next Thursday for what could be their second state title in the past three years.
I AM THANKFUL for the nice comeback of Hixson quarterback Luke Finch. He suffered a broken leg at the jamboree last fall and missed the entire season. I’m sure this year’s season wasn’t what he and his teammates had hoped for, but he was a difference-maker with a positive attitude. He also happens to be a fine young man.
I AM THANKFUL that Paul Brock is now coaching volleyball at Soddy Daisy. This guy has probably forgotten more volleyball than most coaches will ever know, but he led the Lady Trojans back to the state and I’m sure the positive results will keep coming.
I AM THANKFUL every time I cross Chickamauga Dam and witness a spectacular sunset looking down toward Lookout Mountain. I used to say the same things about sunrises, but I’m never up early enough these days to see one.
I AM THANKFUL every time I hear the National Anthem played at a sporting event. Often times, students from various schools will do the singing and that’s always special, but none have been been better than the time Baylor’s Nina Lail did it. I still get cold chills just thinking about it.
I AM THANKFUL for all the veterans who have paid a high price for my freedom. Without a doubt, Althea is the most proud veteran I know and Veteran’s Day is the most important holiday she celebrates. As the old saying goes, “All gave some and some gave all.” I can never say thank you enough to all of those brave women and men for their sacrifices.
I AM THANKFUL that our Tennessee Vols finally won a national championship in baseball. Coach Tony Vitello has done an awesome job and his Vols were finally rewarded with a record-breaking season.
I AM THANKFUL for Larry Ward and the job he’s done as a radio guy for the Chattanooga Lookouts and the Chattanooga women’s basketball team before retiring this year. He’s a delightful fellow and it’s always fun to have a visit with him before a baseball game begins.
I AM THANKFUL for coach Jake Yost and the job he’s done with the McCallie wrestling team. The Blue Tornado have been a force in the past, but had fallen on hard times in recent seasons. Yost not only led them to a huge win over Baylor, but followed that up with state titles at the duals and then the traditional tournament.
I AM THANKFUL for the late, great Ferd White. He was the chaplain at Erlanger for many years and a member of my church. He was always a ton of fun to be around, no matter if it was on the softball field on deep sea fishing out in the Gulf stream. What a positive impact he made on my life.
I AM THANKFUL for my good friends Ray McIntyre and Glenn Kay among others. I have a wood-burning fireplace at our house and we always spend several months gathering wood before having a wood-splitting party in the fall. These two guys are always here to help. It’s really hard work, but wouldn’t be possible without them.
I AM THANKFUL for the Northgate Library. I’m started doing a lot of reading in recent years and it’s so convenient to do business at the Northgate facility. Unlike the downtown facility, parking is not a problem at all.
I AM THANKFUL for Alex Rosser. He owns a tree cutting business and has brought me loads of wood on two occasions for us to cut and split. I’m still working on the last load he brought, but I can assure you that my two next-door neighbors and I will not get cold in the coming years.
I AM THANKFUL for Marti Brown and the job she does as my barber. She and her husband Ron own Town and Country Barber Shop and Salon on North Market. She’s been my barber for more than 30 years and I just sit back and relax, letting her do her thing knowing that it will be perfect when she’s finished.
I AM THANKFUL for my two grandsons. Riley just turned five on Nov. 14 and Hudson will be four on April 10, but they are the light of my life. They live in Crossville and I’m sorry I don’t get to see them as much as I would like, but they bring a ton of joy to my life.
I AM THANKFUL for my son Michael, who is Riley and Hudson’s dad. He’s a correction officer with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department and does great work in an extremely tough field.
I AM THANKFUL that Michael and I have started a tradition every summer where we take a trip and see several baseball games along the way. This year, we drove more than 2,100 miles in five days where we saw four baseball games, three of which were decided by one run and two on the final swing.
We started out in Mississippi watching the AA Mississippi Braves, followed by the Houston Astros and the next day at Arlington watching the Texas Rangers. Our trip ended in Memphis watching the Redbirds. Perhaps the most significant part of the trip was our time in Dallas when we got to stand on that famous street where John Kennedy was shot down. Looking down at that grassy knoll and then looking up to the right to see that Texas Book Depository where Lee Harvey Oswald supposedly fired the fatal shots were quite an emotional moment for us both.
I AM THANKFUL for Victor Underwood and Slater Belew and the job they do leading the Silverdale basketball teams. I was over there on Wednesday afternoon to cover their Thanksgiving tournament and also got to say hello to Mike Connor, who is the Seahawk football coach. I’ve never had a bad experience with any event at Silverdale as they are a real class act from top to bottom.
I AM THANKFUL for continued good health. It’s hard to believe that I will be 70 at the end of March. I’ve slowed down quite a bit and not nearly as active as I once was, but I’m so lucky that I don’t take a single medication on a regular basis.
I AM THANKFUL for my buddy Peter Hurley, who suffered a fatal heart attack earlier this year. Hurley was the very successful owner of the Chattanooga Bicycle Group and made some top-notch wheels. Peter had heart surgery in the past and had done a wonderful job of turning his lifestyle around, including eating smart and exercising to stay in shape. I guess it’s a blessing he was running with his dear wife Lorraine when he dropped, but I still think about him and will always remember what a great guy he was.
I AM THANKFUL for Boo Carter and the turnaround he’s made in his life. He was headed down the wrong road for a while but has turned things around 100 percent. He is without a doubt one of the most talented athletes I’ve ever covered and he only gets better with each passing day as a member of the Tennessee Vols football team.
I AM THANKFUL for the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous and the impact it’s made on my life among millions of others. The fact that I used to have a drinking and drug problem and have since found a solution is simply miraculous. I’m living proof that there is a really good life after all of that nonsense.
I AM THANKFUL for my 2007 Ford Focus. Dec. 3 will be 17 years since I bought it and it’s about to turnover 253,000 miles. Other than regular oil changes and new tires every 40,000 miles or so, maintenance has been minimal and it still goes way too fast.
I AM THANKFUL to be blessed with two wonderful sisters. Emily is the oldest and Nancy a few years younger. Both, like my mother, are outstanding cooks and I’m looking forward to sharing a delicious meal with them later today.
I AM THANKFUL for all the close friends I’ve had since childhood, but still stay in touch with. Those include neighborhood buddies like Steve Parker, Tommy Gulas, John Cavett, Michelle Cassimus, Patti Ettien and Ann Stone. We all live in different places and stay way too busy, but we’re planning to have a reunion one day soon.
I AM THANKFUL that my church owns some of the most beautiful property on Possum Creek called Dogwood Lodge, which is our church camp in Soddy Daisy. That area has really changed since the first time I went up there in the early 60s, but there’s not a more special place on this earth as far as I’m concerned.
I think I’m about written out and I’m sure you’re tired of reading, but I appreciate all the support to continue to send my way and as my old friend Jim Duggar used to say, “Thanks for reading all the way to the bottom.”
May your thankgiving be wonderful and may you get plenty to eat. And my you enjoy a great day with family and friends as we all pause to give thanks.
I love you all!!!
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)