I want to thank John Wilson for printing my opinion letters even among all the flak and push back I know he often received for doing so. I can hear'em now, "John why don't you shut that mouthy, opinionated Brenda down and refuse to print her letters?!"
But John, you stuck by me. Gave me a platform to express and write about a lot of things that was going on, out of site. Perhaps without even realizing it, you even provided protection for me during some of the darker periods I experienced for speaking up and speaking out. And I'm grateful.
You're the epitome of what it means to give voice to those who would otherwise be silenced, and "To print without fear or favor."
Thank You,
Brenda Washington
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Congratulations John for so many things: dedication to professional tenets of journalism, love of all things Chattanooga, knowledge of local history and your dedication to its preservation and ability to share it with us all, the imagination and vision which led to the creation of Chattanoogan.com, the skill, tenacity and confidence it takes every day for a successful business venture, but most of all for just being John Wilson. Happy 25th to Chattanoogan.com and best John wishes for many more.
Ralph Miller
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Thank you for 25 years of journalism excellence. You were and are a visionary journalist and I can’t thank you enough for providing an easy way to keep connected to the hometown I love…..Chattanooga. We all owe you a debt of gratitude.
As Scotty Probasco used to say…..”Great work!”
Herb Knowles
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Chattanoogan is my first local go to when reading news in Chattanooga. You have done a wonderful job and it is appreciated by many out here who read it on a daily basis but don’t write comments.
God bless you and your work - you are appreciated!
“And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
Jody McCoy
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I moved away from Chattanooga 29 years ago to pursue graduate school at Auburn University, and ultimately a new career as a college professor. That doesn't mean I have forgotten the city and community where I spent more than 30 years and is the source of many fond memories.
The main reason I can keep up with what is happening in Chattanooga is the availability of the Chattanoogan.com. Thanks to John Wilson's foresight and perseverance, I can read news, sports and more from my hometown without running into the paywall. Over the years, I have lived in four different communities since moving from Chattanooga, but because those places have lacked something like the Chattanoogan, and because I didn't want to spend a lot of money on paywalled publications, I have stayed more informed about Chattanooga than anywhere else I have lived.
Thank you, John, for this publication and thanks to the many writers and commentators that have contributed to its success. May you have another 25 years!
Bill Anderson
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John Wilson obviously had good instincts when he swam upstream to start an on-line media enterprise 25 years ago and successfully competed with much larger media interests head to head.
But he has also done “out of the box” things, like allowing a sports-loving teenager to write articles for Chattanoogan.com covering high school football and baseball games all across the county, mostly after he got out of school himself in the afternoon.
Some 20 years later, that “cub sports reporter” for Chattanoogan.com would go on to become our fourth Hamilton County mayor.
Kudos to John Wilson for his quiet-humble manner, savvy business acumen, conservation activism and for encouraging the next generation.
Zach Wamp
Member of Congress 1995-2011
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Congratulations on 25 years with the Chattanoogan.com. It is great to have a locally-controlled newspaper again.
Tim McDonald
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I would like to sincerely congratulate you on achieving your 25th year of Chattanoogan.com. You were certainly a Chattanooga pioneer in establishing a successful online media outlet at a time when this type of online media success in our city was not a complete certainty. I’ve been an avid reader of your outlet for these many years and look forward to continued viewings.
Dale Mabee