2008 Woodie Awards
John Wilson passes away
Richard Lowe
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: Sports
John Wilson, a camera man in the middle Tennessee area for over 30 years, passed away early Friday morning in a fire at his home. He was 65.
Wilson had worked at WSMV, Channel 4 in Nashville, full and part time since 1972 and spent some time at WKRN, Channel 2. He was also a video photographer for all Middle Tennessee sporting events and coaches' television shows. The last footage he shot for the university's athletic department was show on the most recent episode of "The Rick Stockstill TV Show."
"He meant a lot to (MTSU)" says Chris Massaro, Director of Athletics for MT. "Any time you see highlights of the Blue Raiders over the last several years, chances are it was John's work. He's going to be missed."
John's wife, Harriette, was also in the house but was able to escape. She was taken to Middle Tennessee Medical Center for evaluation.
The medical examiner pronounced Wilson dead at the scene.
The Wilsons owned and ran a lemonade stand at MTSU football games and the TSSAA state basketball tournament.
They had three dogs. One was found alive outside, one was found dead on the stairs inside, and one was found alive beneath a bed on the third floor.
"He was so well-liked in the media world, and I think he was so respected by people because he cared about what his work and he was always a pleasure to be around," said MT men's basketball coach Kermit Davis, whose weekly TV coach's show was filmed by Wilson.
"You didn't see John Wilson when there wasn't a smile on his face."
"John was as honest as the day is long," said Rudy Kalis, sports director at WSMV and had known Wilson for 33 years. "He could judge someone's character in a heart beat, and he was a perfectionist. But John also loved his horses, and he was probably born 100 years too late because he was a cowboy at heart."
Wilson had many duties behind the camera, but long-time MTSU play-by-play announcer Dick Palmer said he will mostly miss his roommate for Blue Raider road trips.
"We made good roommates for football and basketball trips because we were close to the same age, real compatible, and John was such a great guy," Palmer said. "John was smiling all the time, and he would do absolutely anything for you. I'll miss him a lot."
Information from this article was contributed by Murfreesboro Daily News Journal sports writer Adam Sparks
Wilson had worked at WSMV, Channel 4 in Nashville, full and part time since 1972 and spent some time at WKRN, Channel 2. He was also a video photographer for all Middle Tennessee sporting events and coaches' television shows. The last footage he shot for the university's athletic department was show on the most recent episode of "The Rick Stockstill TV Show."
"He meant a lot to (MTSU)" says Chris Massaro, Director of Athletics for MT. "Any time you see highlights of the Blue Raiders over the last several years, chances are it was John's work. He's going to be missed."
John's wife, Harriette, was also in the house but was able to escape. She was taken to Middle Tennessee Medical Center for evaluation.
The medical examiner pronounced Wilson dead at the scene.
The Wilsons owned and ran a lemonade stand at MTSU football games and the TSSAA state basketball tournament.
They had three dogs. One was found alive outside, one was found dead on the stairs inside, and one was found alive beneath a bed on the third floor.
"He was so well-liked in the media world, and I think he was so respected by people because he cared about what his work and he was always a pleasure to be around," said MT men's basketball coach Kermit Davis, whose weekly TV coach's show was filmed by Wilson.
"You didn't see John Wilson when there wasn't a smile on his face."
"John was as honest as the day is long," said Rudy Kalis, sports director at WSMV and had known Wilson for 33 years. "He could judge someone's character in a heart beat, and he was a perfectionist. But John also loved his horses, and he was probably born 100 years too late because he was a cowboy at heart."
Wilson had many duties behind the camera, but long-time MTSU play-by-play announcer Dick Palmer said he will mostly miss his roommate for Blue Raider road trips.
"We made good roommates for football and basketball trips because we were close to the same age, real compatible, and John was such a great guy," Palmer said. "John was smiling all the time, and he would do absolutely anything for you. I'll miss him a lot."
Information from this article was contributed by Murfreesboro Daily News Journal sports writer Adam Sparks
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