Joey's Blog

This blog will be more serious than you're probably used to from me.  But I feel like I need to share it.

I lost a good friend this week.  His name was Wendell Stacy.

Wendell was a well-known, popular sports figure across the state of Arkansas (out of Little Rock), when he was hired to come to Memphis' newest ABC affiliate, ABC24.  He was the first primary male anchor hired by the station (and some of the early ads that were placed on bus stops still make me laugh:  It would be a huge shot of Wendell's head, and said "Wendell Likes Jazz".)

He parted ways with ABC24 several years back, but that diminish his talent.  He was an EXCELLENT journalist, a GIFTED storyteller, and had TELEVISION in his dna.

You may not know it, but if you're a long-time Memphian, I promise that you've caught at least one of Wendell's investigative stories.  They were usually great pieces...insightful...dramatic...and accurate.

When Wendell entered a room, you knew it because he owned it.  He was a huge personality, and having him as a friend was like brushing up against an aircraft carrier.

He was an avid outdoorsman in a 3-piece suit.  Wearing cowboy boots.  Covered in white dog hair.

He was a skilled musician who loved to grill.  My kids called him 'uncle Wendell', and he never came to my home without a gift for everyone.

Wendell was a great friend and a great man, and he will be greatly missed.