Libby Murphy: A Force Of Nature!

I can’t say that I was Libby Murphy’s closest friend. To be honest, it had been months since I had last spoken to her. I can’t say that I knew her longer than a lot of people in my life, because I didn’t just having met her in 2012.

But, Libby Murphy changed my life, and for that I will always be grateful.

Libby passed away last night rather suddenly. To say it was unexpected would be an understatement. But, Jackson, Tennessee – and the world will never be the same.

I met her in the early part of 2012. I had just moved back to Tennessee – and was in an emotional wreck. My marriage was in the process of ending, and I had just taken a job that, well, to be honest, I didn’t know if I really was qualified for or not.

At the time, among many of her other causes, Libby was also helping Gary Morris with various aspects of his career. Upon talking to her on the phone a few times, it was obvious there was something different about this woman. I literally had no idea. We made plans to meet for breakfast one Saturday morning at Shaw’s Old Country Store (what many will simply refer to as “Casey Jones”) in Jackson. We sat down at 10am, and began the small talk that one does when you’re waiting on a waiter.

At 2pm, we placed our lunch order. In those four hours, we talked about everything. But, for some reason, she had this strong interest in my career. By the time I had left Jackson, I had a freelance job offer from a West Tennessee magazine – in which the editor, Janna Herbison, has become a close friend, and even was on the phone with a man who was Isaac Hayes’ personal assistant.

Through the meeting, and the years that have ensued, there were moments that I was a little unsure of myself. Whenever I had those moments, she would reassure me strongly that I was where I was for a reason. I still have my moments where I doubt that, but I am a lot more secure than I used to be in what I do.

But…..I am not alone. I was just one cause Libby Murphy championed. If it was a charity in West Tennessee, Libby Murphy was usually a crucial part of it. And, she knew everyone. Democrats. Republicans. Rich. Poor. There were no lines with her. Upon talking with Janna about her last night, I think you could effectively call her a force of nature, and you would be summing her up properly. I wonder – and there will be no way to ever truly find out – how many people’s lives are better for Libby Murphy having been in them.

And, when I say she knew everyone, that’s the way it seemed. A meeting with her usually resulted in about four or five introductions. One time, I was part of her entourage that went to The Blues Ball in Memphis. In the car I was in was one of the leading surgeons in the mid-South. Later that night, I was introduced to Priscilla Presley. I have been blessed to have met a lot of people in the public eye – but Priscilla? This was royalty, for crying out loud.

That’s just one instance of my world colliding in an orbit that I would have never thought possible – had it not been for Libby Murphy. We served on the board of Bone Appetit, an animal resucue event in Jackson one year, and it was around the time that Princess Kate was pregnant with her first child. As you can imagine, discussion was rampant at the table about what the name of the child was going to be. I looked at Libby and said ‘Can’t you make a call?’ She looked at me, without missing a beat, and said “I probably could.”

To this day, I still don’t know if she was joking or not. If anyone in Jackson, TN had a pipeline to the Royal Family, it would have been Libby Murphy.

While force of nature aptly describes her, for me she would be a mixture of Julia Sugarbaker from “Designing Women” and Charlotte from Charlotte’s Web. She was as southern and as sassy as the former, and as compassionate and encouraging as the latter. She believed in me…..when I was a total emotional wreck.

Losses are a part of life. As I get older, I understand that. But, that still doesn’t take away the sting of this one. They say she passed away at 9:13 last night. Somehow, by 10pm, I have a feeling a conversation such as this was happening.

Libby: (in southern voice)  “Gawd, we need to talk. The animals need a park up here, and we need to work on a beautification committee. I have lined up a benefit, and if you’ll just show me where Elvis is, I can get this thing scheduled!

“Gawd” – nor Elvis – wouldn’t dare say “No” to Libby Murphy. One just didn’t – or doesn’t do that. I will miss you, my friend, but I know I’m not alone. All that you came in contact with  - humans and dogs – are the better for it. I’m glad you’re reunited with your father, brother, and “Senator.” Thanks for believing in me, when I couldn’t see the forest for the trees! I will try to pass that forward!

Goodbye, Plas!

Warning. If you were to call me between 3 and 6 today, I likely won’t answer the phone. Like many Middle Tennesseans, I will be in the process of saying goodbye to an old friend.

I can’t remember the first time I ever heard George Plaster on the radio. It had to be sometime in the early 1990s on 99.7 FM. As a sports-talk personality, he definitely had his opinions. Many times – especially back then – he would add his opinions about the Dallas Cowboys. I can’t say I always agreed with him, but his take on things was always entertaining and enjoyable.

Over the past two and a half decades, George Plaster and afternoon radio has become a huge tradition with me. Whether I was driving to Dickson or wherever to do a ball game on Friday afternoons – or simply caught in the total torment that is Nashville rush hour, Plaster was there. Did I always agree with “Mr. Vanderbilt / Atlanta Braves?” Certainly not, but he was entertaining…..and respectful of those who took the time to call – and hold on long enough to get their question on. (I only called once on Plaster’s show – 1994 – when the late Buddy Ryan was hired as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. I wondered how nasty that rivalry might become since Ryan was the devil to Jimmy Johnson’s angel (!) at Dallas. Plaster said I shouldn’t have much to worry about. Indeed, he was right.

Throughout a couple of station changes over the years, he has continued to be a voice that people trusted – whether it had to with the Vols, the ‘Dores, the Oilers / Titans, and the Predators. In fact – though watching grass grow is about as exciting as watching an NHL game to me (though I would love to sit two rows behind my friend Rosie Bradford to see her tick off the visitors. The woman is brutal!) , Plaster was almost single-handedly responsible for the Predators staying put when they could have relocated. There have been other sports guys in town……but Plaster is the dean.

Today marks George Plaster’s last day on the air in Nashville, as he has taken on a new job in the Belmont marketing office. I have laughed, cried, and cussed at my radio over the years during his time on the air. It won’t be the same. The thing that I have always had respect for was – though I have never met George, he always seemed like a pretty nice guy – something that you don’t see in sports talk radio. Take for instance, Nashville and 104.5 – you’ve got Mark Howard and his J.R. Ewing personality – without any of Larry Hagman’s charm, and Paul Kuharsky – who I think baits the listeners just a little bit – making fun of anyone with a twang. As far as the afternoon crew goes, I don’t know how they are. Plaster is on. That’s all that mattered.

So, next week begins a new area with Floyd Reese – one of Nashville sports’ all-around good guys, and Jared Stillman. Wait a minute? Jared Stillman. It’s going to be a lot different, as he doesn’t seem to care who he ticks off with his Howard-type personality. But, I’ll give him a chance. A test pattern can be more entertaining than the 104.5 crew sometimes…….but George Plaster, you will be missed!

I just wanted to throw that out there….