RIP Randy Moore

[relic]

Kinda thought/felt that guy deserves a thread of his own.

Just say'in.

I miss him yesterday.  Damn.

[Thunder Good-Oil]

We lost another really good guy.

Heard on the radio today that he had diabetes and a couple of previous heart attacks and a by-pass operation. He knew that he was declining but kept it quiet.

Read in the Greenville paper that he had a massive heart attack Friday night while working on a story covering the local high school football team. Emergency was there quickly but couldn't save him. They tried for an hour in the ER. He had recently adopted three shelter dogs.

I had sent him an e-mail about 6 months ago. He was very nice... took the time to reply and have a conversation.

Who'd a thunk that Ben Byrd would be the last standing from the Knoxville Journal sports staff of Randy, Russ Bebb, and Gary Lundy?

[relic]

Posted: Thursday, August 27th, 2015, 7:13 PM
by Beano
SINCE WE LAST SPOKE 8-27-15

WE’LL MISS RANDY MOORE: I came home Saturday -from what now seems like an even less important batting practice session than usual- to the sad news that Randy Moore had passed away at 63 years of age. My first thought was that is way too young for anyone let alone someone as widely respected as Randy. My second was of his earliest work with the Knoxville Journal in 1974 when I was a senior at Oak Ridge High School. I dabbled in sports journalism with the school paper in those years so I had a greater than passing interest in style of writing and –probably foolishly- what I thought I could draw from it concerning the scribe’s character. I immediately liked Randy through his work and years later after making his acquaintance I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that -at least in this instance- my first impressions had been dead on.

Randy –unlike recent editions of the football program and seemingly a lifetime of the basketball program he covered so effectively- was a consistent source of excellence. Raised in Greeneville, Tennessee he had a knowledge of University of Tennessee athletics history and tradition and a feel for the heartbeat of the Volunteer fanbase that few if any of his peers possessed. Though he didn't hide the fact that he was a Volunteer fan he never allowed it to slant his reporting. He was neither overprotective nor excessively critical. His work was as balanced, honest and fair as any I have had the privilege to enjoy in my 50+ years of Tennessee fandom. Those were rare attributes even 40 years ago in his chosen profession let alone in today’s “let’s be first even if we’re wrong” media world.

Randy exhibited the same solid character traits with people as he applied to his writing. I know because I was the fortunate recipient of his good will. When Tony first allowed me to cover Tennessee Football practices for him in the late 90s I had little training in the profession and probably less business attending/reporting on the practices I witnessed. I was a new face, who hadn’t paid his dues rubbing shoulders with those who had in a cliquish and competitive business. I was having fun while others were plying their trade. Randy Moore however treated me with respect and helped me through those early lost days as if I were his protégé. I have never –and will never- forget his kindness and I will miss him greatly for however many more Volunteer athletic events I am blessed to witness. Randy was taken from us far too early and with every day that passes it becomes more evident that this old world can’t afford to lose people of his ilk before their time. May God Bless Randy Moore and all who are better off today for knowing him.

[JM]

I HATED this news!!