Dan Whittle, age 74, of Smyrna, TN, passed away Thursday, April 25, 2019 at 5:00 a.m. after a lengthy battle with leukemia.

The noted Journalist from Canalou, MO. was also a war correspondent, radio talk show Co-Host, Crusader, co-founder and member of the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame, class of 2018, Author, Speaker, Nature Photographer and community activist.

He graduated from Richland MO. High School in 1962 named earlier as one of the top 10 high schools in the United States by US News and World Reports.

He worked as a reporter for The Daily Standard, Sikeston, Missouri, The Nashville Banner, The Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro, TN., and was a regular contributor as a columnist to The Murfreesboro Post  and The Cannon Courier.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents, father H.A. Whittle, in 1950 and mother Ruby (2013), brother Hubert Van Whittle in (2003), and sister Mary June Cox (2014). He is survived by his wife and love of his life, protector and greatest friend, Patricia (Pat), numerous step children and step grandchildren and Honey Bear, a lovable housedog.

Being raised in rural Missouri, on a farm, he knew from experience with raw hand pain from picking cotton eight hours a day that he was determined to find other work. One of his first attempts at public work was a job at a local car salesman at the local town used car lot. After selling only one car in six months and losing $300 on the deal, he was fired, nicely by the owner who said, "Danny, you are a hard worker, a good man, but a car salesman you're not." As a friendly jester from the car lot owner, along with a pink slip and a good recommendation Dan went straight to the Sikeston Daily Standard newspaper office to apply for the janitor's job.

Danny Whittle began his journalism career at his hometown newspaper by accident thinking that he was applying for a janitor's job, he walked into the publisher's office and was asked, "Son how long have you been interested in writing sports? Before he could muster an answer, he replied automatic even without thinking with an uncontrolled reply, "all my life!". He was hired immediately at age 18 in mid-1960 and became the youngest sports writer around.

Not having what would be called today a "formal education" and being a country boy living in a house without indoor plumbing, Danny Dale Whittle, beginning at age three, learned many words by picture association from musing inside the latest edition of the Sears and Roebuck Catalogue in the three-hole library and meditation room out back. One of his first words he learned, he recalled, was brassiere! He said he could spell that word frontwards and backwards which was quite an accomplishment at this early age.

Dan Whittle learned  early in life during his experience in the second grade at the local elementary school in Canalou, that life was not going to be easy and that he was about to enter his first war experience with his second-grade school teacher, Mrs. Cox, someone with a notable public history from years of teaching who developed  expert use of a wide leather belt strap.

He recalled his first introduction to war material, he was caught by the teacher of passing love notes back to his girlfriend. The note consisted of two lines; "I like you, do you like me?"  Teacher, he confided was not friendly! Danny remembered he received two "whops' with the belt across his arm. Then after witnessing his girlfriend being scolded in front of his class by his teacher for saying a few not to nice words in front of his classmates and to his teacher, he received the second installment; three lashes across the other arm.

After being properly seated at his desk and seeing his teacher with her head buried grading papers, he wrote a note to her, and crawled stealthily up the aisle without being seen and quietly placed the hand-written note on her desk and ran back to his desk, but not before Mrs. Cox announced loudly, Dan Whittle come here! The note expressed Danny's upset feelings toward his teacher. The note said bluntly, "Dear Mrs. Cox, "I hate your guts!" He later said he was taught to be nice when confronting older folk, but he forgot one thing. He signed the note Little Danny Whittle he later commented, in one of his many articles chronicling his younger years that he was not the brightest child growing up!

Having a somewhat mischievous nature, Dan still holds the record for seven whippings in one day at the school.

Dan would set many records during his life. After retirement from the Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro, he continued for several years to be selected by readers as the best columnist, a deserved recognition for someone who touched the hearts of the rich and famous, politicians, the downtrodden and homeless.

Dan always remembered his upbringing in Missouri bootheel swamp country and later wrote extensively about his experiences there. His second-grade war with Teacher Mrs. Cox paved the way for covering the Bosnian war and the humanitarian efforts by the Tennessee National Guard to furnish medical supplies and food to the hungry, ignoring the ground fire striking the C-130 aircraft during night food drops over enemy territory. He was prepared for anything.

Dan was proud of his rural upbringing in Missouri. When accompanying members of the 118th Airlift wing, a C-130 unit and during a pre-departure briefing, Dan was asked by an Air Force Colonel where he went to school. He abruptly stood up and replied, somewhat jokingly, "Sir I matriculated through the college of Canalou Tech, College of Advanced Thinking and Higher Cyphering."  His comments were not funny to the Colonel!

Dan would later author many articles about his coverage of the war praising veterans of the guard for their service and sacrifice during needed fund-raising drives to build a Fisher House at the Veterans Hospital in Murfreesboro, TN.  His concern for his fellow man continued through his journalistic efforts which bore his name, "Whittle Mania," another fundraising effort eventually building 17 homes for the homeless, and providing much needed support for "The Room in the Inn," a comforting home  where homeless could go for a shower and a good meal, and a good night's sleep

Not having funds or methods to travel growing up in Canalou, Missouri, later he was able to travel to many countries as a journalist, one of which was to Eastern Europe. Dan was invited by Rutherford County 4th District U.S. Congressman Bart Gordan to accompany him and cover an ongoing effort in Romania to provide support to young orphaned kids who had lost their parents during war torn years there.

His excellent coverage provided knowledge and future congressional support to these unfortunate parentless children.

Speaking about Dans journalistic creativity to find comedy in most any setting, Journalist and friend Charles Thompson said, "Dan never forgot his roots or getting above his raising, He revealed in getting to know and writing about folks whose own hardscrabble life stories mirror, in many ways his own existence. Dan had a God Given gift to find comedy in the most unusual places."

Through his creative realm writings, Dan's words touched the lives of the young, old, rich and famous. A 13-year-old friend from Green Hill Baptist sent him an email saying, "Dan, Dan, The Mail Man, you are so sweet and do amazing things, am praying for you and Ms. Pat."

A regular reader of his stories about the trials and tribulations of growing up in a country setting described Dan as her Ghost friend, saying she did not know him personally, but knew who he was and always found his writings to be entertaining, informative and "right down her ally for a good read."

Tennessee Senior Judge Don Ash described Dan as a teacher, saying 'he didn't have many words of wisdom, but that through his writings, he was taught about family, homelessness, politics and most of all how to cherish friends."

Dans many writings over the years often mirrored his rural upbringing. Being of short stature and having the nickname "Little Danny Whittle," he found out that his strengths came from growing up in the "Bootheel" farming region of Missouri. John Launius, Poet Laureate of Morehouse, MO. said, "being from the same region he knew Dan and his friend Garry Lewis, now a prominent successful Louisiana Businessman, credited their hard-working farming parents for influencing their young lives leading them to success."

Dan is the author of three books; Canalou, People Culture, Bootheel Town; Music City, Talent behind the Stars, and a Biography, soon to be published, about his growing up childhood friend Missouri native Gary Lewis, a retired Navy Capt. Jet Pilot and successful Entrepreneur.

Funeral services will be Saturday, today, at 1:00 p.m. at Woodfin Chapel in Smyrna. Brother Dan Parker, Dr. Ivan Sheffield, and Garry Lewis will officiate. Burial will be in Mapleview Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to The Dan Whittle, MTSU Journalism Scholarship fund at % Abby White, MTSU Box 51, 1301 E. Main, Murfreesboro, TN., 37132, The Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame, Box 202, Lascassas, TN 37085, The Fisher House Foundation, Box 774, Brentwood, TN 37024-0774, or to Alive Hospice of Murfreesboro at Alive Hospice, Inc. 1718 Patterson Street, Nashville, TN 37203.

An online guestbook is available at www.woodfinchapel.com

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