Edward M. Kimbrell, Ph.D., age 86, of Columbia, TN, well known Professor Emeritus of Mass Communications at Middle Tennessee State University, departed from us on February 26, 2026, at his home surrounded by his wife and his pets.

Dr. Kimbrell was born on May 3, 1939, in Oak Park, IL. He attended the Medill School of Journalism at Northwest University obtaining his Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism and his Master of Science in Print Journalism. Dr. Kimbrell continued his education at the University of Missouri, Columbia, and earned his Ph.D., of International Communications and Controls of Information. While writing his dissertation, he went to Paris, France to write the history of the famous Paris Herald Tribune.

In 1971, Dr. Kimbrell was appointed as the first chair of the newly established Department of Mass Communications at MTSU. He transformed the Mass Communications program from its humble beginnings—a small office with a single typewriter—into the prestigious department it is today.  In 1973, he established the Recording Industry Management degree program.

Dr. Kimbrell set goals to get an endowed chair, an accreditation, and a new building for the department. The Seigenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies was established by Dr. Kimbrell and others in 1986. As the department grew, he worked with the university's president to take the department to school status in 1988. In that same year, the department received its accreditation. Dr. Kimbrell was chosen as the first Dean of the College of Mass Communication in 1989. He worked closely with the late Representative John T. Bragg for over seven years seeking funding for the Mass Communications' building, and it came to fruition in 1990.

Above all, Dr. Kimbrell loved being in the classroom with his students and creating curriculum for the school until his retirement in 2016. He received many awards including MTSU Teacher of the Year, Gamma Beta Phi Teacher of the Year, Tennessee Speech Communicator of the Year, Telly Award, Golden Apple Award for Teaching, Pi Kappa Alpha Outstanding Teacher Award, Faculty Emeritus Status, and three Emmy Awards. In 2012, MTSU established the Ed Kimbrell Excellence in Teaching Award in his honor.

For many years, Dr. Kimbrell was a media critic and commentator on news stations in the Middle Tennessee area. He was a frequent collaborator and guest writer for the Nashville Tennessean. Throughout his life he was a prolific writer and wrote extensively on First Amendment Rights and Media Law.

Dr. Kimbrell is survived by his wife of 30 years, Bonita Denson Kimbrell; beloved dog, Gina; and cats, Georgie and Figaro.

Visitation with the family will be Saturday, May 23, 2026 from 11:00am until 1:00pm at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 1:00pm at Woodfin Memorial Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to Music City Greyhound Adoption Organization, 1128 Neptune Road, Ashland City, Tennessee 37015. (musiccitygreyhoundadoption.com).