Category Archives: TV News

WWDVD?

Posted on April 4, 2023 by tommystafford

  Whenever there’s a tornado outbreak, I think about Doug Viar. Whenever I hear something stupid in the news, I think about Doug Viar. Whenever I see something dumb in politics (there a lot these days!) I think abut Doug … Continue reading →

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Doug Viar Taught Me Everything I Ever Learned About Covering News – Sure Wish He Was Still Around

Posted on April 4, 2022 by tommystafford

I’ll never, ever forget the day Doug Viar’s daughter, Lori, sent me an instant message  over Facebook. “Tommy, daddy is gone.” It sort of confirmed something I had a funny feeling about that day. I’d been trying to reach Doug. … Continue reading →

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10 Years Ago Today TV News Lost A Legend. I Lost My Friend : Remembering Doug Viar

Posted on April 4, 2021 by tommystafford

Ten years ago on this very day Doug Viar died. I’ve written a similar post to this one every year on the anniversary date of his death. I can’t believe it’s already been a decade. This year’s anniversary remembrance was … Continue reading →

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I Knew This Day Would Eventually Come – Happy Trails Printed Blue Ridge Life Magazine

Posted on March 26, 2021 by tommystafford

Roseland Nelson County, Virginia By Tommy Stafford It’s amazing how fast 16 years can go by when you’re an adult, and you’re adulting. Not so much when you’re a kid and you’re waiting on the 16th birthday so you can … Continue reading →

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Godspeed My Friend & Fellow Pilot, Steve Shannon

Posted on February 24, 2021 by tommystafford

Dyer County, Tennessee I was sitting in my favorite Mexican restaurant here the mountains of Virginia when I got the message from a mutual friend Joe Markham down in Florida. “Steve Shannon died this morning.” Within a minute I had … Continue reading →

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Happy Trails Meteorologist David Reese!

Posted on February 24, 2021 by tommystafford

Charlottesville, VA > Brownsville, TX If I’ve learned anything from my stint of 20 years back in the TV News business, it’s this. You’ll make a lot of great friends, but don’t get used to them hanging around too long. … Continue reading →

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It’s Not The Bad Times That Get You It’s The Good Ones!

Posted on October 8, 2020 by tommystafford

Roseland, Virginia  Years ago in the early 90s I co-hosted a daily morning cable show back in Northwest Tennessee. It was a pretty darn good quality show for its time considering it was local cable and only reached 10-15 thousand … Continue reading →

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Doug Viar : Remembering My Friend & News Mentor 9 Years Later

Posted on April 4, 2020 by tommystafford

Doug Viar left us on this very day 9 years ago in April of 2011. Just short of a decade. As many of you know Doug was my TV news mentor. He taught me just about everything I know today … Continue reading →

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8 Years Ago Today We Said Good-Bye To A Mid-South TV News Legend & Friend

Posted on April 4, 2019 by tommystafford

Every year around April 4th I reflect on what to say about my dear departed friend and TV news mentor, the late Doug Viar. Doug literally dropped dead walking down the steps from his office in Jackson, Tennessee on April … Continue reading →

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