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There was a tribute honoring Dan Whittle at the Smyrna Public Library on Wednesday.

Longtime friend Marty Luffman acted as emcee, but his voice quivered when he announced that the spotlight guest had taken a turn for the worse on Tuesday night, and by Wednesday had to undergo treatments for leukemia.

Smyrna Town Mayor Mary Esther Reed had both a proclamation honoring Whittle as well as another surprise . . .

Dan is a popular humorist, writer, story teller and broadcaster. I guess you could describe him as a modern day Mark Twain.

When you examine his life, there's nothing regular about Dan. He says he got into journalism during high school when he dropped into his hometown newspaper and applied for the janitor's position. The publisher thought he was someone else, and the first question was, "How long had he wanted to write sports?" Whittle didn't miss a beat and replied, "All my life!"

The rest is history. Whittle has covered stories all over the world. And when he came to Middle Tennessee, the public embraced his style of writing about the past and how that has helped to make America great!

Dan's love for Rutherford County has blossomed over the years with a fundraiser. Whittlemania has helped Habitat for Humanity, The Tennessee Fisher House and many other great causes.

Last year, he was inducted into the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame.

But just as Dan got into his career with a unique flair, he is exiting in the same way. He talks casually about his imminent death while cracking a joke with the next breath.

WGNS' Bart Walker spoke with Whittle about an hour after the Smyrna Library tribute. Walker said, "He sounded strong and chipper. We talked about the large turnout earlier in the day."

Then the Dan we all know and love burst forth with great enthusiasm, "I had a dream the other day, you and I were in it, along with a third person I don't know. I was starting my own talk show on WGNS."

Walker quickly retorted, "We can make that one come true!"

If only the lack of time was not a factor, but then how often have you thought that in another one of the chapters in your life?

We have all been blessed with Dan's words from the heart that he has shared over the years, and the wit that he regularly modulates over the Truman Show, as recently as Tuesday, December 18, 2018 on WGNS.

THANK YOU DAN

Here is what happened at the Smyrna Public Library (1/2/2019) with the tribute to Dan Whittle and his wife Pat . . .