Cooter Brown
Well-known member
Anyone who has lived anywhere around Atlanta for the last 30 years or so knows who Captain Herb is. Or, unfortunately, was.
He came to Atlanta from Brevard, North Carolina in 1971, burning with a desire to be on radio. Some man gave him a chance. Herb certainly made that man look smart.
Captain Herb died Saturday. He heard the concussion of a wreck near his home--after dialing 911 he went to the scene and pulled a mother and child from the wreckage (which was leaking gasoline).
After rescuing the child and mother Captain Herb succumbed to a massive heart attack.
Captain Herb was THE traffic reporter in the metro Atlanta area. But he was much much more than that. He was Santa Claus to three generations of kids around the area. He was the voice of NASCAR. He was the voice that woke you up in the morning.
By the best estimates, he devoted over 80 days of each year to charity appearances. He did little else but work a split shift (rush hours) and charity events. His compatriots are sure he did more than that without telling them. Think about that and your calendar.
He was a man that drove a replica of Andy Taylor's sheriff's car in parades.
He was a man that could make you smile and laugh while you were stuck (and you thought hopelessly) in the worst traffic in the country--and that's saying something. He prevented a lot of road rage...
He was a man who saw every day as a new adventure, as a new opportunity to give and to live.
He was 61 years old, and he died doing what he lived to do--helping someone.
Herb would say, in response to a particularly bad traffic snarl, "Oh, my achin' toe!". But his usual attitude, which he expressed every day, was shown in something he said more often than he ever said anything negative about the most negative thing most people go thru; "Keep a smile on your face and and a song in your heart!"
RIP, Captain.
He came to Atlanta from Brevard, North Carolina in 1971, burning with a desire to be on radio. Some man gave him a chance. Herb certainly made that man look smart.
Captain Herb died Saturday. He heard the concussion of a wreck near his home--after dialing 911 he went to the scene and pulled a mother and child from the wreckage (which was leaking gasoline).
After rescuing the child and mother Captain Herb succumbed to a massive heart attack.
Captain Herb was THE traffic reporter in the metro Atlanta area. But he was much much more than that. He was Santa Claus to three generations of kids around the area. He was the voice of NASCAR. He was the voice that woke you up in the morning.
By the best estimates, he devoted over 80 days of each year to charity appearances. He did little else but work a split shift (rush hours) and charity events. His compatriots are sure he did more than that without telling them. Think about that and your calendar.
He was a man that drove a replica of Andy Taylor's sheriff's car in parades.
He was a man that could make you smile and laugh while you were stuck (and you thought hopelessly) in the worst traffic in the country--and that's saying something. He prevented a lot of road rage...
He was a man who saw every day as a new adventure, as a new opportunity to give and to live.
He was 61 years old, and he died doing what he lived to do--helping someone.
Herb would say, in response to a particularly bad traffic snarl, "Oh, my achin' toe!". But his usual attitude, which he expressed every day, was shown in something he said more often than he ever said anything negative about the most negative thing most people go thru; "Keep a smile on your face and and a song in your heart!"
RIP, Captain.
