Obituary: Don Spain passes away at age 71

Lt. Governor and former Speaker of the House called him 'one of the best'

Email | Print By Ken Whitehouse

Don Spain

Television political journalist Don Spain, 71, died early Sunday morning of natural causes after collapsing at home in Nashville. Spain, a native of Old Hickory, was the owner of Capitol Media Service and the senior member of the Capitol Hill Press Corps.  

Well known and respected by legislators, lobbyists and media colleagues, Spain produced Legislative Report, a weekly recap of activities in the Tennessee General Assembly broadcast statewide on public television stations since 1983.

He established Capitol Media Service in 1980 and served as president since that time.

"Don was one of the most respected journalists on Capitol Hill,” Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, a Republican, told the Post. “His program ran statewide, and his information was trusted by the people. I am shocked and saddened and extend my deepest sympathies to his family."

And former House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, a Democrat, said, "I think the people of Tennessee relied very highly on him. He told it the way it was, unbiased. You could count on him to be there and be fair. I've known him for the entire time he worked on Capitol Hill and always knew him to be one of the best. My deepest condolences to his family and all who worked closely with him. He will be truly missed."
   
Spain also founded Tennessee News Service Inc. in 1975, which led to the formation of the Tennessee Radio Network, the Kentucky Network, and the South Carolina Network. These networks provided news, sports and agriculture programming to 300 radio stations. He served as vice president of the National Association of State Radio Networks in1979.

From 1972-1975, Spain was the assistant news director at WSM-TV in Nashville and served as director of public relations for the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Department of Safety before that.  

He began his broadcast career at WKRM in Columbia, Tenn., in 1957 where he served as announcer, program director and news director until he joined WSM-TV in 1966 as its night news editor. During that period he was also a correspondent for the Associated Press and the Nashville Tennessean.

His stint at WKRM was interrupted for two years when he was called to serve in the U.S. Army.

In addition to his extensive work in journalism, Spain was a well-known videographer who had taped many weddings in the Nashville and surrounding areas over the years.

Visitation will be on Nov. 10 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m with funeral services at 10 a.m the following day. Both will be held at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home in Nashville.