Ask the Memphian
Ask the Memphian: Who was Monk?
An unlikely local celebrity, Anthony “Monk” Cassata was known by thousands, and he spent decades walking the streets of Memphis with a heavy cane, big cigar, orange cap and multiple coats.
John Klyce
John Klyce is an enterprise reporter with The Daily Memphian who writes a wide range of in-depth features, as well as profiles about local leaders, scientists, musicians, artists, entrepreneurs, and anyone else doing exciting and important work in this city.
There are 79 articles by John Klyce :
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May 2026
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BusinessAt JA BizTown, kids get first taste of ‘the world of work’
At Junior Achievement’s JA BizTown, fifth and sixth graders run a mini city and take jobs at storefronts that represent major Memphis organizations.
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Spirit of MemphisPast struggles and a near-death experience led Curtis Hines to co-found a nonprofit for South Memphis men
Better Men Better Families provides mentorship, brotherhood and financial-literacy programs to men from South Memphis. Its president and co-founder Curtis Hines is driven by his own experiences and a deep sense of responsibility.
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MetroGrief to graduation: Woman honors her mother’s legacy after losing three family members in crash
Brittney Wilson’s mother, Tonya Cannady, was her best friend. When her mother and brothers were killed in a car wreck, she considered quitting nursing school. But her mom’s colleagues at Youth Villages helped her get through it.
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Why doesn’t Memphis land as many big movie productions as it used to?
A few decades ago, stars like Tom Cruise, Matt Damon and Reese Witherspoon were shooting movies in Memphis. Longtime local film commissioner Linn Sitler discusses what’s changed and why there’s hope for the future.
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EducationU of M research is fighting the pit-falls of peach production
A new research project done by the University of Memphis scientists could save West Tennessee farmers by helping identify when a disease outbreak threatens their peach crop.
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Spirit of MemphisAsk the Memphian: Why doesn’t Memphis land as many big movie productions as it used to?
A few decades ago, stars like Tom Cruise, Matt Damon and Reese Witherspoon were shooting movies in Memphis. Longtime local film commissioner Linn Sitler discusses what’s changed and why there’s hope for the future.
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April 2026
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Arts & CultureInside the world of Senior Assassin, the all-consuming game being played by high school seniors
Some seniors at local high schools are playing a game called Senior Assassin, crouching behind bushes, stalking other students in stores and wearing swim gear to protect themselves.
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MusicAsk the Memphian: Where did Elvis live before Graceland?
Everyone knows Elvis lived at Graceland. But before this, he spent 13 months at 1034 Audubon Drive, during one of the most consequential periods of his career.
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Spirit of MemphisFor the Dorothy Day House, serving Memphis’ homeless families is a divine calling
When the Dorothy Day House started in 2006, it was run entirely by volunteers and helped three homeless families a year. Now it helps more than 20 a year.
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BusinessWhy Sesame Street’s marketing leader and a lifelong New Yorker came to Memphis to work for ALSAC
Samantha Maltin has been the chief marketing and branding officer at ALSAC for about 18 months, and she recently discussed her career, her involvement in the community and the work she’s doing at one of Memphis’ most well-known institutions.
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Music‘All these shining stars’ — Keeping up with Memphis’ music family, the Whalums
The Whalums have a rich musical history. Here’s how the latest generation of Whalum musicians have carried on their family’s legacy — while also carving out their own distinct and distinguished careers.
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Spirit of Memphis Memphis’ forgotten figures: Jimmie Lunceford
You might not have heard of Jimmie Lunceford, a jazz musician and band leader. But in the 1930s, this Memphian was a major star.
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Arts & CultureMeet the Memphian who’s preserving handmade anime history
Jonathan Walker has collected about 6,000 sketches, cels and storyboards from the late 1990s anime series “Nazca.” And he’s using them to launch a preservation project honoring the craftsmanship of the art form.
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March 2026
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Arts & CultureEmbracing Memphis: Why an acclaimed poet shares his passion for writing in his adopted home
Award-winning poet and U of M professor Marcus Wicker has been in Memphis for nearly a decade. Here’s how he developed a passion for poetry, and why he’s sharing it with the community.
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MetroAsk the Memphian: How did the Black community help save Memphis during the Yellow Fever Epidemic?
The Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1878 was one of the worst disasters in American history, and it devastated Memphis. But during one of the saddest, darkest periods of the city’s history, Black Memphians helped save it.
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Spirit of Memphis‘A force of nature’: Colleagues, family describe late Varsity Spirit founder
Webb stands among Memphis’ most consequential entrepreneurs, and he’s credited with revolutionizing cheerleading and turning it into what we see today.
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Spirit of Memphis‘I read every last one of them’: New Fox13 reporter Rob Sneed on his viral Memphis welcome
Thanks to his viral Facebook post, new Fox13 reporter Rob Sneed is recognized everywhere he goes in Memphis. And after a 17-year career and one of the most challenging years of his life, all the attention is especially meaningful.
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Ask the MemphianAsk the Memphian: Is the zoo still considering adding a members entrance off North Parkway?
The Memphis Zoo is planning to turn its North Parkway property into a 300-space parking lot. Exactly who it’s for, however, remains to be seen.
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Spirit of MemphisInside the world of Memphis model railroaders
Every Saturday, local model railroaders meet to socialize, operate trains and work on their layouts in a warehouse-sized space.
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Spirit of MemphisHow an East High student who liked to wear suits became a CEO who sports one every day
When Cortney Richardson was a sophomore in high school, he started working with a fledgling nonprofit, Peer Power, as a tutor. Now he’s running the organization.
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Ask the MemphianAsk the Memphian: Who was the oldest person in Memphis history? She was also the oldest person in the world.
When Elizabeth Bolden died in 2006, she was 116, and had 40 grandchildren, 75 great-grandchildren, 150 great-great-grandchildren, 220 great-great-great-grandchildren and 75 great-great-great-great-grandchildren.
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Spirit of MemphisA New Yorker who helps others share their stories rewrites her own tale in Memphis
Hayley Brooks started out in the entertainment industry. Here’s how she became an entrepreneur and why she’s grown so fond of Memphis.
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February 2026
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Health CareThe ‘life-changing’ lessons medical students learn from dissecting cadavers
Faculty sets a tone: Bodies will be treated with dignity. Usually, however, students don’t need the reminder. At the end of the semester, many even linger to say goodbye to their bodies.
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Spirit of MemphisWhen wild birds of prey are injured, rehabbers aim to fix damage done by other humans
Since its inception in 2003, the Mid-South Raptor Center, which is run entirely by volunteers, has rehabilitated and released more than 2,000 wounded wild birds of prey.
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