Celebrating 70 years: Reflecting on top stories covered by WBBJ
JACKSON, Tenn. — March 6, 2025 marks WBBJ’s 70th anniversary! Over the past 70 years, this station has brought West Tennessee breaking news of all kinds straight to your living rooms from right here in east Jackson.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest stories we’ve brought to you over the years.
WDXI Signs on for the First Time
On March 6th, 1955, we signed on as WDXI bringing news, sports and weather coverage to West Tennessee.
We would carry that callsign until 1966 when the station was purchased by Bahakel Communications. From then on we would be the WBBJ you know.
Lane College Freshman Four
West Tennessee was at the forefront of the Civil Rights movement throughout the 1960s and Jackson was no different. The Freshman Four at Lane College fought to end racial segregation with a sit in protest at Woolworth’s, enduring threats, harassment and objects thrown at them for sitting at a whites only counter. Their names are Shirlene Mercer, Kimmie Davis, Wesley McClure, and Ernest Brooks, Sr.
Jackson Sends a Team to Williamsport
In sports, the 1974 Jackson, Tennessee team became the first, and still to this day, only team to represent West Tennessee at the little league world series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
The team would take a one-hit shutout into the sixth inning, but ultimately lose to Venezuela 1-0 in the first round, then go on a tear in the consolation bracket beating Canada 10-1 and Connecticut 14-2.
The team was invited to meet with President Gerald Ford, his first guests after Nixon’s resignation.
Miss Tennessee First Televised
Miss Tennessee has happened annually since 1938, but in 1985, the pageant was televised for the very first time.
Mountain city’s Sonya Pleasant won the title of Miss Tennessee. She went onto Miss America where she performed Patsy Cline’s “I Fall to Pieces.”
Jackson Awarded MLB Team
After 42 years of having no professional baseball in the Hub City, the Southern League’s Memphis Chicks relocated to Jackson, becoming the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, where they were the AA affiliate for the Chicago Cubs until 2006, the Seattle Mariners from 2007-2016 renaming to the Jackson Generals in 2010, and the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2017-2020. The team won four Southern League Championships in Jackson.
731 Area Code
A growing need for more phone numbers in West Tennessee was apparent at the turn of the century. In September 2001, the 901 area code was trimmed down to Fayette, Shelby, and Tipton counties. The rest of West Tennessee became the 731.
F4, EF-4 Tornadoes & Union WBB 4 Championship in 6 years
Weather was particularly unkind to the Hub City in the early 21st century as Jackson experienced an F-4 tornado in 2003 and an EF-4 in 2008.
Downtown Jackson was in the path of the 2003 storm. Union University took a direct hit during the 2008 super Tuesday outbreak. Union University’s Unionite Magazine credits former WBBJ Weather Anchors Gary Pickens and Mike McEvoy for giving Union students ample warning to take shelter.
That same Union University was a force to be reckoned with in the late 2000’s as the women’s basketball team won four NAIA national championships in 6 years. Mark Campbell was the head coach of the Lady bulldogs for all four of these championships. In July of 2014, union would begin the transition to NCAA division 2.
Holly Bobo Murder Case
In April of 2011, 20-year-old Decatur County resident Holly Bobo vanished from her home.
Her remains were found near her home in September of 2014. Three men were charged with the kidnapping, rape and murder of bobo. Zachary Adams received a sentence of life plus 50 years, and his brother John Dylan Adams was sentenced to 35 years.
Jason Autry pleaded guilty to lesser charges and was sentenced to 8 years in prison. Autry was released in 2020.
COVID-19 Pandemic
It was the year the world shut down.
Lives across the globe changed as a respiratory virus infected millions of people. At one point, Tennessee had the highest infection rates in the world. The COVID-19 pandemic started five years ago and the world is only just now beginning to piece back together as more and more regulations are lifted.
The illness is still prevalent in health today, but thanks to numerous measures by healthcare professionals worldwide, COVID is under much better control.
For 70 years, it has been a privilege to serve you, and it is our honor to continue serving as West Tennessee’s news channel.
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