Mr. Charles "Buddy" Chapman

Mr. Charles Edmund "Buddy" Chapman, passed away January 30, 2023, in a house fire. Graveside services will be 10 AM June 13, 2023, at Willow Mount Cemetery. Reverend Bobby McGee and Dr. John Templeton will officiate. He was born January 20, 1941, in Bedford County, to the late C S and Jewell Dozier Chapman. He was a former sports editor for the newspaper. Survivors include a sister, Judith Householder, of Maryville, Tennessee. Feldhaus Memorial Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements. Former longtime Times-News sports editor Buddy Chapman passes away Dean Hensley Hendersonville Times-News Just a few weeks ago, two former Hendersonville Times-News sports editors chatted on the phone, talking about old times like they always do. It's a conversation Pete McDaniel will always remember. McDaniel said he talked with Buddy Chapman, who was sports editor at the Times-News from 1966-1980, on Jan. 29. A day later, Chapman was found unresponsive on his bedroom floor by firefighters at his home that was on fire in Shelbyville, Tennessee, according to the Shelbyville Times-Gazette. The 82-year-old was taken to Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital then to a Nashville hospital, where he passed way. When McDaniel heard the news of Chapman's passing, he was stunned and heartbroken. "Buddy and I talked on Jan. 29. He was worried about a several issues, not the least of which was a leaky water pipe that he wanted repaired by a man who had taken up residence in a camper on his property," McDaniel told the Times-News on Feb. 16. McDaniel worked 14 years at the Times-News, beginning in September 1979 when he met Chapman. "Buddy had already all but retired and Steve Parham had filled the position of sports editor. However, it was well-known by all staffers that Buddy was the 'go-to guy' at the paper on all things sport. He had a wealth of knowledge and was gracious with that vast reservoir. He and I hit it off immediately journalistically and as passionate golfers," McDaniel said. When thinking about all the memories he had with Chapman, McDaniel said most of the best ones were out on the links. "I have many (memories) as you might imagine because we shared many rounds of golf. We weren't the most patient hackers, especially Buddy. Because of our lack of tolerance for slow play, Buddy and I would indulge in what he called 'cross country golf.'' When we ran into a road block on a hole, we would simply wave at the offending group as we carted past them and headed to the next open hole. Seldom did we complete an 18-hole round," McDaniel said. "Mostly, though, we laughed and carried on like two teenagers viewing the absurdities of life. He was a real hoot. I loved him like a brother." McDaniel considered Chapman not only a close friend, but also a confidant. "I will miss our conversations that ran the gamut from politics to sports to current affairs to downright foolishness. The latter might have been washed down with a cold one and a kicker of homespun philosophy," McDaniel said. "We were both pretty good golfers. He took himself less serious than I and provided balance in our relationship. He was wise and crazy, too. A good crazy, if you know what I mean... one of a kind for sure... irreplaceable. I can still hear his voice mimicking Richard Pryor, our favorite comedian. 'You done landed on Mr. Gilmore's property.'' Other times he would say, 'Boy, you done had an attack of lunacy.' That was Buddy." Current Times-News sports correspondent Mike Gore was a former sportswriter for the paper when Chapman was the sports editor. "It was my great honor to work with Buddy Chapman when I was first starting out as a sportswriter. Between Pete McDaniel and Buddy, I couldn't have had better teachers," Gore, who went on to a long career as the sports information director at UNC Asheville, said. "Buddy Chapman knew Henderson County sports inside and out, and his columns during football and basketball seasons were must reads for all sports fans. He represented a golden era of sports writing in Hendersonville. Buddy was a sensational sportswriter but an even better person. He once gave me a compliment for a couple of my stories I had written and that compliment has been with me ever since." WHKP Vice President Richard Rhodes said he remembers always seeing Chapman at local high school sporting events. Chapman was also a part of the broadcast crew for high school football games for WHKP during the late 1970s and early 80s. This was the high school football broadcast team in the 1970s at WHKP. From left to right are Mike Edney, Jim Whitmire, Buddy Chapman (sports editor of the Times-News) Charlie Renfrow and Doug Brooks. "I remember seeing Buddy at the games as well after that when I took over the play-by-play chores later on. My wife, Susan, was a Times-News photographer, too, so I would see Buddy and the Times-News crew at work after the games," Rhodes said on Feb. 16. Rhodes said he remembered Chapman calling him after one of his broadcasts after he took over as play-by-play announcer. "Buddy called me one time after I had commented during a game that it didn't matter what offense a high school team runs... box, spread, wing t, what ever... if you've got the players you can win with any offense. Buddy called out of the blue to tell me he agreed with my comment. It was a nice gesture by him and something I'll never forget," Rhodes said. He also said Chapman was always fair to all the teams, players and schools in his coverage through the years. "I recall lots of sportswriters at the paper taking heat for comments about teams in their articles. I don't think Buddy ever had that happen... he was certainly fair to all four high school teams here," Rhodes said. Longtime Hendersonville High principal Bobby Wilkins was the basketball coach at HHS when Chapman was sports editor. Wilkins said Chapman "took good care of the local high school athletes, making sure that everyone looked good in whatever sport they participated in." "Buddy Chapman did so much for the community when he was the sports editor and writer for the Times-News. We loved seeing him come to our ballgames, because we knew he would put a positive spin on all of us. I hate that he is gone because many of us never had a chance to thank him for all he did for us and the community. His memory will live on forever for thousands of us," Wilkins said. Chapman's cousin, Kerry Dunn, said her sister, Sherry, and Chapman lived together in Dunn's mother's house in Shelbyville. "My sister died unexpectedly Dec. 13 and Buddy was absolutely devastated. It was rough," Dunn told the Times-News on Feb. 15. Just like people in Henderson County remember Chapman, he could always be seen with his camera everywhere he went, Dunn said. "He was a picture-taking maniac. Except for the last five years or so, I never saw him without his camera," Dunn said. And another trait Henderson County people remembered about Chapman was his selflessness, which continued up until the day he died, Dunn said. "He had the biggest heart of anyone I know. He would, and has, given someone his very last dollar if they said they needed it," she said. Chapman is survived by his sister Judy Bennett (Eric) Householder (Maryville, Tennessee); nephews Aaron, Zach and Terry Householder, and stepdaughter Victoria Banks of Hendersonville. Chapman was born in 1941 to C.E. and Jewell Bennet Chapman. He is being cremated at his request, Dunn told the Times-News. There will be a memorial service at a later date, with his ashes to be interred with his mother at Willow Mount Cemetery in Shelbyville. Feldhaus Funeral Home in Shelbyville is serving the family.

Mr. Charles "Buddy" Chapman

January 20, 1941 - January 30, 2023