Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee Senate Bill SJR0201 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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4	4	SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 201
5	5	By McNally
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8	8	SJR0201
9	9	004017
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12	12	A RESOLUTION to honor the memory of Margaret Jewel "Margie"
13	13	Ison of Knoxville.
14	14
15	15	WHEREAS, the members of this General Assembly were greatly saddened to learn of
16	16	the passing of Knoxville broadcast legend Margaret Jewel "Margie" Ison; and
17	17	WHEREAS, for more than three decades, thousands of East Tennesseans welcomed
18	18	Margie Ison into their homes, most notably as the longtime meteorologist with WBIR in
19	19	Knoxville; more than simply a trusted source of weather information, she became a treasured
20	20	presence who felt like a friend to so many; and
21	21	WHEREAS, born in Brotherton on July 7, 1940, Mrs. Ison was the daughter of Reverend
22	22	Samuel Ernest "S.E." Wood and Daisy Jewel Jernigan Wood and attended Central Cookeville
23	23	High School, where she was voted by her peers as "Most Talented" and produced her own
24	24	radio show with WHUB in Cookeville; and
25	25	WHEREAS, it was also during high school that she met the love of her life, Jim Ison,
26	26	while singing with the high school orchestra at a church event; the two were married in
27	27	Ringgold, Georgia, on December 28, 1957; and
28	28	WHEREAS, Margie Ison's television career began in Chattanooga in the 1960s, when
29	29	she sang on the Roy Morris Variety Show on WRCB and worked as the entertainment support
30	30	during a special program celebrating Chattanooga's 150
31	31	th
32	32	anniversary; and
33	33	WHEREAS, she came on board at Knoxville's WBIR-TV Channel 10 in 1969 as a
34	34	"weather girl," having no previous experience or credentials as a meteorologist at the time; a
35	35	popular addition to the newscast, she blazed a trail as the station's first weather forecaster and
36	36	would inspire many others to take up the mantle after her; and
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41	41	WHEREAS, after her initial stint with WBIR, she left to work at WATE-TV Channel 6 from
42	42	1971 to 1979, during which time she reported the weather at 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. and
43	43	hosted a daily talk show; she returned to WBIR in 1979, bringing thousands of viewers with her,
44	44	which pushed WBIR to the top of local broadcast ratings; and
45	45	WHEREAS, during her tenure as a Knoxville meteorologist, her infectious personality
46	46	cemented her as a local legend, with many parroting her catchphrase, "Margie said it would," a
47	47	nod to the trust she had earned among her viewers who knew they could count on her
48	48	forecasts; and
49	49	WHEREAS, Margie Ison's distinguished tenure also included entertainment reporting
50	50	with "Margie on Location" segments that covered music and art from the local Knoxville area,
51	51	throughout the East Tennessee region, and beyond, including Dollywood, the Grand Ole Opry,
52	52	Opryland, the CMA Awards, Fan Fair, and the annual Cowboy Gold International Bluegrass
53	53	Music Festival in Kumamoto, Japan, in 1990; and
54	54	WHEREAS, Mrs. Ison created the Area Weather Spotter Network, which is still in effect
55	55	today, and utilized the Ham Radio Operators and the National Weather Service to gather
56	56	accurate weather information and forecasts; and
57	57	WHEREAS, although she retired from WBIR in 1995, she filled in temporarily as a guest
58	58	weather personality on WATE from 1996 to 2001; she was also in the Knoxville and East
59	59	Tennessee area as a keynote speaker and as vocal entertainment for various organizations;
60	60	and
61	61	WHEREAS, devoted to serving her community, Mrs. Ison served on the Board of
62	62	Directors for Goodwill Industries of Knoxville for more than twenty years and also served on the
63	63	advisory board of the Caswell Boys and Girls Club and the Interfaith Health Clinic board, and
64	64	she participated in fundraising telethons for the East Tennessee Children's Hospital March of
65	65	Dimes, the Jerry Lewis M & A telethon, and PBS Channel 2 telethon; and
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70	70	WHEREAS, she received the Sertoma Service to Mankind School Bell Award for her
71	71	work with special education students, was honored for her work with Goodwill Industries Annual
72	72	Vintage fashion show and the Teen Board of Knoxville, and received the Southern Diva Award
73	73	from the Senior Citizens Home Assistant Services Organization; and
74	74	WHEREAS, a woman of abiding faith, Margie Ison attended Church Street United
75	75	Methodist Church and was a member of the Parables class; and
76	76	WHEREAS, she was also deeply devoted to her family, and she always endeavored to
77	77	remain true to family values of the highest order; and
78	78	WHEREAS, Mrs. Ison is survived by her daughters, Debbie (Jeff) Williams and Jill
79	79	(David) McMillan; grandchildren, Alex Stidham, Josh (Kalie) Stidham, Brigitte (Caleb) Stair, and
80	80	Brittany (Taylor) Benziger; great-grandchildren, Eli Stidham, Ezra Stidham, Jude Stidham,
81	81	Eliana Bond, Josiah Bond, Michaela Bond, Isaiah Bond, Judy Benziger, and Gene Benziger;
82	82	brother, Dr. Albert Wood; special godson, Larry (Lori) Cannon and family; Brent Cannon and
83	83	Alexa Kaye (Derek) Lusby, Ellie Britt, and Rowen Lusby; and several nieces and nephews; and
84	84	WHEREAS, in addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved
85	85	husband of sixty-five years, James Ira "Jim" Ison, and her siblings, Judy Wood and Samuel E.
86	86	Wood; and
87	87	WHEREAS, Margie Ison often relied on her deep connection with viewers, sometimes
88	88	even visiting them in their homes; seeing her warmth and her grace, people could not help but
89	89	be drawn to her kind, caring, and nurturing spirit; and
90	90	WHEREAS, it is fitting that the members of this General Assembly should pause to
91	91	remember the bountiful life of this exceptional public servant and human being; now, therefore,
92	92	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH
93	93	GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF
94	94	REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, that we honor the memory of Margaret Jewel "Margie"
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99	99	Ison, reflecting fondly upon her impeccable character and her stalwart commitment to living the
100	100	examined life with courage and conviction.
101	101	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we express our sympathy and offer our condolences
102	102	to the family of Mrs. Ison.
103	103	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared
104	104	for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy and upon proper request made to
105	105	the appropriate clerk, the language appearing immediately following the State seal appear
106	106	without House or Senate designation.