Dave Staley honored with state proclamation

Dave Staley being presented with a state proclamation alongside Sen. Bo Watson, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, his wife Gin Staley, and News 12’s Chip Chapman.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A longtime News 12 and Chattanooga TV personality received a large honor Thursday.Senator Bo Watson presented our own Dave Staley with a proclamation honoring his television work in Chattanooga.

Originally arriving in Chattanooga in 1984, he has spent four decades on Chattanooga t-v anchoring news and sports.

This proclamation enshrines Dave into the Tennessee history books as a citizen who has positively impacted his community.

This will be finalized in a joint resolution to be signed by Governor Bill Lee.

Sen. Watson said, “It will then go into the Book of Resolutions, which is a historical document, which from now on will be kept in the Tennessee State Library and Archives, and forever you will be a part of Tennessee’s history. So in 200 years from now, when your relatives are looking back and saying, “How long have we been in Tennessee, let’s look it up?” and all of a sudden Dave Staley comes up because they go to the state’s library and archives and there you are.”

Dave recalled the impact his stories still have years later from segments such as Dave’s Diamond Darlings and More to the Story with Staley.

“I still hear from many of them, it’s amazing that, “My child was on your show 20 years ago.” and it’s just like, wow,” said Staley.

 For the native Minnesotan, Chattanooga is forever home.

“I didn’t think I would stay that long really. Go up the chain in the world of TV. Turns out though that this was perfect for me. The city, the people, the location, everything that encompasses, this was for me. I wasn’t born here, I fairly that I will die here, and that’s a good thing for me,” remarked Staley.

From all of us at News 12, we wish him congratulations.