B. J. Caldwell

Before I retired, Bryan Yandle came by the station almost every month...always waiting for me at the Main Lobby...saying I was the only one who would let him in the "damn building." He'd stay at the station for 2 or 3 hours. Around 3:00pm I would finally tell him I had to get back to work. Bryan would blab out, "Tell him [my boss] you're with Bryan Yandle, don't they know who I am?" I got such a kick when I'd introduce Bryan to present-day employees at the station. After he'd leave, everyone would be in amazement at his personality! How could anyone tolerate him? Now who was that?

I always told each of them, underneath that personality there's a big "heart of gold," and he was one of the "best" to have ever worked at WBTV. You had to know him! I'll miss his phone calls....and his "I love you, BJ."

We all loved this unique person and friend!

Editor's note: Bryan, affectionately called "Mr. Meanie" by his friends, suffered a massive stroke on July 24, 2004 and passed away a week later. About two weeks before his stroke he sent the following email to Don McDaniel:

HOPE YOU ARE DOING OK DON. I CANNOT REALLY COMMENT ON ALL THOSE PEOPLE  I'VE BEN HEARING  ABOUT THAT WORKED AT THE STATION IN THE EARLY DAYS CAUSE I THINK THEY WERE ALL ASSHOLES AT THE TIME. BUT TIMES CHANGE EVERY THING.  I USED THE WORD WORKED, LOOSLEY. NONE OF THEM EVER WORKED A DAY IN THIER LIVES. THE SO CALLED SALESMEN HAD COULFLOWER EARS FROM ANSWERING THE PHONE. THE STATION SOLD ITSELF.

                                                   LOVE BRYAN