Updated: In Memory Of Jack Wingate ( Passes Away 82 Years Of Age)

T DICKERSON

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Posted by: T Dickerson
Date: Dec 09 2011 9:31 AM

Georgia, Alabama, and Florida as well as the Lake Seminole Community loses a life long Friend and Historian.

A long time Historian, Outdoorsman, Fisherman Hall Of Fame Member passed away on December 8, 2011 at the young age of 82 years.

The family will send me a complete details of the life and times on Jack Wingate at 7:30 A.M. on December 9, 2011 and at that point we will update this story in full.

The Staff of RSN extends our sincere sympathy to the Family and Friends of Jack Wingate.

For many years the wiregrass area has woke up with Jack Wingate on Top Of The Morning with Charlie Platt since the show first aired on WDHN TV 18.

Will update shortly this morning.

 

UPDATE # 1

With the exception of four years spent in the U.S. Navy aboard a destroyer, Wingate has spent his entire life in the Faceville,  Ga area of Decatur County he loves so much. He fishes the waters, hunts the woods and studies the history of its people.

The man who built Wingate Lodge remembers traveling the world in the Navy thinking, “If God would let me get back down here to Faceville, Ga. and this river, I wouldn’t bother him no more about leavin’.”

Jack Wingate is a man who can remember where he was when he saw and heard his first radio.

Since he has become a radio personality. He starts each day at 5:05 a.m. with broadcasts from the lodge.

 He appears on Bainbridge, Donalsonville and Thomasville radio stations, including a 5:30 a.m. broadcast on Dothan’s Channel 18 with Charlie Platt on “Top Of The Morning”.

This makes for a full morning as the last broadcast is from 11:30 until noon, “with time out for naps,” is what Jack would always say.

He has been a columnist for The Post-Searchlight since 1966, writing about the land and water he loves, telling fish stories, giving updates on the river, and dotting his conversations with personal observations on local events and people. Further Jack Wingate has always been a down home friend to all who come to Lake Seminole.

The Wingate Lunker Lodge and Camp have played host to Governors, Senators and other Celebrities, including Bobbie Knight, who came there to fish. But, the accomplishment of which Mr. Jack is most proud is that he ran a boys camp for 33 years. The 10 week sessions were for boys, ages 8-14, who came from as far away as Washington State, New York, Tenn. and Ky. as well as nearby Southeastern States.

Jack Wingate once said “I wake up every day lookin’ for what kind of devilment I can get into”. “I’m shootin’ for 100.” I plan to spend my 100^th birthday sittin’ in a rocker on the front porch with a fan and visitin’ with all his friends that come by. That was likely to be a big crowd.

Jack Wingate may be gone but memories he leaves behind will be cherished for a life time by those that where fortunate enough to have Jack Wingate as a Father, Friend, Mentor, or Guide.

Make no doubt about it just as we celebrate the homecoming of Jack Wingate to Heaven be assured there’s not an Alligator, Fish, Insect, or Lily Pad in Lake Seminole that  won’t miss Jack Wingate because Lake Seminole has been his life, and often times in the Indian community you hear the saying the “Hills are crying out for the loss of a member” well rest assured that “Lake Seminole is crying out for the loss of Jack Wingate”.

What A Man extremely gifted and well loved and will be well missed!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:

Funeral arrangements are pending.

 

RSN will post as soon as available.

 

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