'Voice of real estate in East Tennessee': Community remembers Don Fenley

KINGSPORT — Tri-Cities community leaders and real estate representatives took time this week to recognize Don Fenley's impact following the recent news of his death. Fenley was a longtime real estate data analyst and journalist for several decades. His news blog Core Data focused on local housing reports and statistics about the core elements of the Northeast Tennessee economy and were often shared in local publications. He started as a contractor with the Northeast Tennessee Association of Realtors in 2009 and produced journalistic pieces about real estate for NETAR up until weeks before he died. Darlene Rasnick, director of advocacy for NETAR, shared a tribute to Fenley on the organization's Facebook page Thursday evening. "So many of us knew Don; he was a trusted colleague, a friend, a storyteller, a source of knowledge and, perhaps most fittingly, the voice of real estate in East Tennessee," the post states. "Don was a major contributor to the conversation surrounding housing, real estate and economic development throughout Northeast Tennessee. Through his extensive knowledge, relationships, and dedication to journalism and communications, Don helped NETAR secure thousands of dollars in media exposure for our members and the issues that mattered to our industry and our communities." Rasnick included a quote from the National Association of Realtors Chief Economist and Senior Vice President Dr. Lawrence Yun, who called Fenley "a great source of information" for understanding real estate market conditions in the area. "His natural curiosity of wanting to know along with his career in the media, allows him to translate what he finds into what is useful for the community — be it property owners or those wanting to buy and sell real estate," Yun said in his comment shared by NETAR. "He will be deeply missed." Journalism career Fenley spent around 50 years in the journalism business, holding positions at the Dallas Times-Herald, Santa Fe New Mexican, Yakima Herald-Republic, Orange Coast Pilot, USA Today, Manassas Journal Messenger and the Times News. Ted Como, who formerly served as managing editor for the Times News from 1983 to 2016, reflected on initially hiring Fenley and how he helped usher the paper into the age of the internet. "Don had many talents," Como said. "He inspired confidence and creative thinking and he had a unique sense of humor that he employed whenever he saw the need to lift spirits. He made friends easily and I know there's a long list of them who greatly admired and appreciated him, and will long mourn his departure from us." Former Times News editor and reporter Stephanie McClellan mentioned Fenley was a "dedicated journalist" who thoroughly researched his editorials and columns. "Don was someone I relied on for advice and feedback on government stories and on special news projects," she said in a statement. "I considered him a good friend and mentor. Don was intelligent, kind and he had a wonderful sense of humor." Fenley previously told The Business Journal of Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia that he did part time work with the military newspaper during his time in the U.S. Army — including as a combat infantry soldier in Vietnam. Ari Kaufman, managing editor for The Business Journal of Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia, said Fenley was a "legend in the journalism industry" and more recently "the foremost expert" in the region's complex housing market. "He was a mentor to many, a fountain of knowledge and we will all miss his wisdom," Kaufman said. "There will not soon be another like Don in Northeast Tennessee." Other comments Kingsport Chamber President and CEO Miles Burdine said "our region lost a good man" when asked about Fenley's impact. "Although I greatly admired and respected Don's intelligence, curiosity, humility and knowledge of 'all things data,' my favorite conversations with him always involved military history and issues facing our nation's warriors," he said. "Many knew that he spent 50 remarkable years as a journalist but most did not know he was also a very proud veteran of the United States Army." Johnson City Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Cantler echoed a similar sentiment as other, describing Fenley as a friend and "outstanding resource for our community." "Don was our Chamber's resource for community updates but also a trusted consultant for potential developments," Cantler said. "His passion for data was contagious and he will be truly missed." Current Kingsport mayor Paul Montgomery and former mayor Pat Shull both spoke highly of Fenley. Montgomery said he came to know Fenley through Saturday morning conversations at Two Dads Cafe in Kingsport. "His broad knowledge — especially of the real estate market — always stood out," Montgomery said. "His quiet confidence and genuine kindness left a lasting impression on everyone he met, myself included." Shull said Fenley's death was "very personal" to him, since he was a great friend and advisor before and during his time as mayor. Shull also was a part of the Saturday breakfast group. "Simply put, he was the smartest, most informed regarding various aspects of our local economy," Shull said. "His Core Data blog was a public service of the highest order. Don was nine years older than me (81 at death) and I sought his advice and counsel on numerous occasions. Most importantly he was my friend." Jeff Fleming, Move to Kingsport relocation manager, said in a Facebook post that he often bonded with Fenley as fellow "data nerds" — often writing or researching about similar subjects. "He was the first person I'd look for at a business gathering," Fleming shared in his post about Fenley. "I always admired how he would morph, reinvent himself, and adapt to changing technologies and economic conditions. He had a thirst for knowledge that inspired me." Kingsport Alderman James Phillips said he got to know Fenley after he did a story on the affordability of apartments in the Tri-Cities region. He said Fenley frequently attended the Home Builders Association meetings, as well as other city gatherings. Phillips said Fenley's data was used by realtors, home builders, politicians and everyone else in between to guide regional decision-making. "I don't know that I was ever in a meeting — whether it was Home Builders [Association], planning commission, Kingsport [Board of Mayor and Aldermen] meeting, a regional meeting on housing, just any meeting that had anything to do with housing or livability in Kingsport and in the entire Tri-Cities region — where Don Fenley's quotes and notes and statistics were not brought into the meeting," he said. "And that will be something that is sorely and greatly missed in the city of Kingsport and across the whole Tri-Cities." Bob Feagins, who now serves as executive director for Symphony of the Mountains, said Fenley was a "remarkable man" and a "giant in the newspaper industry." "Beyond his professional accomplishments, Don was a kind, friendly and giving gentleman who had a deep love and passion for this community and region and those who called it home," Feagins told the Times News. "He was immensely admired and respected by all who had the pleasure of knowing him." Funeral arrangements for Fenley had not been made public as of Friday afternoon.