Harry Austin

Harry Austin, 79, passed away November 13, 2025, in Chattanooga. He was born in Chattanooga as well, and almost his entire working life was spent in service to this community as a principled and gifted journalist.

But James Harrison Austin was far from parochial. His life was shaped by an early and insatiable curiosity about the world. He was driven by desire to travel, to see the world, to know other peoples, experience other cultures. The first big adventure was in the summer of 1967 in Ghana, Africa with the Experiment in International Living. His wanderlust was never sated.

Harry’s newspaper career started at the Chattanooga Times while he was a student and football player at the old Central High School. With his part-time newspaper job, he put himself through the University of Chattanooga, now UTC.

After college, Harry worked two years as a general assignment reporter, then as a police reporter, covering crime. He was saving money so he could travel, and he did. For the next five years he explored Africa again, Europe and Asia. He moved by VW bus, making life-long friends, sometimes stopping to work along the way. Harry enjoyed traveling all his life, but this first bit was bare bones. With three friends, he drove his VW bus from Germany to Cape Town, South Africa, a journey he considered his greatest adventure. One companion, Bill Walzer, remembers Harry’s unique ability to speak French with a southern accent.

He told an interviewer once that “Living and working abroad was the greatest experience of my life and showed me how other people and cultures lived.” Those broadened horizons greatly enriched his life and his work as a journalist.

After several more years as a general assignment reporter, Harry advanced to the county government beat. It embraced virtually every important local issue: from the actions and financing of county government to governance of what was then a public hospital, from school board and public education to economic and community development, from the environment to social justice and the courts.

Harry left the newspaper for TVA in 1980. He returned in 1988 as an opinion writer. Eleven years later, after a merger had created the Chattanooga Times Free Press, he succeeded his dear friend and colleague, Pat Wilcox, to become the editor of the Times editorial page, a position he held until he retired in 2013.

In his long career, Harry received numerous awards and recognitions. He was active in the National Conference of Editorial Writers for years and participated in the Robert Bosch Stiftung German-American Journalists exchange program promoting international understanding.

Even with these accomplishments, his true passion was spending time in the saddle on his quarter horse, Tango, exploring trails with his friends. He loved the outdoors and appreciated the beauty of nature. He rode the local parks and forests most weekends and often participated in cattle drives and livestock management in the West.

Most importantly, Harry stayed true to his values: always demanding honest, transparent government, protection of natural resources, enhancement of the community’s quality of life, full funding of public schools, protection of human rights, civil rights, and equality. He was one who sought to bend the long moral arc of the universe toward justice.

He is preceded in death by his parents, James H. Austin, Sr. and Oberia Austin. He is survived by his partner, Kristy Huntley, daughters Karina Allison and Leslie Rust (Josh), one grandson, Michael Rust, sister, Sybil Clark and brother, Ed Austin.

Harry was blessed with a devoted caregiver, Raygan Rogers. He was also thankful for Dr. Berneet Kaur, Martina Majure, Hearth Hospice and the care team at Touching Hearts.

A private ceremony to honor Harry will be held in Sapphire, N.C. with the scattering of ashes by his long-time poker group: Peter Hetzler, Luke Lea, Ian Mcleod, Bob McNutt, Alfred Smith, Bill Steverson and Jim Webster. These special friends played poker every month for over thirty years.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Harry’s name may be made to the Tennessee River Gorge Trust, Land Trust for Tennessee or a favorite charity.

Arrangements are by the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 404 South Moore Road, East Ridge, TN.

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com

Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home East Chapel, 404 S. Moore Rd, East Ridge, TN 37412.