Joe was born in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama and graduated from the University of Alabama in 1954.
Following graduation, he joined the army and served two years in Special Ops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina before returning to Tuscaloosa as Student Manager of WNPT.
In 1964, Joe joined the staff of WBRC TV in Birmingham as a news reporter/news anchor. Later he joined the news team at WVTM TV, but returned to WBRC as News Director. During his years in television, he received every major award from the Associated Press and United Press International Broadcasters Association. He was inducted to the Alabama Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2009. In 1989, Joe retired from WBRC TV to accept an endowed Chair in the Department of Communication at Jacksonville State University. He retired from his post as Chairman of the Department in 1998. Joe was named Outstanding Alumnus of the University of Alabama School of Communication in 1982, the Tuscaloosa County High School Distinguished Alumni Award in 1986, and also received the Distinguished Service Award from the University in 1988.
He served on the Board of Directors for numerous broadcasting organizations and served as President of the University of Alabama School of Communication Alumni Association. Joe was an active member and Deacon at Mountain Brook Baptist Church. He was a charter member of the Thursday morning “Has Been” Coffee Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Langston of Live Oak, Florida and his brother Dr. James H. Langston of Fort Walton Beach. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Margaret Lollar Langston and children Susan Langston Morris of Birmingham and Joe L. Langston, Jr. (Melissa) of Raleigh, NC and beloved grandchildren Margaret Whitney Morris, Sarah Evelyn Langston, and Joseph Owens Langston.
Service will be held on Monday, June 23, 2014 at 2:00 PM at Mountain Brook Baptist Church with visitation following in Hudson Hall.
In lieu of flowers the family suggest that donations be given to Mountain Brook Baptist Church.
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