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Ask the Memphian: Who was Monk?

By , Daily Memphian Published: May 18, 2026 4:00 AM CT

When Wayne Dowdy was a child at the local Boys Town carnival, his parents saw a TV cameraman who was covering the event pan to him.

“You’re going to be on TV tonight,” they said. So, that night, Dowdy and his family watched the news, and he saw himself on screen.

The shot, however, was primarily focused on someone else who was standing nearby: Anthony “Monk” Cassata.

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John Klyce

John Klyce

John Klyce is an enterprise reporter with The Daily Memphian who writes a wide range of in-depth features, as well as profiles about local leaders, scientists, musicians, artists, entrepreneurs, and anyone else doing exciting and important work in this city. He previously spent four years with the Memphis Business Journal, where he covered public companies, startups, and innovation, and a fifth year with The Commercial Appeal, where he covered education, and chronicled how gun violence and poverty were affecting Memphis youth and their families. He has also been a fellow with the Institute for Citizens and Scholars. John has a B.A. in journalism from the University of Memphis and an M.F.A. in creative writing from Boston University.


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