Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Geoff Calkins

Calkins: He's a 102-year-old American hero. And he bakes cookies, too.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 16:24:58 -0500

Luke McLaurine is a World War II veteran who’s lived through 40% of America’s 250 years. He’s a survivor of Nazi prison camps, flies a flag at his house and says daily doughnut consumption is the key to longevity.

Calkins: The Ja Morant era is finally over. Why did it come to this?

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 13:26:35 -0500

“The Grizzlies have finally traded Ja Morant, the biggest star they may ever have. But by the end they just wanted him gone.”

Calkins: Elvis Presley lives! Or his sign does, anyway.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 17:31:03 -0500

“The bold, metal sign in front of the Visitor Center no longer says ‘LVIS PRESLEY BOULEVARD.’ But who fixed it? A quintessentially Memphis institution, of course.”

Calkins: A Little League team raised $50,000 for St. Jude. And the story gets even better.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 06:25:09 -0500

A Florida Little League team traveled to Memphis to deliver the money they’d raised, and play a game against Memphis Little League. Then they learned one of the opposing players was a St. Jude patient.

Calkins: The Grizzlies get Cam Boozer — and a night of authentic joy

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 08:51:33 -0500

Opinion: After a season of misery, the Memphis Grizzlies gave their fans a night to celebrate. It included Cam Boozer, Karim Lopez and honest-to-God hope.

Calkins: The new board managing Memphis schools opens for business — in Nashville.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 08:25:46 -0500

The new board overseeing Memphis-Shelby County Schools convened for the first time Thursday — in Nashville, with little notice, at 8:45 a.m. If the hope was to win over conflicted Memphians, this was a bizarre way to start.

Calkins: The Memphis Art Museum will be the next great place in the city — because of Barbara and Pitt Hyde.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:26:13 -0500

Pitt and Barbara Hyde didn’t want their name on the new Memphis Art Museum. That didn’t stop Memphis mayor Paul Young from highlighting the couple’s astounding work. “For a generation you have led with generosity and vision,” Young said. “And your mark on the city — on Downtown in particular — is everywhere.”

Q&A: More from the Hydes on Downtown, the Grizzlies, AutoZone Park and the future of Memphis

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:15:58 -0500

The Daily Memphian’s Geoff Calkins sat down with Barbara and Pitt Hyde to talk about the new museum, their hands-on approach to civic projects and why Memphis continues to be — in their words — their “big bet.”

Calkins: Otis Sanford tells his story — and it's one that you should hear.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 11:52:39 -0500

When Otis Sanford was growing up in Mississippi, his father would ask him, “What’s in the news?” Answering that question has taken Sanford to places neither of them could possibly have imagined. Now he’s captured the journey in a new book.

Calkins: The road to Graceland is an international embarrassment. We drove it to find out why.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 22:17:04 -0500

Why is it taking nearly two decades to fix Elvis Presley Boulevard? I invited state Senator Raumesh Akbari to join me in my 2015 minivan for a drive-along. Here’s what I learned.

Calkins: A wrecking ball is coming for 495 Union. Here's why that matters to every Memphian.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Mon, 8 Jun 2026 16:52:03 -0500

Why does it matter that the wrecking balls are coming for 495 Union? Because it’s not just a building that is being destroyed. An institution is imperiled, too.

Sloane Stephens accepts wildcard to play in Memphis Classic

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Thu, 4 Jun 2026 14:15:00 -0500

Former U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens has accepted a wildcard to play in the Memphis Classic, the new WTA tournament that will be held at the Leftwich Tennis Center from July 25 to Aug. 2.

Calkins: You know what's right with the world? People like Joe Ford.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Fri, 22 May 2026 07:57:53 -0500

At the age of 60, Joe Ford started pole vaulting. And started passing his wisdom along. He’s now retiring as a volunteer coach at the age of 75. But you can bet he’ll still be around.

Calkins: John Isner and Sam Querrey to play a special exhibition in Memphis

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Wed, 20 May 2026 16:08:54 -0500

Back in 2010, John Isner and Sam Querrey met each other in a memorable ATP final at The Racquet Club. On July 25, they’ll be back in Memphis for an exhibition to help celebrate the return of professional tennis to the city.

Calkins: Memphis to join Power 4 in 2028? So says Charles Huff.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Wed, 20 May 2026 13:52:16 -0500

Memphis coach Charles Huff said Memphis plans to join a Power 4 conference in 2028. Was it a guarantee? Not exactly. “I think you’ve got to speak things into existence,” he said.

Calkins: Why was there a flash mob in the Methodist hospital parking garage? Because dancing always helps.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Tue, 19 May 2026 10:33:54 -0500

Brittnye Ostrom-Robinson — a former dancer for the Memphis Grizzlies and U of M Pom — is stuck in the hospital with a difficult diagnosis. So how did friends and family lift her spirits? With a dancing flash mob, of course.

Calkins: She slept with a gun under her bed. He was jailed for marching at age 11. They meet again after six decades.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Fri, 15 May 2026 14:50:08 -0500

“I remember us being chased by the Klan in Moscow, Tennessee,” Dekater Horton said, “because you are driving in a car with a white woman. It was in the middle of the day. We got on a dirt road, and they couldn’t catch us. It was normal, honestly.”

Calkins: #MakeMemphisMadder — on a week the city best never forget

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Mon, 11 May 2026 17:35:38 -0500

There is a single spot in Memphis where you can stand in all three congressional districts. It’s an absurdity, yes. And a cause for rage.

Calkins: People warned these two Memphis graduates about the city. Then they fell in love with the place.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Sat, 9 May 2026 10:30:25 -0500

They’re a married couple — and two of the very best students graduating from the University of Memphis Saturday. But the best part of their story is the way they’ve embraced the city they now call home.

Calkins: On Election Day, the shameful work of erasing Memphis begins

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Tue, 5 May 2026 23:29:36 -0500

“They’re killing an iconic American city,” said U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, who flew in to join Tuesday’s protest. “It’s a terrible day for Memphis and it’s a terrible day for Tennessee.”

Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Geoff Calkins

Calkins: He's a 102-year-old American hero. And he bakes cookies, too.

Calkins: The Ja Morant era is finally over. Why did it come to this?

Related content:

Calkins: Elvis Presley lives! Or his sign does, anyway.

Calkins: A Little League team raised $50,000 for St. Jude. And the story gets even better.

Calkins: The Grizzlies get Cam Boozer — and a night of authentic joy

Calkins: The new board managing Memphis schools opens for business — in Nashville.

Calkins: The Memphis Art Museum will be the next great place in the city — because of Barbara and Pitt Hyde.

Related content:

Q&A: More from the Hydes on Downtown, the Grizzlies, AutoZone Park and the future of Memphis

Calkins: Otis Sanford tells his story — and it's one that you should hear.

Calkins: The road to Graceland is an international embarrassment. We drove it to find out why.

Related content:

Calkins: A wrecking ball is coming for 495 Union. Here's why that matters to every Memphian.

Sloane Stephens accepts wildcard to play in Memphis Classic

Calkins: You know what's right with the world? People like Joe Ford.

Calkins: John Isner and Sam Querrey to play a special exhibition in Memphis

Calkins: Memphis to join Power 4 in 2028? So says Charles Huff.

Calkins: Why was there a flash mob in the Methodist hospital parking garage? Because dancing always helps.

Calkins: She slept with a gun under her bed. He was jailed for marching at age 11. They meet again after six decades.

Calkins: #MakeMemphisMadder — on a week the city best never forget

Calkins: People warned these two Memphis graduates about the city. Then they fell in love with the place.

Calkins: On Election Day, the shameful work of erasing Memphis begins

Related content: