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Spirit of Memphis

Man who helped save Overton Park Shell dies

By , Daily Memphian Updated: August 04, 2025 8:15 PM CT | Published: August 02, 2025 4:38 PM CT
<div id="message-list_1754306299.048239" class="c-virtual_list__item" tabindex="0" role="listitem" aria-setsize="-1" data-qa="virtual-list-item" data-item-key="1754306299.048239"><div class="c-message_kit__background c-message_kit__background--hovered p-message_pane_message__message c-message_kit__message" role="presentation" data-qa="message_container" data-qa-unprocessed="false" data-qa-placeholder="false"><div class="c-message_kit__hover c-message_kit__hover--hovered" role="document" aria-roledescription="message" data-qa-hover="true"><div class="c-message_kit__actions c-message_kit__actions--above"><div class="c-message_kit__gutter"><div class="c-message_kit__gutter__right" role="presentation" data-qa="message_content"><div class="c-message_kit__blocks c-message_kit__blocks--rich_text"><div class="c-message__message_blocks c-message__message_blocks--rich_text" data-qa="message-text"><div class="p-block_kit_renderer" data-qa="block-kit-renderer"><div class="p-block_kit_renderer__block_wrapper p-block_kit_renderer__block_wrapper--first"><div class="p-rich_text_block" dir="auto"><div class="p-rich_text_section"><strong data-stringify-type="bold">The Overton Park Shell is still standing because of efforts by Save Our Shell, a group that included John Larkin. Larkin died last week.</strong>&nbsp;(Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="c-message_actions__container c-message__actions" role="group"><div class="c-message_actions__group" role="group" aria-label="Message actions" data-qa="message-actions">&nbsp;</div></div></div></div></div></div>

John Larkin was a tireless advocate for the Overton Park Shell, and if not for him and those like him, the Shell might have been torn down and replaced by a parking lot years ago.

Topics

Overton Park Shell Overton Park Elvis Presley Live music

Jody Callahan

Jody Callahan graduated with degrees in journalism and economics from what is now known as the University of Memphis. He has covered news in Memphis for more than 25 years.

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