William “BB” Branton, a longtime sportsman with an encyclopedic knowledge of wrestling and other sports subjects, died Sunday morning after a long illness.
A native of Lookout Mountain and a graduate of McCallie School, he was a sports writer for the Chattanooga News Free Press, the Lookout Mountain Mirror and The Chattanoogan.com.
He was director of sports information at the University of the South for several years.
Mr
Branton had an avid interest and knowledge of tennis and wrestling.
Graduate Ole Miss was in the 1962 class at Lookout Mountain Elementary School.
Branton was nominated for the Lookout Mountain Hall of Fame in 2018.
Last year, he was featured in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Tennessee chapter for his “Lifetime Service to Wrestling” and his contribution to amateur wrestling as a sportsman and historian. He and five other honors were officially introduced to the Stones River Country Club, Murfreesboro.
McCallie’s Luther Killian said at the time: “As a five-decade-long sports reporter and as director of sports information for athletes in action and numerous World Cup events, nobody in Tennessee has written so eloquently in high school college and international struggle with such depth and breadth as Mr. Branton.
“Because of his knowledge,” BB “is jokingly called” Rainman “of Tennessee wrestling. Whether he is recounting a semifinal game from a recent state tournament or a double high school match he saw as fifth grade, Branton will share the event with the details and the stories behind the details. His writing reflects the critical eye of a referee, the knowledge of a coach, the enthusiasm of a parent and the passion of a champion. “
Branton was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, but his routine was to also attend Lookout Mountain Presbyterian, where his parents had long been members, on a typical Sunday.
Each year he organized a meeting that included many of his first friends on Lookout Mountain and schoolmates.
His parents, Peter Royal Branton III and Jane Crews Branton were longtime residents of Lookout Mountain.
Survivors include his brother, Peter Royal Branton IV, of Knoxville.
In recent years, Branton had lived in Alexian on Signal Mountain.
The arrangements are by Wann Funeral Home.
