Just before his death, Trenary was bragging about Memphis
Minutes before his death, Phil Trenary was dressed in a suit at Loflin Yard greeting finishers from the Greater Memphis Chamber’s four-mile run and bragging on the city he loved so much.
“His belief in Memphis had never been stronger,” Shelby County Schools board member Kevin Woods said. “And then moments later he was gone.”
Woods, the former head of the Workforce Investment Network, said he saw Trenary at the outdoor bar sometime between the end of the Move it Memphis run, which began at 6:30 p.m., and when Trenary was gunned down blocks away on Front Street before 8 p.m.
Woods participated in the race, which ended at Loflin, at the corner of Florida and Carolina streets.
“It was a great night for a run Downtown,” he said.
Trenary did not run in the event, Woods said. He did not know what time Trenary left the bar, but said he believes he’s one of the last people to see Trenary before the shooting.
Memphis police posted on Twitter at 7:59 p.m. that officers were on the scene of a shooting at 579 Front Street. Trenary was taken to Regional One Hospital, where he died.
Police do not have a motive for the shooting, but said Trenary was walking on Front when a truck stopped, a person exited and shot Trenary.
At Loflin, Trenary was “energetic as always” and “walked up and gave me a hug like he usually did,” Woods said.
The two talked about family and the city.
“He beamed and was really excited when he discussed some of his new hires at the chamber,” Woods said.
In his time at WIN, Woods said, he met with Trenary on an almost weekly basis. They discussed workforce issues as well as education.
Woods said he’d already left Loflin when he learned of Trenary’s death, but news reverberated through those who’d attended the event.
“It was just pretty tough knowing that he was just sharing his excitement about his team, the city, and as always, just really positive and bullish on Memphis,” Woods said.
Woods posted on Twitter about his last moments with Trenary.
“We stood and chatted just minutes before your untimely death,” Woods wrote. “I’m forever grateful for your friendship and your tireless support for everything Memphis.
Reach Jennifer Pignolet at jennifer.pignolet@commercialappeal.com.