TODAY’S TALMUD VERSE

In a place where there are no men, strive to be a man. The Talmud

Trenary family tragedy also ours

Chamber CEO Phil Trenary's death is such a tragedy. I worked for the airline he ran for 9 ⁄ years. I was not in direct contact with him; our only interactions were handshakes and small talk. I did see how he ran this business and the big challenges he confronted: Fixing an ailing airline, taking it public with the added challenge of 9/11 mixed in, adding to the business, and some of the bigger tragedies that happen with the airline business. The best way I can describe Phil is poise. He was a gentleman all the time. Running an airline is a tough business. He did this with grace where others would have been rough or raunchy. He was very good at what he knew.

His family lost the most. What the city lost was a pure leader who loved Email letters to letters@commercial appeal.com; mail Letters to the Editor, The Commercial Appeal, 495 Union, Memphis, TN 38103; or click on the “Submit Letter” link on the Opinion page at commercialappeal.com. Memphis. When he left the airline, he could have gone anywhere. He could have done anything. He was not a native, but he chose to stay in Memphis. He chose to help Memphis move forward to where it should be naturally. He could see the potential and wanted to help. Not a lot of people would have done this in this way. This is such a setback. Memphis is in need of growth. How the city pulls out of this is going to be very hard. God bless Phil and his family.

Thomas Faires, Memphis