By By Marianne Todd/The Meridian Star
May 10, 2001
The body of a former Lauderdale County outdoorsman, broadcaster and reporter was discovered Wednesday night in what law officers called a drowning caused by an accident on a four-wheeler.
Lauderdale County Deputy Medical Examiner Investigator Clayton Cobler said the body of 72-year-old George Blackwell was discovered pinned under his four-wheeler in a pond about 9 p.m.
Blackwell's son, George Blackwell Jr., and two Lauderdale County deputies discovered Blackwell after the man was reported missing Wednesday evening.
Blackwell was last heard from by WTOK-TV anchor Tom Daniels around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Cobler said.
Shortly after Blackwell's telephone conversation with Daniels, Blackwell's son came home to find his father and the four-wheeler missing from the family's northeast Lauderdale County fish farm on Kathy Road.
Cobler said he is not sure if Blackwell drowned in the accident, or if he had a stroke or heart attack that caused him to veer off the 10-foot path between his fish ponds.
Blackwell was formerly employed as a state wildlife conservation officer. He was well-known for his broadcasting work on WTOK-TV's "Outdoors with George," and for his outdoor reporting contributions to The Meridian Star.
Marianne Todd is a staff writer for the Meridian Star. Call her at 693-1551, ext. 3236, or e-mail her at mtodd@themeridianstar.com.