Our long-time friend and Motorsport America contributor, Captain Herb Emory, has passed away unexpectedly. We are deeply sadden and will miss him greatly.
Here is WSB Radio’s story on Captain Emory:
Longtime WSB Radio and Channel 2 Action News traffic reporter, “Captain” Herb Emory, passed away Saturday.
According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Emory stopped to help at a car accident on South Burnt Hickory Road when he suddenly fell ill. He was transported to WellStar Douglas Hospital where he later died.
Emory had been with WSB Radio and Channel 2 Action News since 1991. Emory has served as an Atlanta traffic reporter since 1971.
Emory watched over the interstates during the week and hosted special traffic and NASCAR broadcast programs with his wife, Karen Emory.
Captain Herb hosted and produced the WSB Speed Shop auto racing from 1993 until 2011.
Emory previously was a News/Traffic reporter from 1978 through 1991 with WQXI-AM, 94Q-Star 94, Georgia Network News.
Emory said he earned the title of captain when before his first broadcast on WSB, the manager told him to introduce himself as Colonel Herb Emory. After figuring out that it was too hard to say, he was given the name Captain Herb Emory instead.
He was inducted into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame in 2008 and received the inaugural Excellence in Motorsports Journalism Award in 2012.
Emory moved to Atlanta in 1971 from his home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
Emory’s father was a volunteer pit crew member for Ralph Earnhardt, Dale Sr.’s dad, in the 1960s.