Joseph Wesley Cook

Joseph Wesley Cook, 74, passed away on April 23, 2024, surrounded by his family.

 Joe was born on July 26, 1949, in LaFayette, Alabama, and grew up “three miles out of town” near Camp Hill. He was an Eagle Scout. 

 He attended Auburn University and graduated in 1971 with a degree in Radio, Television and Film. At Auburn, he was a member of the varsity wrestling team, served as Archon (president) of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, wrote for the Auburn Plainsman and worked for the Auburn Athletics Department as the Assistant Sports Information Director.

 Joe met his wife, Becky, in the summer of 1971 in Auburn. They were married on May 27, 1972, at St. Mark Methodist Church in Mobile, Alabama. They moved to Mobile in 1975, where Joe began his career in television at WEAR-TV. He then moved to WALA-TV 10, where he worked for 19 years and served as the station’s General Manager for 14 years.

 Joe was heavily involved with several civic organizations in Mobile including Distinguished Young Women (formerly America's Junior Miss) Program, Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Mobile Area Partnership for Youth, Chamber of Commerce Board, Salvation Army, Mobile's Tricentennial Commission, Flora Bama Ken Stabler Celebrity Golf Classic, Senior Bowl Committee and Mobile Area Sports Association Board. He was also a longtime member of one of Mobile’s mystic societies.

 Additionally, Joe served as President of the Advertising Federation of Greater Mobile and won that organization's highest honor, the Silver Medal, in 1997.

 Joe retired from WALA-TV in 2000, but came out of retirement in 2001 to take the General Manager position at WVUE-TV in New Orleans. His work at WVUE led to a significant rise in ratings and growth. And under his leadership, the station’s news team was awarded many of the highest honors possible, including a Peabody Award, two Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards (the broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize), and the National Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence.

 Joe loved Auburn and Auburn football and became a zealous fantasy football player in later years. He loved taking his family and friends on boat rides. He also enjoyed golf, fishing, writing and playing music, making stained glass pieces with Becky and spending time with his family. 

 Joe was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was a loyal friend and an accomplished businessman. And he is greatly missed.

 Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. John Ben Cook and Opal Hamby Cook, and his brothers Horis Cook and Johnny Cook. 

 He is survived by his wife, Becky Cook, children Carrie Blume (Chris Blume) and Wes Cook (Kevin Penouilh), grandchildren Claudia Blume and Cameron Blume, sisters Becky Moore (Dannie Moore), Sallie Kaye Gibbs (Mike Gibbs) and Faye Oxfurth (Steve Oxfurth), sisters-in-law Rosemary Cook Davis (Gayron Davis), Elizabeth Parker (Leo Vaulin) and Pepper Parker, mother-in-law Betty Parker and numerous nieces and nephews.

 A celebration of life will be held at Mobile Memorial Gardens in Mobile, Alabama, on June 29, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will be at 2:00 p.m., followed by a service at 3:00 p.m. In Lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center. P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486 or www.mdanderson.org/gifts