Cas Walker, who died in 1998 at the age of 96, was a Knoxville icon. Cas was a millionaire grocer, one-time mayor, eternal member of City Council, local television celebrity, scandal-sheet publisher, breeder of championship coon dogs, and relentless thorn-in-the-flesh to anyone who opposed him. Depending on the situation, Cas could be as redneck or as blueblood as he needed to be. We alternately cussed him and kissed him, which was our prerogative because, by gum, he was one of us. Sam Venable-Knoxville News-Sentinel.