'I Will Miss His Inspiration'

When John Callaway asked me a question, I knew I was in for a strong, riveting conversation and that I had better be prepared with good answers.

He was famous for asking tough questions of his subjects on Chicago Tonight. But his true gift was his uncanny ability to manage the conversation through to the end, probing and provoking with thoughtful, pointed follow-up questions that cut through the nonsense and drove his television viewers straight to the heart of the story.

Callaway didn’t lean on a script for his line of questions as, unfortunately, is too often the case with journalists of today. Instead, he developed his own considerable knowledge of each topic through extensive reading and background research.

He took ownership of the topic, and when it came time for a conversation on the air he took his sources through the story – not the other way around. Yet, he had no agenda and he was consummate gentleman.

I’ll always be grateful for the time he took to join me, as a young reporter-turned-public-relations-entrepreneur, and some of the city’s finest journalists for occasional lunch at Eli’s steakhouse. Beside the likes of Irv Kupcinet, Steve Neal, Ray Coffey and Ben Bentley, Callaway would set his gaze on me and ask about the latest news in Chicago or Illinois politics.

He challenged me and he inspired me to learn more. Amidst all that talent, he wanted to know what I thought. He’d ask questions, and then he’d ask some more.

I will miss his inspiration. The city will miss his passion for insight. And his family will miss his devotion.

Thom Serafin