Who is Eli Johnson?

For thirty years, Eli Johnson was a fixture at a local affiliate on the stretch of highway between Atlanta and Athens—doing the unglamorous work that keeps a station running for the faces in front of the camera.

Something Eli’s daddy taught him lingered in the back of his mind over the decades: a reminder that the best stories weren't the ones on the front page, nor the ones making the six o'clock news. No, the best stories came from front porches, from the cab of a truck tooling slowly down a country road, or from a boat on a quiet mill pond. But with every passing year, with every new advancement in entertainment, those stories are being told less and less.

Eli holds a history degree from the University of Georgia, though we aren't sure if it’s his or belongs to someone else. Either way, he certainly is a historian at heart. After decades on the job, Eli retired, setting out to preserve as many stories as possible before they disappear forever. He now spends his time traveling the South, listening to those who are willing to share.

About Southern Tales Productions

Southern Tales Productions was founded by Matthew White to serve as the archive for these stories. Growing up in the South, Matthew understood that the line between a legend and a lie is often up to the storyteller.

He acts as the curator and publisher for Eli Johnson’s work, ensuring that these narratives find their audience.