As Johnny ‘TV’ Peluso is laid to rest, his good friend shares personal memories of the ‘Newport icon’

By Tim Nolan
Special to NKyTribune

Johnny TV Peluso, Newport icon, larger than life, public servant, animal lover, helper of the poor, zest for life , charasmatic, friend to all.

No one who met him could ever forget him.

I first met John as a big-eyed parochial school 4th grader in 1957. My mother took me to Glenn Schmidts to watch my father who called the biggest bingo in Northern Kentucky. Before the games started I looked out and saw a man enter from the rear of the large hall. I said “look mom it’s Dean Martin.”

The women were all rushing up to hug him with big smiles on their faces, and men were crowding around to shake his hand.

“No,” she said, “that’s your dad’s friend John Peluso. He is campaigning for election.”

She took me to him and told him I was Bob’s son. He shook my hand and smiled and patted me on the head. We went back to the table, the game started, and I won.

Meeting John was much more exciting than earlier in the evening when I met Haven Gillespie who had grown up with my dad in Covington and written Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

John served 10 years on Newport city council and two terms as Mayor. He lost his second attempt at sheriff in 1965 but more important to history he lost his first bid for sheriff in 1961.

Newport and Covington at that time were wonderous venues, full of casinos and first class entertainment. Ordinary working stiffs could rub elbows at the bar with the likes of Frank Sinatra. Streets were safe, jobs were plentiful and taxes were low. The fire, police and public works departments were well funded.

Johnny “TV” Peluso was billed as the liberal candidate meaning he would maintain the status quo, a Democrat well funded by both the Cleveland and Eastern business organizations.

But in desperation the opposition put on a theatrical publicity gimmick and stole the election. Thus the gambling was eliminated and the two cities reverted to ghost towns, poor old river cities decaying more each year for a decade. Many left for the bright lights of fledgling Vegas.

John stayed and worked hard to save his city.

I really got to know John well in 1974. As a law professor at Chase, I was asked to revive the much needed Northern Kentucky Legal Aid Society. I did this in conjuction with my intern program, staffing the Legal Aid with mostly energetic law students.

John asked me to open a first ever presence in Campbell County. I did, on York Street, directly across from his TV shop.

By this time John was the unofficial omnibudsman. He directed people to legal aid, the community action commission, or any number of churches abd social service organizations. But when necessary he bought children shoes, fed the hungry, or helped with rent or utilities. As far as I know he didn’t turn anyone away.Times were really tough for the old river towns. The promises made by the so- called reformers were empty and void.

In 1976 John was mayor, Ralph Mussman, the liberal mayor of 1961, was city manager, and I signed on to be city attorney. If only I had written down all the inside stories they told me. I still remember quite a few.

John worked every day for Newport’s recovery. He secured funding for a park and pool in the south, fixed streets, encouraged business development, and laid out a blueprint for recovery.

I drafted zoning laws to deal with the sleazy girlie joints and rewrote the city code.

At the suggestion of his nephew, city councilman Jim Peluso, Riverfest and the fireworks were born. This all led to the current Newport on the levy, shopping malls and housing upturn watched over by John’s nephew and current mayor Jerry Rex Peluso, and city councilman son Frank Peluso.

Some wondered if John ever slept. He carried a police radio and showed up at all hours of the day and night, whether to rescue a stray dog or help with a fire.

Back on 1975, John was featured in an article by the New Yorker magazine. He proposed building a cable transport device from his property, Grandview Gardens, high on a Newport hill, going across the river to an appropriate hill in Cincinnati. In a funny and well written article, John was described as a colorful character proposing the only grand urban scheme of the time, which was not being taken seriously. Maybe some day we will live to see it, still a money-making idea for both cities.

John had a firm handshake and fearless demeanor. A spirit that could not be broken even after being captured by the Nazis in WWII.

I was so happy to see the out-pouring of tribute and respect paid him last November 2014 at the Newport Peace Bell. At that time he was the oldest prisoner of war from WWII in Kentucky. State and federal and local officials all paid their respects. The tributes and citations were heartfelt and the tears real.

Johnny TV Peluso was a man’s man, a fighter, dreamer and tireless worker.

As a devout Catholic he always helped his fellow man or hapless animal. He left the world a better place and as so many others, i am proud to call him friend. When I left the city attorney position to become Judge, John presented me with a key to the city engraved with Johnny TV Peluso Mayor. One of my prize possessions to this day.

I am positive St Peter gave John a much better key, one he certainly deserved.

Tim Nolan is a former District Judge and Newport City Solicitor. John Peluso’s funeral services are today.