Family mourns man whose body was found in Tennessee River during Ironman swim

photo Steven Paul Calhoon
Map

Location of dead body found in river

Location of dead body found in river

Joan Bolus, of Acworth, Ga., got a phone call this week that her nephew, 34-year-old Steven Paul Calhoon, had been found dead in the Tennessee River.

"We were all pretty taken aback," she said of her family.

Calhoon's body was found floating under the Olgiati Bridge at around 8:30 a.m. Sunday, just downstream from where Ironman Chattanooga competitors were emerging from the water at Ross's Landing.

Bolus said she was just nine years older than Calhoon and had always seen him more as a brother than a nephew.

"He was well liked by everybody," she said. "He had a wonderful personality."

She said Calhoon was a good person and "smart as a whip," especially with computers.

Doug Cox, his former employer and owner of Tru-Tech Industries in Acworth, said Calhoon was extremely talented at what he did. Tru-Tech makes aerospace products, and Cox said Calhoon worked with the computers that programmed machines to make the product parts.

"He was a fantastic, very talented CNC machinist," Cox said. "It's a shame to lose someone like that."

But Cox said Calhoon struggled with substance abuse. Calhoon didn't have a problem in his first year at Tru-Tech, Cox said. But over the summer, addiction was getting in the way of his work.

"When his addiction started kicking in, it started costing me money," Cox said, and the two agreed Calhoon couldn't continue to work there.

Cox said he considered Calhoon a friend, and he drove Calhoon to Chattanooga this summer, after his employment ended.

Since June 1, Calhoon's criminal record in Hamilton County shows seven separate public intoxication offenses. Before that, he had faced charges such as one of driving under the influence and possession of marijuana and of a controlled substance. His last offense occurred Sept. 11, for public intoxication, and he was listed as among the city's homeless population.

"I guess like everybody, he had his demons that he dealt with," Bolus said of her nephew's problems.

She last spoke to Calhoon in early September.

"He sounded really good and said that he just wanted to call and tell everybody that he loved us, and for me to pass the word along that he loved everybody," Bolus said.

Police are still investigating the circumstances of the death, and Bolus said family members are waiting on the coroner's report for the cause.

No funeral arrangements for Calhoon have been set, Bolus said.

Contact staff writer Hannah Smith at hsmith@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6731.

Upcoming Events