In Memoriam

1. In Memoriam FPA/FSNE 2010-2011

2. Florida Today • Sports writer • Covered high school sports • Co-hosted "Today in Brevard Sports" for TV and online • Also covered athletics at Marshall University (his alma mater) and West Virginia University for the Charleston Gazette and the Charleston Daily Mail  • Died June 7, 2010 Mike Cherry

3. The Miami Herald • Sports Writer (bowling) • Worked at The Herald since 1945; “go-for” chores at 14 included running greyhound results and writing tight headlines • Was the first daily newspaper reporter inducted into the Professional Bowlers Association's Hall of Fame. • In “retirement,” Evans won a national award for bowling coverage at the Daytona Beach News-Journal, for which he wrote until his death • Died July 4, 2010 Dick Evans

4. The Miami Herald • Columnist, who wrote “The Third Third,” a fixture for those 60 and older for almost a quarter of a century • Began as a writer with The Washington Post, which led to a brush with history when she met Eleanor Roosevelt • Died Jan. 5, 2011 Claire Mitchel

5. The Miami Herald • Community Columnist, among other roles • Was Managing Editor of Coral Gables Times/Guide, from 1975-1977 • Worked for The Guide and The Herald since 1964 • Shared in the Herald's 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Hurricane Andrew coverage • A mention in her column meant a person or organization “had arrived.” • Retired, again, in 2007 • Died July 5, 2010 Bea Moss

6. The Miami Herald / El Nuevo Herald • President, Publisher, General Manager • Began as a Herald mailroom clerk in 1961 after fleeing Cuba with $5 in his pocket • General Manager for The Charlotte Observer, 1970s, before returning to Miami • Launched El Nuevo Herald in 1987 • Was awarded 1989’s John S. Knight Gold Medal, Knight Ridder’s highest professional honor • Retired 1995 • Died July 7, 2010 Roberto Suárez

7. The Palm Beach Post • Former editorial page editor • Held same position for sister paper, The Miami News, which won three Pulitzer Prizes for its coverage of the Cuban Missile Crisis; and two for editorial cartoons by Don Wright, later at the Post • A World War II veteran, he piloted eight missions over Europe • Earned the Air Medal for exceptional duty in combat • Began as reporter at the Dayton Daily News • Died Jan. 29, 2011 Clarke Ash

8. The Ledger • Circulation director for 25 years • Began his newspaper career in 1969 as a circulation manager for the St. Petersburg Times • Briefly worked as circulation director at the Houma Daily Courier in Louisiana • Retired editor Skip Perez applauded his achievements in record-level distribution • Died Jan. 28, 2011 Sam Diaz

9. The Florida Times-Union • Copy editor for 20 years in Features Department • “I’m constantly amazed that I am paid a salary for doing something I enjoy so much,” she said • First worked for the New York State Press Association and the New York Publishers Association • Also reported for the weekly Clifton Springs (N.Y.) Press and spent two years in New York City on the staff of Forth • Died March 1, 2011 Margaret “Peg” Dow

10. St. Petersburg Times • Investigative reporter who won numerous national awards • Her 14-part series on the Church of Scientology won a 1980 Pulitzer Prize • Worked 41 years at the paper, 1946-1987 • "Every cliche, including the one about the bulldog that gets ahold of an ankle and won't let go, was true of her," said former Times executive editor Bob Haiman • Died March 26, 2011 Bette Orsini

11. St. Augustine Record • News typist • Former Linotype operator • Worked at the Record since 1964, becoming assistant to the editor in 2001 • Loved his Florida Gators and St. Augustine High School football • Died April 9, 2011 Bobby Barnes

12. The Miami Herald • Copy Editor • Worked at the paper from 1966-2001 • Was the slot on the legendary crew of The Street Edition • He also sent more than a few new reporters home empty-handed after a “friendly” invitation to play poker. • Died April 10, 2011 William “Bo” Bobo

13. South Florida Sun Sentinel • Sports Editor (1980-2005) • The Patriot Ledger • News Reporter, City Editor, Sports Editor (1973-1980) • Turner’s Sun Sentinel’s Sports Department was twice selected among top 10 nationally • “Fred-isms” included “We don't just put left-handed doors on Chevy's all day around here!” • Died April 11, 2011 Fred Turner

14. The Florida Times-Union (1964-2011) • Staten Island Advance (1953-1969) • First female reporter to cover Jacksonville courts • Chronicled three-year cancer battle • Self-described "tough old broad" who raised three generations of reporters and editors • Street outside T-U named “Jessie-Lynne Kerr Parkway” • Media room for new courthouse also will carry her name • Died April 28, 2011 Jessie-Lynne Kerr

15. St. Petersburg Times (1986-2003) • Evening Independent (1971-1986) • Reporter, senior copy editor • In addition to outstanding work, Mitchell was known for occasional, memorable pranks; one involved sending a stuffed duck head through pneumatic tubes to the fourth floor librarian • He had a deft touch as a writer and an eagle eye as a copy editor • Retired 2003 • Died April 29, 2011 Robin Mitchell

16. Columnist for The Bradenton Herald in retirement • Washington correspondent and columnist for Knight Ridder • Specialized in foreign affairs and defense policy • Started in Washington for Chicago Daily News • Among many honors, his focus on the military resulted in a 1963-64 Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University • His last column, March 27, was about the United States sacrificing its ideals for oil • Died May 6, 2011 Jim McCartney

17. The Herald-Tribune • Long time columnist and editor • Won first place in this year’s FSNE contest • Battled ALS, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, for more than 15 years after diagnosis • Founding member of Lou Gehrig’s Disease Association of Southwest Florida • His last column in December was about a wedding toast for his 25-year-old son, Noah. "But it's neither money nor the stuff we acquire over our lives that makes us happy… It's the memories we create as a family… ” • Died May 7, 2011 Rich Brooks

18. South Florida Sun Sentinel • Reporter, mentor • Covered the African-American community for a decade at the paper with grit and passion • Previous stops in his 30-year career included the San Francisco Examiner, where he was known as “the mayor of the newsroom;” Washington, D.C.; Berkeley, Calif., at the Robert C. Maynard Institute of Journalism Education; and Greensboro, N.C., where he taught at North Carolina A&T while working as a reporter at the News & Record. • Died May 17, 2011 Gregory Lewis

19. The Tampa Tribune • Sports Editor and Columnist • Wrote more than 10,000 columns (1962 to 2001) • Won Red Smith Award, 1993 • As a boy, delivered papers on horseback in Wauchula • Baseball great Ted Williams said of him, “I don’t like any sports writers. But I like Tom McEwen.” • Died June 4, 2011 Tom McEwen

20. Northwest Florida Daily News • Reporter/editor for the paper for 42 years • Inducted into the Okaloosa County Women's Hall of Fame in 2005 • Hired in 1963 at 35 as society editor and worked full time until age 77 • Famous as a grammarian, near the end, she corrected a nurse on the difference between “laying” and “lying” in her bed • Her long time publisher, Tom Conner, said her work “shaped the community” for decades • Died at 82, June 13, 2011 Peggy May

21. In Memoriam FPA/FSNE 2010-2011