Personalities
The Washington Daily News was the home newspaper for Ernie Pyle, the famed war correspondent. People who gained recognition while working at the Daily News include Judy Mann, who was part of an early Vietnam protest sit-in at Columbia. Others who gained recognition from the News include Nick Blatchford, famed for his writing and his pioneer work in racial relations; Dick Starnes, author of mystery books; Tom Kelly, author and humorist; Tom Donnelly, famed for book reviews and off-beat view of life; Richard Hollander, the editor; John T. O'Roarke, the previous editor; Sam Gordon, who so believed in UFOs; Bill Beall who won a Pulitzer for a photo of trust between a child and a police officer; Samuel A. Stafford - Heywood Broun Award winner (and Pulitzer runner-up for investigative reporting) famous for stories that unmasked the Surplus Food program abuses which led to the modern SNAP and WIC programs; Martha Strayer, who was so important to the city the school board held a meeting in her hospital room so she could attend and report; Stan Felder, who was the City Editor during the turbulent 60s; and other names equally worth Wikiing on their own: Henry Altman, Dan Hoik, Nina Hyde, Anne Crutcher, Marian Burroughs, Louise Lague, George Clifford, and each and every person who drew a pay check from 1013 13th St. NW, D.C.
The paper was a sentimental favorite in the Washington area, loaded with stellar talent in its heyday, and the favored newspaper of the D.C-majority African-American population in Washington at a time when this market for newspapers was secondary. When it finally closed its doors in 1972, the huge letters outside the printing presses and offices were removed and given to the reporters and others as keepsakes, some of which were turned into coffee tables.
The Chief Photographer was William C. "Bill" Beall, who won many photography awards and had full page photos in Life and other publications.
Horse racing analyst Andrew Beyer worked in the Daily News sports department in its final years.
Read more about this topic: The Washington Daily News