Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Editors and writers were the heartbeat of Nevada

THE MEN AND WOMEN inducted into the Nevada Newspaper Hall of Fame last Saturday were an interesting group. Those in attendance included our own Ruthe Deskin; Rollan Melton and Warren Lerude of the Reno Gazette-Journal; Max Wignall of the Elko Independent; Bill Dolan of the Nevada Appeal; and Earl Frantzen of the Elko Daily Free Press. If Jack McCloskey of the Mineral County Independent, Mel Steninger of the Elko Daily Free Press and Bob Sanford of the Mason Valley News had been able to make the installation, the gathering would have been even more interesting.

During the induction ceremony, I began to think about many of the colorful Nevadans whose names were called but have passed on to the next life. Ruthe and I accepted the plaque with the name of Hank Greenspun on it. Our late publisher was recalled in the ceremony as the "gutsy, crusading founder and publisher of the Las Vegas Sun who epitomized personal journalism. His front-page column, 'Where I Stand,' became one of the most widely read columns in the state. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he began his first business at age 8, selling newspapers. A lawyer by training and decorated World War II veteran. Arrived in Las Vegas in 1946, founded Sun four years later."

More than four decades have passed since I first started traipsing around Nevada fishing and hunting. Later as a public employee and then as a candidate for governor, the highways and back roads of the Silver State became even more familiar to me. During those years I came to know the editors and publishers of every newspaper in the state. Many of them became close friends and even today Jack McCloskey, now 87, is one of my most accurate sources of Nevada history. He still takes time to give advice to keep me on the straight and narrow.

I wouldn't think of visiting Elko without spending time with the late Elko Independent publisher Warren "Snowy" Monroe, Chris Sheerin, Mel Steninger, Earl Franzten and Max Wignall. Each had their own perspective of what issues were important and what could be done to improve conditions. They also knew where the fish were biting and where delicious Basque food and wine were available.

Snowy was also a state senator during my years as governor and he protected Elko in both debate and print. He held the speed record driving from Carson City to Elko. Every highway patrolman knew him and several of them gave him tickets. During much of that time, Nevada had no set speed limit on open highways.

The late Avery Stitser, owner/publisher of Winnemucca's Humboldt Star newspaper, was a sweetheart. Although widowed in 1939, she continued publishing the Star for another 31 years. Visiting with Avery was much like sitting down with my own mother. She was also the first woman to be president of the Nevada Press Association.

Stopping in Tonopah or attending Jim Butler Days was always made more interesting by Tonopah Times-Bonanza publishers and editors Ira Jacobson and the late Gerald Roberts. Jake knew everything that was happening in Carson City and Roberts had his finger on the pulse of the happenings in central Nevada. Visitors always left both men knowing more about miners and cowboys.

Nevada editors and publishers were more than willing to take on tough issues promoted by tough people. They did this often and won more than their share of victories for their readers and fellow Nevadans. When it came to facing adversaries they showed no fear.

The men and women writing opinions and news stories in Nevada were not mean-spirited. They didn't believe that every column and editorial had to draw blood from people with whom they disagreed. Public servants weren't targets of opportunity and their personal feelings were treated with care. Usually the only disagreements arose from how to solve problems that would help Nevadans. Many problems were solved with a strong debate combined with hot food and cold beer.

What these writing Nevadans taught me during the 1950s and '60s was of great value when I was later assigned to build racially integrated Job Corps Conservation Centers from Hawaii to Maine and from Puerto Rico to Washington. The editors of small newspapers over the nation were the first contacts I made. Willows, Calif., Kingman, Ariz., Hot Springs, Ark., and Franklin, N.C., were but four of the towns that come to mind. Publisher Dick Waters of Kingman became a key to our acceptance in that area.

All of these experiences were recalled as I heard the names of Nevada Newspaper Hall of Fame inductees called. Attorney Rick Wright came forward to accept the honor for his recently deceased father, Bill Wright. Nobody knew the Silver State better than the former Review-Journal executive and I missed visiting with him. He was a bundle of energy who lived and preserved the state's colorful history.

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