[ RadSafe ] Original Oak Ridger Editor Dick Smyser died Monday

[Stabin, Michael]

This is truly sad news. I knew Dick fairly well, although only
professionally, but had very high respect for him. He was a rare animal
- a fair journalist. He was not into sensational journalism, as are his
Knoxville News Sentinel counterparts, who take every opportunity to
stretch the truth to make a more noticeable headline when dealing with
Oak Ridge health and safety concerns. His philosophy was "drumbeat"
reporting. Just keep reporting the facts, without bias or
sensationalism, but let 'em know you are there every day and that you
will report when they do well or when they don't. He was also a big
believer in public education, and at times helped the local health
physics community to disseminate just plain information about technical
issues related to radiation in understandable form, without editorial
comment. I wish I could have been a friend to Dick as well, but time and
circumstances did not allow it. Knowing him "from the sidelines", so to
speak, as an HP in Oak Ridge for 15 years caused me to have an immense
respect for him, and it is truly sad to hear of his passing.


Mike

Michael G. Stabin, PhD, CHP
Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences 
Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences 
Vanderbilt University 
1161 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37232-2675 
Phone (615) 343-0068
Fax   (615) 322-3764
Pager (615) 835-5153
e-mail     michael.g.stabin at vanderbilt.edu 
internet   www.doseinfo-radar.com

 
-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On
Behalf Of Susan Gawarecki
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 4:40 PM
To: RADSAFE
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Original Oak Ridger Editor Dick Smyser died Monday

For the former Oak Ridge residents on the RadSafe list, the first editor
of the Oak Ridger newspaper, Dick Smyser, died of congestive heart
failure on Monday.  The Oak Ridger <www.oakridger.com> ran an obituary
on Monday, a nice tribute story on Tuesday, and several letters to the 
editor memorializing Dick today.   Dick was a wealth of information on 
Oak Ridge and its illustrious residents; he will be sorely missed.

Susan Gawarecki

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