‘He knew what the hell he was doing,’ former anchor Jim Ruddle said. ‘He was never too busy to help, to smile,’ personal finance journalist Terry Savage said.
Daily Herald Media Columnist Robert Feder provided the keynote speech on May 7 to the annual Illinois Associated Press Media Editors awards ceremony. In it, he gave a nostalgic tour of his career and a call to defend journalism. This is an edited transcript, along with the recorded video.
Mark Giangreco doesn t deserve to go out like this suntimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from suntimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Updated 1/18/2021 6:27 AM
It s a sign of how much Chicago loved Jim Tilmon that when he retired in 1994, Mayor Richard M. Daley proclaimed it Jim Tilmon Day in Chicago, the Federal Aviation Administration named an airway navigation point after him, and United Airlines awarded him the title of honorary United Airlines captain.
As one of the nation s first Black commercial airline pilots, Tilmon spent his entire 29-year flying career with American Airlines. But such was the respect he earned that it even extended to rival airlines.
The pioneering aviator, who also was a trailblazing Chicago television host, weather forecaster, and science and aviation reporter, died Saturday in Scottsdale, Arizona. Tilmon was 86.
Alan Krashesky, principal news anchor at top-rated ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7, has been off the air since November 25. Now comes word he ll be out for the rest of the year following surgery for an undisclosed ailment.